Timber in Construction - Public Procurement and Demonstration Projects

I In the context of challenging national carbon emissions reduction targets for the built environment and an urgent need to decarbonise construction, the use of timber provides opportunities which are identified in a number of national policies. To encourage the use of timber in construction we must (i) to create the conditions to increase the use of timber in construction whilst ensuring the highest degree of building safety and property protection; (ii) to examine regulatory and standardisation standards challenges; and (iii) to maximise the use of home-grown timber in construction. II The Timber in Construction Steering Group was established to create the conditions to increase the use of timber in construction. The work of the Steering Group has been divided into a number of Thematic Groups. The OPW are chairing Thematic Group 3 (TG3). A key output of TG3 will be a study which will support the work of Thematic Group 3 (TG3) ­ Public Procurement and Demonstration Projects as follows: a) Examine and develop proposals regarding government procurement requirements to promote the use of safe sustainable and renewable products, including timber. b) Explore options and identify pilot exemplar public and private sector buildings for construction which demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations and/or inform the development of technical guidance using timber. e.g. consider demonstration project at Mount Lucas demonstration park. Explore incentives for early adopters. The study will not be limited by maximum or minimum building heights and will include new¬ build residential and non-residential buildings, where timber is all, or a substantial part, of the primary structure and /or fabric. The recommendations for scope and content should provide for a range of new residential low to medium rise apartments and non-­ residential buildings including office buildings and assembly buildings and other residential buildings such as student accommodation, hotels, educational facilities and nursing homes. Building types may be reviewed or added to during the project in consultation with TG3 members and the project management team. In the context of the selected case studies, emphasis will be placed on highlighting potential restrictions to the use of renewable products including timber in the context of procurement, green funding, insurance, legislation, design expertise and compliance with Irish Building Regulations and making recommendations to overcome any restrictions. It will review procurement procedures, guidance/standards, research, reports and codes that have been developed in Ireland and other countries in relation to the government procurement requirements to promote the use of safe sustainable and renewable products, including timber in Ireland. It will Explore options and identify pilot exemplar public and private sector buildings for construction which demonstrate compliance with procurement, green funding, insurance, legislation, design expertise and Building Regulations and/or inform the development of technical guidance using timber The outcomes of the study will – Support government procurement requirements to promote the use of safe sustainable and renewable products, including timber in the context of EU procurement regulations and show pilot exemplar public and private sector buildings for construction which demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations and/or inform the development of technical guidance using timber. Highlighting demonstrator projects what require targeted government funding to overcome constraints arising from the use of timber in construction. Explore design and technical expertise required to develop building projects that utilize timber construction techniques. Examine delivery issues that impact building projects that utilize timber such as supply chain delivery, costs, programming, standards and quality.