Select heartwood where possible to minimize nutrient content of wood surfaces and prevent nutrients migrating through the coating to support fungal growth on the surface.
Round all corners to minimum 5 mm radius to eliminate sharp edges where coating can thin out.
Prepare surface by sanding with 100 grit sandpaper to physically and chemically activate the surface. Pretreatment and coating should be applied immediately after sanding. Research shows sanding can double coating life.
Pretreat with an aqueous formulation containing a UV absorber designed to absorb the visible light that must penetrate transparent coatings to permit the wood to be visible. If the subsequent coating is not completely opaque to UV light, a hindered amine light stabilizer should be added to the visible light protection system. Not only does a visible light protection system prevent degradation of the wood-coating interface, it also prevents release of lignin breakdown products that can be used as a food source by black-stain fungi and prevents light induced breakdown of the biocide components. This pre-treatment must also contain three low-dose carbon-based biocides with differing chemistries to provide cross protection against detoxification and with complementary spectra of activity providing resistance to the full range of black-stain fungi. It should ideally have water repellent properties and must maintain wood surface pH close to neutral or slightly alkaline.
Apply a transparent water-based catalyzed urethane coating, containing organic and inorganic UV absorbers with absorbance that extends from UVB through to the high-energy part of the visible spectrum (violet light). The coating must virtually eliminate UV from penetrating to the wood, preventing breakdown of wood, biocides and water repellents. This coating will be formulated to be damp-wood friendly to allow application soon after pre-treatment. It will contain no nutrients for fungal growth. It must have an optimum combination of moisture excluding efficiency and vapour permeability to minimize moisture uptake and allow drying after rain. The first coat to be designed to penetrate and bond to the wood, subsequent coats to be designed to ensure maximum intercoat adhesion without sanding between coats. Sufficient coats to be applied to give a film thickness no less than 60 microns to minimize the ability of black-stain fungi to penetrate the film with their infection pegs. The surface layer to have sheeting rather than beading properties to ensure rapid drying after rain or dew, reducing the time available for spore germination.
On behalf of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) the National Research Council (NRC) Codes Canada publishes national model codes documents that set out minimum requirements relating to their scope and objectives. These include the National Building Code (NBC), the National Fire Code (NFC), the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), the National Plumbing Code (NPC) and other documents. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) publishes other model codes that address electrical, gas and elevator systems.
The NBC is the model building code in Canadathat forms the basis of most building designin the country. The NBC is a highly regarded model building code because it is a consensus-based process for producing a model set of requirements which provide for the health and safety of the public in buildings. Its origins are deeply entrenched within Canadian history and culture and a need to house the growing population of Canada safely and economically. Historical events have shaped many of the health and safety requirements of the NBC.
Model codes such as the NBC and NECB have no force in law until they are adopted by a government authority having jurisdiction. In Canada, that responsibility resides within the provinces, territories and in some cases, municipalities. Most regions choose to adopt the NBC, or adapt their own version derived from the NBC to suit regional needs.
The model codes in Canada are developed by experts, for experts, through a collaborative and consensus-based process that includes input from all segments of the building community. The Canadian model codes build on the best expertise from across Canada and around the world to provide effective building and safety regulations that are harmonized across Canada.
The Codes Canada publications are developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC). The CCBFC oversees the work of a number of technical standing committees. Representing all major facets of the construction industry, commission members include building and fire officials, architects, engineers, contractors and building owners, as well as members of the public. Canadian Wood Council representatives hold membership status on several of the standing committees and task groups acting under the CCBFC and participate actively in the technical updates and revisions related to aspects of the Canadian model codes that apply to wood building products and systems.
During any five-year code-revision cycle, there are many opportunities for the Canadian public to contribute to the process. At least twice during the five-year cycle, proposed changes to the Code are published and the public is invited to comment. This procedure is crucial as it allows input from all those concerned and broadens the scope of expertise of the Committees. Thousands of comments are received and examined by the Committees during each cycle. A proposed change may be approved as written, modified and resubmitted for public review at a later date, or rejected entirely.
