Edinburgh Napier University

  This paper reports on the potential of timber for structural applications in the
international construction market, particularly in the light of its environmental
credentials and the advances being made in engineered timber products. The UK market
is examined with a specific emphasis on the residential sector, given the target of the
UK Government to deliver three million new energy-efficient zero carbon and
sustainably built homes by 2020, with a 33% reduction in combined initial and whole
life cost of the constructed asset. The paper also reports on the work being undertaken
to remove the barriers to timber specification for such applications, through the
provision of structural design and detailing tools. These new tools allow a mass
customised approach to be taken, facilitate research into practice and improve design
efficiency through simplification.