1. UK Timber Frame Association
Towards Zero Carbon
FRAMED BUILDINGS
Bryan Woodley
Chief Executive
UK Timber Frame Association

2. Framed Buildings Background Strategy Code for Sustainable Homes
Addressing the Key Factors
Current Status
The Learning Outcomes

3. Timber Frame UK Market Share of New Housing
14% England & Wales Timber Frame Market Share

4. Growth of Timber Frame Units by Category

5. Background Energy Review & Legislative Drivers
Sustainable Buildings Task Group
Code For Sustainable Homes
Real Improvements in:
CO2 Emissions
Water Use
Level 1 – Just Above 2006 Building Regulations
Level 6 – “Net Zero Carbon”
Fiscal Incentives – Stamp Duty

6. Framed Buildings - Strategy
Sustainability
Climate Change
Net Zero Carbon
Affordability
First time buyers
Key workers
Demographic aspects
Homes that People Want to Live In

7. Tomorrows World 32 vs 20 Sockets Per Household
80 Litres of Water / Person / Day
4.4m Single Person Households
More Extended / Elderly Families
Sustainable Urbanism
Daily needs within 5 minute walk
Mixed income/use neighbourhoods
Physically defined & accessible
public spaces, etc.

8. Framed Buildings – Net Zero Carbon
The Code for Sustainable Homes:
9 Assessment Categories
6 Different Ratings
Building Regulations Timeframe
So Firstly, what is the carbon neutral bill?
We now have a pretty clear definition of what carbon neutral is, thanks to the Code for Sustainable Homes, with a range of performance standards from 1* to 6 *, with carbon neutral being at 5* or 6*.
It is worth noting however that the Code doesn’t focus solely on energy usage or carbon emissions, but takes a more holistic view of sustainability, under 9 different categories, some, not all of which can be influenced by choosing timber frame as the build solution.
It’s worth reminding ourselves of how this will affect the construction industry, housebuilders and TF manufacturers, just in case this all seems like its way out in the future – future building regulations will follow key aspects of the Code, starting from next April which will affect all private housebuilders, and the Code is already up and running for social housing and for EP controlled land.

9. Framed Buildings – Net Zero Carbon
The Code for Sustainable Homes:
6 Different Ratings
CO2 (% imp)
- 10%
18%
25%
44%
100%
zero carbon
Ratings
1(*)
2(**)
3(***)
4(****)
5(*****)
6(******)
Water (l/p/d)
- 120
120
105 80
For the 1 star to 6 star rating system, two most important categories, water and Energy, contain the requirements shown here.
For energy, an emissions based approach is taken in the code, and the percentage improvement figures required here, are as measured against Part L 2006.

10. Framed Buildings – Net Zero Carbon
The Code for Sustainable Homes:
Building Regulations Timeframe
Year
2008
2010
2013
2016
CO2 (% imp)
- 10%
25%
44%
zero carbon
Rating
1(*)
3(***)
4(****)
6(******)
In terms of timescales, the consultation document ‘ Building a greener future’ envisaged the timescales as shown here, for translating the energy component of the Code into the Building Regs, affecting all new homes.
If these dates are implemented then we are looking at a further 10% CO2 reduction on top of part L 2006, next April, with further significant changes coming in 2010 and 2013 in the ramp up to zero carbon homes by 2016.
So clearly, there is no choice but to plan for sustainable, and carbon neutral development as it will be a mandatory requirement before we know it.
This certainly has been one of the key drivers in developing our Sigma Home here at the Innovations Park, which seeks to advance our timber frame products and processes to meet the carbon neutral challenge.

11. Framed Buildings – Net Zero Carbon
The Code for Sustainable Homes:
9 Assessment Categories
Categories
- Energy/ CO2
Water
Materials
Surface water run off
Waste
Pollution
Health/ well being
Management
Ecology
Minimum standards at each code level
Minimum standards at code entry level
No minimum standards
Of the 9 different assessment categories, there is a differing level of importance attached to each, with the most important ones having minimum standards set out for each code level, the second set having minimum standards at Code entry level, and the third having no minimum standards.
To achieve 5 or 6 stars however requires high scoring in all categories
It is probably of no surprise to any of us that Energy and CO2 emissions are right at the top of the list in terms of importance, and it is also the area where the use of advanced timber frame solutions can make the greatest impact

12. Addressing the Issues - Energy / C02
Twofold strategy:
Maximise building fabric performance standards
Then offsetting emissions using micro- renewables

13. Energy / C02 - Walls (U-values)
0.35 W/m2K - minimum Building Regulations
0.30 W/m2K - standard 140 mm stud + basic insulation
0.27 W/m2K - standard 140 mm stud + better insulation
0.25 W/m2K - above + reflective breather membrane
0.21 W/m2K - above + reflective vcl
+ service void (generic)
0.15 – 0.14 W/m2K - advanced
versions of above (proprietary)
0.11 W/m2K - high performance
sips (proprietary)