Individuals in the design and construction community are increasingly choosing materials, design techniques and construction procedures that improve a structure’s ability to withstand and recover from extreme events such as intense rain, snow and wind, hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfire. As a result, specifying robust materials and design details, and constructing flexible and easily repairable buildings are becoming important design criteria.
Resilience is the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events. For a building, this means being designed to withstand and recover quickly from adverse situations such as flooding and high winds, with an acceptable level of functionality. A structure built to withstand such natural disasters with minimal damage is easier to repair and can contribute to sustainable development. Designing for resilience can contribute to minimizing human risk, reducing material waste and lowering restoration costs.
As a result of shifting weather patterns due to climate change, there is a growing interest in adaptation and designing for resilience. Higher temperatures can increase the odds of more extreme weather events, including severe heat waves and regional changes in floods, droughts and potential for more severe wildfires. There are more intense and more frequent hurricanes, and precipitation often comes in the form of intense single-day events. Warmer winter temperatures cause water to evaporate in the air and if the temperature is still below freezing, this can lead to unusually heavy snow, sleet or freezing rain, even in years when snowfall is lower than average.
A resilient building is able to deal with changes such as a heavier snow load, wider temperature fluctuations, and more extreme wind and rain. Existing wood buildings can be easily adapted or retrofitted if there is a need for increased wind or snow loading. Wood buildings that are properly designed and constructed perform well in all types of climates, even the wettest. Wood tolerates high humidity and can absorb or release water vapour without compromising the structural integrity.
In some regions, climate change is seen to be contributing to increasingly complex wildfire seasons, which results in greater risk of extreme wildfire events. Some wildland fire regulations target specific construction features in wildland-urban interface areas, such as exterior decks, roof coverings, and cladding. A number of wood products meet these regulations for various applications, including heavy timber elements, fire retardant treated wood and some wood species that demonstrate low flame spread ratings (less than 75).
For further information, refer to the following resources:
Resilient and Adaptive Design Using Wood (Canadian Wood Council)
Wood is biodegradable – that’s a characteristic we normally consider to be one of the benefits of choosing natural materials. Organisms exist that can break down wood into its basic chemicals so that fallen logs in the forest can contribute to the growth of the next generation of life. This process – essential in the forest – must be prevented when we use wood in buildings.
A variety of fungi, insects, and marine borers have the capability to break down the complex polymers which make up the wood structure. In Canada, fungi are a more serious problem than insects. The wood-inhabiting fungi can be separated into moulds, stainers, soft-rot fungi and wood-rotting basidiomycetes. The moulds and stainers can discolour the wood however they do not significantly damage the wood structurally. Soft-rot fungi and wood-rotting basidiomycetes can cause strength loss in wood, with the basidiomycetes the ones responsible for decay problems in buildings. With regard to insects, carpenter ants only cause problems in decayed wood, and significant subterranean termite activity is confined to a few southern areas of Canada. However, other parts of the world have a serious problem with termites.
Decayed wood is the result of a series of events including a sequence of fungal colonization. The spores of these fungi are ubiquitous in the air for much of the year. Wood-rotting fungi require wood as their food source, an equable temperature, oxygen and water. Water is normally the only one of these factors that we can easily manage. This may be made more difficult by some fungi, which can transport water to otherwise dry wood. It can also be difficult to control moisture once decay has started, since the fungi produce water as a result of the decay process.
The outer portion of this log is being attacked by a decay fungus. Note that the damage is held back at the line between heartwood and sapwood.To understand why, click here to read about natural durability.
More Information
Click Here for a 26-page paper on biodeterioration, including illustrations and bibliography.
For answers to common questions on decay, visit the FAQ page
Nailing is the most basic and most commonly used means of attaching members in wood frame construction. Common nails and spiral nails are used extensively in all types of wood construction. Historical performance, along with research results have shown that nails are a viable connection for wood structures with light to moderate loads. They are particularly useful in locations where redundancy and ductile connections are required, such as loading under seismic events.
