Insuring Timber Initiative
The wood products construction industry has developed several technologies in recent years. Exciting products like mass timber allow for large, complex timber buildings in commercial and institutional construction. These buildings have traditionally been built using concrete or steel systems. However, with the innovation of timber products and complex framing systems, these buildings can be safely and efficiently framed using timber.
Building codes are evolving quickly to address these new systems and normalize this type of construction. However, builder’s risk insurance rates have not been evolving along with construction and codes. Historical risk assessment data has largely focused on light wood frame structures such as homes; but there are significant differences that exist for larger buildings that use mass timber as structural elements. The Canadian Wood Council is working to address the difference in rates and develop new classifications to reflect the modern products that are used.
Attempting to streamline the keys to our findings we have released the report: Insuring Timber. This report is designed to lay out the facts for the insurance and the construction industry. Perhaps more importantly, this report is designed to produce engagement, provoke thoughts and form partnerships.
We want your help! The insurance of timber buildings during construction won’t be changed overnight. The CWC is looking to build long lasting partnerships with all the players in this industry. If that sounds like something you want to be a part of, talk to us today! Email Tim Buhler, Senior Manager
Best Practices Guide
This document is intended to support your timber builds by outlining practical steps to ensure that your application for insurance is favourable, and that your project is maximizing the potential to mitigate risk. Developed with the input of insurance stakeholders, we are confident that this insider insight will increase the success of your project.
Resources
What kind of Fire Resistance Ratings can wood achieve? Check out this tool
Where can I use wood according to the code: CodeChek
You can always prove equivalency with an alternative solution! Ask us how.
Mass Timber Trends
State of the Mass Timber Industry in Canada
Latest News
- Check out this informative 3 part video series by the Woodworks – Wood Products Council PART 1 PART 2 PART 3
- Woodworks – Wood Products Council White Paper now available!
- Large insurer tackling mass timber: Click Here
- See what our friends in the US at Woodworks – Wood Products Council are up to: Click Here
Fact Sheets for Insurers
- Fire Performance and Remediation
- Tall Wood Course of Construction Site Fire Safety
- Quick Facts – Insurance and Construction Series 1
- Quick Facts – Insurance and Construction Series 2
- Quick Facts – Insurance and Construction Series 3
Repair and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation of Mass Timber Following Fire and Sprinkler Activation2019 – Ranger –
- RISE Fire Research – Repair of Charred Mass Timber
Fire Safety
- Video – US Forest Products Lab and US Bureau of ATF – Mass Timber Fire Test Click Here
- Video – Courtesy of Nordic Structures: Fire Test
- Video – American Wood Council – Fire Tests in Support of Mass Timber Buildings Click Here
- Video – A CLT Fire Resistance Test of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences Click Here
- NRC – Fire Safety of CLT Buildings in Canada
- NRC – Fire performance of mass-timber encapsulation methods and the effect of encapsulation on char rate of CLT
- NRC – Fire Testing of Rooms With Exposed Wood Surfaces in Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction
- National Fire Code Requirements – Course of Construction Tall Wood Buildings
- Fire Safety & Insurance in Commercial Buildings
- Fire Safety and Security (Ontario Edition)
- Fire Safety and Security (BC Edition)
- Fire Safety Design in Buildings
- Fire Safety During Construction for Five and Six Storey Wood Buildings in Ontario
- Mass Timber Performing to the Highest Standards
- Construction Fire Mitigation by: Improving Fire Resistance of Wood Products
- Full-scale Mass Timber Shaft Demonstration Fire – Final Report
- Fire Safety & Insurance in Commercial Buildings
- National Fire Code Requirements – Course of Construction Tall Wood Buildings
- VIDEO – Fire Performance Demonstration in BC
Moisture Management and Protection
- Manage Moisture and Wood
- On-Site Moisture Management of Wood Construction
- Construction Moisture Management Cross Laminated Timber
- Construction Moisture Management Nail Laminated Timber
- Guide for On-Site Moisture Management
- Potential Impact of Wetting on Performance of Mass Timber
- Wetting and Drying Performance and On-Site Moisture Protection of Nail Laminated Timber
Best Practices