14. Energy / C02 - Building Envelope
High performance walls, floors, roofs
Windows 0.7 W/m2K (incl. wooden frame) triple glazed, gas filled
Heat Load Parameter (U-Value for the whole building) = 0.8 W/m2K or better (SAP)
Key factor to achieve 6 stars under the Code

15. Energy / C02 - Air leakage ‘Reasonable Limit’ of 10 m³/(h.m²) in BR’s
Standard timber frame m³/(h.m²)
< 5 m³/(h.m²) – detail attention to vcl
< 2.5 m³/(h.m²) – service zone
1 m³/(h.m²) for Code 5 & 6
Mechanical ventilation
with heat recovery
Lighthouse 88% heat recovery

16. Energy / C02 - Overheating
70% of developed world lives in TF homes
Consideration of solar gain & ventilation
BRE study - standard modern masonry, steel & timber frame have similar thermal mass
Thermal mass - passive & active
Oak Ridge National Laboratory research:
Good contact with building interior
Active phase change material
Install as 8mm panels behind pboard
Reduces temperature peaks
by up to 7oC

17. Minimising Summer Heating
Large secure ventilation openings that occupants feel safe leaving open at night and away from home
Modest sized windows
Solar shading, with future upgrade
sufficient to stop 90% of direct solar gain
Low energy appliances (hence low heat emitting)
‘Thermally heavyweight’ room surfaces to absorb daytime heat gains and provide natural cooling
Purge ventilation to remove at night the heat absorbed by the room surfaces during the day

18. Offset Emissions - Micro- Renewables
Solar hot water panels
Photovoltaic panels – Lighthouse: 4.7kW
Wind turbines – 3 on Sigma House
Automatic wood pellet boiler
Wood pellet store
3 wind turbines
4 solar hot water panels
17m2 photovoltaic panels

19. Materials – Category 3
Mat 1 – materials with lower environmental impact
Green Guide rating
Roofs & walls at A+ rating & walls at A rating
Credits of 10 = 2.7 Code point score
Windows A or A+ rating = total 13 = 3.6 Code points
Mat 2 - responsible sourcing
Timber certified responsibly sourced
Tier 1 FSC & PEFC for 4 out of 8 areas
Max 3 points per element = 12 = 1.2 Code points

20. Health & Well Being – Category 7
Daylight
Sound insulation
Private space
Lifetime Homes

21. Category 7 - Sound Insulation
Party Walls
Stewart Milne Sigma House
Conventional RD party wall construction
Addition of 25mm and 50mm service voids
Enhanced acoustic performance
8dB uplift on Part E
Maximum credits

22. Category 7 - Sound Insulation
Floors
Stewart Milne Sigma House
Separation of Live/Work Unit
Slotted joist technology
Acoustic separation
Floor and ceiling
Factory installed insulation
Integral 109mm service void
Candidate Robust Detail

23. Assessment Process Environmental Impact Categories
No of Credits in Category
Stewart Milne Sigma House Credits
Category 1 – Energy/CO²
Category 2 – Water
Category 3 – Materials
Category 4 – Surface Water Run-off
Category 5 – Waste
Category 6 – Pollution
Category 7 – Health and Well being
Category 8 – Management
Category 9 – Ecology
Total
29 credits
6 credits
24 credits
4 credits
7 credits
12 credits
9 credits
104 credits 26 5 20 4 6 10
84 credits
Design Stage Assessment
Post Construction Review
Evidence based assessment

24. Stewart Milne - The Sigma House
A pair of 4 storey, semi open plan terraced town houses, with a split level interior
Achieves a 5*/6* Code rating
Near zero carbon emissions
100%+ performance improvement
over Building Regulations
Integrated micro- renewables
High density family housing
Flexible interior spaces
Closed timber frame panels and
steel framed bathroom pods
For those who havent had a chance to have a look round the house, the Sigma Home is………..

25. Kingspan Lighthouse The world’s first Level 6 Net-Zero Carbon House.
The sweeping roof envelopes the central space which is a generous, open plan, top lit, double height living space with the sleeping accommodation at ground level
The living space uses a timber portal structure
Uses Kingspan TEK system with U-values
of 0.11 W/m2K & air permeability of 1 m3/h/m2
Technology includes mechanical ventilation
with 88% heat recovery, photovoltaics, automatic wood pellet boiler & solar hot water panels
Water reduction is achieved with low usage showers, water labelled A++ white goods, greywater recycling, etc.
A smart meter records energy consumption
For those who havent had a chance to have a look round the house, the Sigma Home is………..

26. Current Status Framed buildings provide a basis for the Code
Code Levels 1*,2* & 3* can be delivered now with limited change to current best practice
Code Levels 4*,5* & 6* can also be produced now but require challenges to the current approach and mindset
The more demanding Levels involve an increasing cost premium ~ 40% for Level 6

27. The Learning Outcomes Challenging current approach and mindset
Early supplier integration is key
Management of micro energy supply
Focus on the customer
Cost of technology and new components & materials
Ability to manage change

28. Any questions or comments please?
Thank you for your attention
Bryan Woodley
Chief Executive
UK Timber Frame Association