The great opportunity for taller, larger, and new mass timber construction is being permitted in BC. The building and design communities are making it possible for significant progress with the use of mass timber in British Columbia.
The height limit for timber structures in British Columbia has increased up to twelve floors. Building codes for mass timber was revised in 2018 and are expected to be adopted province-wide by 2022. There are hundreds of pages devoted to these codes as they apply to mass timber, and for the purposes of space, we won’t go over them all here. There is, however, a pdf available on the provincial government website with links to all the codes, which are now online.
BC is allowing the building of such big timber structures because they are economical, safe, and environmentally friendly. A mass timber structure uses either engineered or solid wood for the primary load-bearing in the building.
These mass timber structures are surrounded by fire-resistant materials. Mass timber construction permits faster construction where many large sections of a structure can be pre-made ahead of time. Mass timber is designed for high strength ratings such as steel and concrete but they are uniquely light in weight. Mass timber products are thick, strong, and compressed layers that can be designed into panelized components. Mass timber construction products are made via adhesives, lamination, or fasteners.
Benefits of Mass Timber Construction
1. Wood is a great insulator
When wood is heated it dries up and becomes harder.
2. Wood is quicker to build
This means that it will save you a lot of money! Some engineers can build a timber house within seven days.
3. Environmentally friendly
Wood is sustainable and renewable.
4. Wood is beautiful
There are over five thousand different types of woods which you can select from. This gives you a chance to pick the one that suits you most.
Seagate Mass Timber is leading the revolution in “Big Wood” being used in all areas of construction. Seagate has offices in British Columbia, Canada and the US in Washington state.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your construction project, please call us at (604) 529-7685.