Typical structural applications for nailed connections include:
wood frame construction
post and beam construction
heavy timber construction
shearwalls and diaphragms
nailed gussets for wood truss construction
wood panel assemblies
Nails and spikes are manufactured in many lengths, diameters, styles, materials, finishes and coatings, each designed for a specific purpose and application.
In Canada, nails are specified by the type and length and are still manufactured to Imperial dimensions. Nails are made in lengths from 13 to 150 mm (1/2 to 6 in). Spikes are made in lengths from 100 to 350 mm (4 to 14 in) and are generally stockier than nails, that is, a spike has a larger cross-sectional area than an equivalent length common nail. Spikes are generally longer and thicker than nails and are generally used to fasten heavy pieces of timber.
Nail diameter is specified by gauge number (British Imperial Standard). The gauge is the same as the wire diameter used in the manufacture of the nail. Gauges vary according to nail type and length. In the U.S., the length of nails is designated by “penny” abbreviated “d”. For example, a twenty-penny nail (20d) has a length of four inches.
The most common nails are made of low or medium carbon steels or aluminum. Medium-carbon steels are sometimes hardened by heat treating and quenching to increase toughness. Nails of copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, monel and other special metals are available if specially ordered. Table 1, below, provides examples of some common applications for nails made of different materials.
TABLE 1: Nail applications for alternative materials
Material
Abbreviation
Application
Aluminum
A
For improved appearance and long life: increased strain and corrosion resistance.
Steel – Mild
S
For general construction.
Steel – Medium Carbon
Sc
For special driving conditions: improved impact resistance.
Stainless steel, copper and silicon bronze
E
For superior corrosion resistance: more expensive than hot-dip galvanizing.
Uncoated steel nails used in areas subject to wetting will corrode, react with extractives in the wood, and result in staining of the wood surface. In addition, the naturally occurring extractives in cedars react with unprotected steel, copper and blued or electro-galvanized fasteners. In such cases, it is best to use nails made of non-corrosive material, such as stainless steel, or finished with non-corrosive material such as hot-dipped galvanized zinc. Table 2, below, provides examples of some common applications for alternative finishes and coatings of nails.
TABLE 2: Nail applications for alternative finishes and coatings
Nail Finish or Coating
Abbreviation
Application
Bright
B
For general construction, normal finish, not recommended for exposure to weather.
Blued
Bl
For increased holding power in hardwood, thin oxide finish produced by heat treatment.
Heat treated
Ht
For increased stiffness and holding power: black oxide finish.
Phoscoated
Pt
For increased holding power; not corrosion resistant.
Electro galvanized
Ge
For limited corrosion resistance; thin zinc plating; smooth surface; for interior use.
Hot-dip galvanized
Ghd
For improved corrosion resistance; thick zinc coating; rough surface; for exterior use.
Pneumatic or mechanical nailing guns have found wide-spread acceptance in North America due to the speed with which nails can be driven. They are especially cost effective in repetitive applications such as in shearwall construction where nail spacing can be considerably closer together. The nails for pneumatic guns are lightly attached to each other or joined with plastic, allowing quick loading nail clips, similar to joined paper staples. Fasteners for these tools are available in many different sizes and types.
Design information provided in CSA O86 is applicable only for common round steel wire nails, spikes and common spiral nails, as defined in CSA B111. The ASTM F1667 Standard is also widely accepted and includes nail diameters that are not included in the CSA B111. Other nail-type fastenings not described in CSA B111 or ASTM F1667 may also be used, if supporting data is available.
The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) requires that some buildings be of ‘noncombustible construction’ under its prescriptive requirements.
Noncombustible construction is, however, something of a misnomer, in that it does not exclude the use of ‘combustible’ materials but rather, it limits their use. Some combustible materials can be used since it is neither economical nor practical to construct a building entirely out of ‘noncombustible’ materials.
Wood is probably the most prevalent combustible material used in noncombustible buildings and has numerous applications in buildings classified as noncombustible construction under the NBC. This is due to the fact that building regulations do not rely solely on the use of noncombustible materials to achieve an acceptable degree of fire safety. Many combustible materials are allowed in concealed spaces and in areas where, in a fire, they are not likely to seriously affect other fire safety features of the building.
For example, there are permissions for use of heavy timber construction for roofs and roof structural supports. It may also be used in partition walls and as wall finishes, as well as furring strips, fascia and canopies, cant strips, roof curbs, fire blocking, roof sheathing and coverings, millwork, cabinets, counters, window sashes, doors, and flooring.
Its use in certain types of buildings such as tall buildings is slightly more limited in areas such as exits, corridors and lobbies, but even there, fire-retardant treatments can be used to meet NBC requirements. The NBC also allows the use of wood cladding for buildings designated to be of noncombustible construction.
In sprinklered noncombustible buildings not more than two-storeys in height, entire roof assemblies and the roof supports can be heavy timber construction. To be acceptable, the heavy timber components must comply with minimum dimension and installation requirements. Heavy timber construction is afforded this recognition because of its performance record under actual fire exposure and its acceptance as a fire-safe method of construction. Fire loss experience has shown, even in unsprinklered buildings, that heavy timber construction is superior to noncombustible roof assemblies not having any fire-resistance rating.
In other noncombustible buildings, heavy timber construction, including the floor assemblies, is permitted without the building being sprinklered.
In sprinklered buildings permitted to be of combustible construction, no fire-resistance rating is required for the roof assembly or its supports when constructed from heavy timber. In these cases, a heavy timber roof assembly and its supports would not have to conform to the minimum member dimensions stipulated in the NBC.
NBC definitions:
Combustible means that a material fails to meet the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”
Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.
Heavy timber construction means that type of combustible construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by placing limitations on the sizes of wood structural members and on thickness and composition of wood floors and roofs and by the avoidance of concealed spaces under floors and roofs.
Noncombustible construction means that type of construction in which a degree of fire safety is attained by the use of noncombustible materials for structural members and other building assemblies.
Noncombustible means that a material meets the acceptance criteria of CAN/ULC-S114, “Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials.”
For further information, refer to the following resources:
Wood Design Manual, Canadian Wood Council
National Building Code of Canada
CAN/ULC-S114 Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials
Stairs and storage lockers in noncombustible buildings
Stairs within a dwelling unit can be made of wood, as can storage lockers in residential buildings. These are permitted, as their use is not expected to present a significant fire hazard.
Wood roofing materials in noncombustible buildings
In the installation of roofing, wood cant strips, roof curbs, nailing strips, and similar components may be used. Wood roofs defined as ‘heavy timber construction’ in the NBC are permitted in any noncombustible building two-storeys or less in height when the building is protected by a sprinkler system.
Roof sheathing and sheathing supports of wood are permitted in noncombustible buildings provided:
they are installed above a concrete deck;
the concealed space does not extend more than 1 m (39 in) above the deck;
the concealed roof space is compartmented by fire blocks;
openings through the concrete deck are located in noncombustible shafts;
parapets are provided at the deck perimeter extending at least 150 mm (6 in) above the sheathing; and
no building services are located on the roof other than those placed in noncombustible shafts.
The noncombustible parapets and shafts are required to prevent roof materials igniting from flames projecting from openings in the building face or roof deck. Roof coverings have often been contributing factors in conflagrations. Most roof coverings, even today, are combustible by the very nature of the materials used to make them waterproof.
The objective of the NBC is to require that the risks associated with a roof covering be minimized for the type of building, its location and use.
The NBC permits roof coverings that meet a Class C rating to be used for any building regulated by Part 3, including any noncombustible building, regardless of height or area.
This C rating can be met easily using fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) shakes or shingles, asphalt shingles, or roll roofing.
In buildings that are required to be of noncombustible construction, the roof coverings must have a fire classification of Class A, B or C. In such cases, the use of FRTW shakes and shingles on sloped roofs is allowed.
Small assembly occupancy buildings not more than two-storeys in building height and less than 1000 m2 (10,000 ft2) in building area do not require a classification for the roof covering. In these traditional cases, untreated wood shingles are acceptable if they are underlaid with a noncombustible material to reduce the potential for burn through.
Wood partitions in noncombustible buildings
Wood framing has many applications in partitions in both low-rise and high-rise buildings required to be of noncombustible construction. The framing can be located in most types of partitions, with or without a fire- resistance rating.
Wood framing and sheathing is permitted in partitions, or alternatively, solid lumber partitions at least 38 mm (2 in nominal) thick are permitted, provided:
the partitions are not used in a care, treatment or detention occupancy;
the area of the fire compartment, if not sprinklered, is limited to 600 m2 (the area of the fire compartment is unlimited in a floor area that is sprinklered); and,
the partitions are not required by the Code to be fire separations.
Alternatively, wood framing is permitted in partitions throughout floor areas, and can be used in most fire separations with no limits on compartment size or a need for sprinkler protection provided:
the buildings is not more than three-storeys in height;
the partitions are not used in a care, treatment or detention occupancy; and,
the partitions are not installed as enclosures for exits or vertical service spaces.
Similarly, as a final option, wood framing is permitted in buildings with no restriction on building height provided:
the building is sprinklered;
the partitions are not used in a care, treatment or detention occupancy;
the partitions are not installed as enclosures for exits or vertical service spaces; and,
the partitions are not used as fire separations to enclose a mezzanine.
These allowances in the code are based on the performance of fire-rated wood stud partitions compared to steel stud partitions. This research showed similar performance for wood and steel stud assemblies.
Also, the increase in the amount of combustible framing material permitted is not large compared to what is permitted as contents. In many cases, the framing is protected and only burns later in a fire once all combustible contents have been consumed, by which time the threat to life safety is not high. The exclusion of the framing in care and detention occupancies and in applications around critical spaces such as shafts and exits are applied to keep the level of risk as low as practical in these applications.
Wood furring in noncombustible buildings
Wood is particularly useful as a nailing base (also called a nailer) for different types of cladding and interior finishes.
Wood furring strips can be used to attach interior finishes such as gypsum wallboard, provided:
The strips are fastened to noncombustible backing or recessed into it.
The concealed space created by the wood elements is not more than 50 mm (2 in) thick.
The concealed space created by the wood elements is fire blocked.
Experience has shown that a lack of oxygen in these shallow concealed spaces prevents rapid development of fire.
Wood nailer strips can also be used on parapets, provided the facings and any roof membrane covering the facings are protected by sheet metal. This is permitted because it is considered that a nailing base such as plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) does not constitute an undue fire hazard.
Wood flooring and stages in noncombustible buildings
Combustible sub-flooring and finished flooring, such as wood strip or parquet, is allowed in any noncombustible building, including high rises. Finished wood flooring is not a major concern. During a fire, the air layer close to the floor remains relatively cool in comparison with the hot air rising to the ceiling.
Wood supports for combustible flooring are also permitted provided:
they are at least 50 mm but no more than 300 mm high;
they are applied directly onto or are recessed into a noncombustible floor slab; and,
the concealed spaces are fire blocked (as in Figure 1 below)
This allows the use of wood joists or wood trusses, the latter providing more flexibility for running building services within the space.
Since stages are normally fairly large and considerably higher than 300 mm which creates a large concealed space. Because of this, wood stage flooring must be supported by noncombustible structural members.
Figure 1. Raised wood floor
Fire stops in noncombustible buildings
Wood is commonly used for fire stops in combustible construction and it may also be used in noncombustible assemblies. Wood is permitted as a fire stop material for dividing concealed spaces into compartments in roofs of combustible construction.
However, wood fire stops must must meet the criteria for fire stops when the assembly is subject to the standard fire test used to determine fire resistance.
Interior wood finishes in noncombustible buildings
Wood finishes may be used in noncombustible buildings on walls and partitions within and outside suites and to a lesser extent, in areas such as exits and lobbies. The use of interior finishes is mostly regulated by restrictions on their flame-spread rating (FSR). Wood finishes not exceeding 25 mm (1 in) in thickness and having a FSR of 150 or less may be used extensively in noncombustible buildings that are not considered high buildings. However, where finishes are used as protection for foamed plastic insulation, they are required to act as a thermal barrier.
Some restrictions do apply in certain areas of a building. The area permitted to have a FSR of 150 or less is limited as follows:
in exits – only 10 percent of total wall area
in certain lobbies – only 25 percent of total wall area
in vertical spaces – only 10 percent of total wall area
The use of wood finishes on the ceilings in noncombustible buildings is much more restricted, but not totally excluded. In such cases, the FSR must be 25 or less. In certain cases, ordinary wood finishes (FSR of 150 or less) can also be used on 10 percent of the ceiling area of any one fire compartment, as well as on the ceilings of exits, lobbies and corridors.
Fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) must be used to meet the most restrictive limit of FSR 25. Consequently, it is permitted extensively throughout noncombustible buildings as a finish. The only restriction is that it cannot exceed 25 mm (1 in) in thickness when used as a finish, except when used as wood battens on a ceiling, in which case no maximum thickness applies. The NBC requirement for interior finishes in non-combustible buildings requires that the FSR be applicable to any surface of the material that may be exposed by cutting through the material. FRTW is exempted from this requirement because the treatment is applied through pressure impregnation. Fire retardant coatings are not exempt because they are surface applied only.
The FSR 75 limit for interior wall finishes in certain corridors does not exclude all wood products. For example, western red cedar, amabilis fir, western hemlock, western white pine and white or sitka spruce all have FSR at or lower than 75.
Corridors requiring FSR 75 include:
public corridors in any occupancy;
corridors used by the public in assembly or care or detention occupancies;
corridors serving classrooms; and,
corridors serving sleeping rooms in care and detention occupancies.
If these corridors are located in a sprinklered building, wood finishes having FSR 150 or less may be used to cover the entire wall surface.
In high rise buildings regulated by NBC (Division B, Subsection 3.2.6.), wood finishes are permitted within suites or floor areas much as for other buildings of noncombustible construction. However, certain additional restrictions apply for:
exit stairways;
corridors not within suites;
vestibules to exit stairs;
certain lobbies;
elevators cars; and,
service spaces and service rooms.
Wood cladding in noncombustible buildings
The NBC contains rules on the use of combustible claddings and supporting assemblies on certain types of buildings required to be of noncombustible construction. Specifically, the use of wall assemblies containing both combustibles cladding elements and non-loadbearing wood framing members is allowed.
These wall assemblies can be used as in-fill or panel type walls between structural elements, or be attached directly to a load-bearing noncombustible structural system. This applies in unsprinklered buildings up to three- storeys and sprinklered buildings of any height.
The wall assembly must satisfy the criteria of a test that determines its degree of flammability and the interior surfaces of the wall assembly must be protected by a thermal barrier (for example, 12.7 mm gypsum board) to limit the impact of an interior fire on the wall assembly.
These requirements stem from fire research that indicated that certain wall assemblies containing combustible elements do not promote exterior fire spread beyond a limited distance.
Each assembly must be tested in accordance with CAN/ULC-S134 to confirm compliance with fire spread and heat flux limitations specified in the NBC.
Fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) decorative cladding is permitted on first floor canopy fascias. In this case, the wood must undergo accelerated weathering before testing to establish the flame-spread rating. A FSR of 25 or less is required.
Millwork and window frames in noncombustible buildings
Wood millwork such as interior trim, doors and door frames, show windows and frames, aprons and backing, handrails, shelves, cabinets and counters are also permitted in noncombustible construction. Because these elements contribute minimally to the overall fire hazard it is not necessary to restrict their use.
Wood frames and sashes are permitted in noncombustible buildings provided each window is separated from adjacent windows by noncombustible construction and meets a limit on the aggregate area of openings in the outside face of a fire compartment.
Glass typically fails early during a fire, allowing flames to project from the opening and thereby creating serious potential for the vertical spread of fire. The requirement for noncombustible construction between windows is intended to limit fire spread along combustible frames closely set into the outside face of the building.
Design Examples, Engineering, Mass Timber, Publications, Wood Design
The Goldring Centre – University of Toronto Academic Tower
Province: Ontario City: Toronto Project Category: Institutional Major Classification: D – Offices Height: 14 Storeys Building Area: 176,549 ft2
Description:
The University of Toronto’s new academic tower is a14 storey mass timber building, currently under construction, built with GLT components. Realizing an innovative building of this size and complexity that goes beyond prescriptive height limit of the Ontario Building Code required extensive support and a capable, timber experienced project team. Technical project interactions with WoodWorks staff date back to 2016 and we have tracked 21 direct interactions related to this project. A deeper look at our project data reveals that the project team had an additional 23 indirect interactions with the WoodWorks team (attending events, requesting technical documents, etc.). The project team has 28 projects in their combined experience portfolio, indicating an experienced, supported design team was able to push forward an alternative solutions success storey and one of North America’s tallest wood buildings.
Engineering, Events, Industry News, Publications, Safety
Canadian Wood Council and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute to co-host WoodWorks Summit in Toronto
Ottawa, Toronto | 27 March 2024] – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI) are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership aimed at fostering education in sustainable construction practices.
Under this partnership, the CWC and BSI will join forces on various initiatives dedicated to accelerating the adoption of sustainable wood construction. Central to this effort is the WoodWorks Summit, which the organizations will co-host in Toronto October 21-25, 2024.
The Summit promises to be a dynamic collection of events that will bring together industry leaders, practitioners, academics, and policymakers to explore the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in wood construction and sustainability.
“We are excited to embark on this collaborative journey with the Brookfield Sustainability Institute,” said Martin Richard, VP of Market Development and Communications at the Canadian Wood Council. “Together, we aim to drive innovation, share knowledge, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable wood construction.”
The WoodWorks Summit will feature an engaging lineup of events, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, tours, and networking sessions. Attendees can expect to engage with cutting-edge research, best practices, and real-world case studies, all aimed at demonstrating the use of wood as an innovative, high-performance, sustainable building material.
“Our partnership with the Canadian Wood Council underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment,” remarked Jacob Kessler, Director of Business Development & Account Management at the Brookfield Sustainability Institute. “By combining our expertise and resources, we can make significant strides to empower the design and construction community with the practical knowledge and technical resources needed to create healthier, more resilient communities with a reduced carbon footprint.”
Through this collaboration, the CWC and BSI aim to catalyze positive change within the construction industry. For more information about the WoodWorks Summit, please visit www.woodworkssummit.ca.
Select heartwood where possible to minimize nutrient content of wood surfaces and prevent nutrients migrating through the coating to support fungal growth on the surface....
On behalf of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) the National Research Council (NRC) Codes Canada publishes national model codes documents that set out...
Individuals in the design and construction community are increasingly choosing materials, design techniques and construction procedures that improve a structure’s ability...
Wood is biodegradable – that’s a characteristic we normally consider to be one of the benefits of choosing natural materials. Organisms exist that can break down wood...
Nailing is the most basic and most commonly used means of attaching members in wood frame construction. Common nails and spiral nails are used extensively in all types of...
The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) requires that some buildings be of ‘noncombustible construction’ under its prescriptive requirements. Noncombustible...
Ottawa, Toronto | 27 March 2024] – The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) and George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI) are thrilled to announce a...
Decayed wood is the result of a series of events including a sequence of fungal colonization. The spores of these fungi are ubiquitous in the air for much of the year. Wood-rotting fungi require wood as their food source, an equable temperature, oxygen and water. Water is normally the only one of these factors that we can easily manage. This may be made more difficult by some fungi, which can transport water to otherwise dry wood. It can also be difficult to control moisture once decay has started, since the fungi produce water as a result of the decay process.
