On Nov. 22, the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) was dissolved and replaced with a new committee called the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC). …Apparently, this was a result of two years of collaboration between provincial, territorial and federal officials under the Construction Codes Reconciliation Agreement, a Regulatory Cooperation Table agreement under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. This realignment of code development will not impact the public review of the 2020 National Building Code (NBC), now underway, or its provincial adoption, but will instead look towards the 2025 NBC and beyond. Code harmonization has become an issue given the inconsistent provincial application of the 2020 NBC, particularly regarding energy efficiency. …Some provinces have aimed higher than others. Notably, Ontario has chosen the lowest possible level.
Benchmark Holdings, LLC and FPInnovations have entered into a cooperative agreement to provide product certification, laboratory testing, and third-party inspection services to Canadian manufacturers of composite wood panels and laminated products according to CANFER, EPA TSCA Title VI and CARB ATCM 93120 regulations. The partnership means Canadian manufacturers get access to Benchmark’s extensive product certification and laboratory testing services. It also means they get FPInnovations’ Canadian-based technical resources, auditing staff, and expertise for responsive, local, and cost-effective certification support. In addition, FPInnovations’ testing laboratory in Quebec City, Canada will offer formaldehyde quality control test services to Canadian manufacturers…The combination of Benchmark’s simple, cost-effective EPA, CARB, and CANFER product certification and qualification test program and FPInnovations expertise minimizes the time, effort, and cost needed for Canadian producers to achieve compliance.
JAPAN — As the world careens toward greater climate instability, driven partly by the depletion of the world’s forests, there has never been a greater urgency to reform the building and construction sector. …Architects have been refurbishing legacy buildings and salvaging expensive materials like stone or marble for millennia, but the urgency of the climate crisis is transforming what were once ad hoc and opportunistic efforts into a movement that’s seeking to embed the principle of reuse into every stage of the cycle — and to scale it up. …In Europe, evolving regulations are beginning to do just that. …Its the Netherlands that’s emerging as a trailblazer when it comes to more sustainable building. It’s committed to achieving a zero-waste economy by 2050 and aims to halve the use of raw materials by the end of the decade.
The Williams Lake First Nation Government Administration Building is a dynamic two-storey hybrid mass timber facility located in the central interior of British Columbia designed by Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design. The building is the new administrative home for the T’exelcemc, or Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN). For its sustainable design, has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Awards Honorable Mention by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. …The design challenge was to represent past values and placemaking, while simultaneously creating a warm and modern feel that embodies contemporary WLFN values and identity. Selecting an exposed mass timber structure and choosing to use wood extensively throughout the space makes that vision come to life. The wood landscape inside and outside the building acts as an armature, providing ready-made framing for artwork and cultural objects. 
The Canadian Wood Council’s annual wood design conference and trade show, hosted by Wood WORKS! Alberta, is back in person!We have a diverse schedule of 9 educational sessions planned that you can personalize your program. We are excited to host our international guest architect, Anthony Thistleton; Director at Waugh Thistleton architects. Anthony will discuss many of their outstanding projects, the benefits of mass timber and its potential to transform construction and the use of timber in construction across the globe as a significant contributor to carbon sequestration and a counter to climate change. We are also thrilled to welcome Ray Wolfe; Partner at thinkspace architecture. Wood is an amazingly useful and resilient material. Thanks in part to advances in the industry, wood can now be used in applications that were traditionally reserved for concrete and steel – and it should be a regular part of our architectural, engineering and construction vernacular.
More than two years after the pandemic, supply chain challenges persist in B.C., particularly in the construction industry. …The population of B.C. continues to grow, and continue to ensure that demand for housing outweighs supply… The opportunity in our province is creating a sustainable solution to the housing crisis, and one which younger people could gravitate toward. …Adera Development Corporation recently constructed a townhome development using regionally harvested Western hemlock. Hemlock is not as commonly used in construction as other tree species for a number of reasons related to its characteristics. …Duet CityHomes, a 60-home hybrid mass timber project in West Coquitlam, is an example of the successful use of regionally sourced hemlock. Adera worked with its partners at Kalesnikoff to utilize their advanced processes and attention to lumber for this housing project. …As interest rates soar and international supply chain pressures persist, now is the time to invest back into our province.
Deck building is a hugely popular DIY project that can be accomplished with relatively modest skills, knowledge of local building codes, and tools that many homeowners already possess. Aside from overall deck size and other design considerations, the big question for many is whether to use composite decking or real wood decking. With so many types of composite and wood available, choosing the best decking material can seem complicated. Key considerations of the composite vs. wood deck debate include materials, price, maintenance, and sustainability—all of which should provide homeowners with the information they need to choose the best decking option for their needs. …The jury is still out on which decking option is more sustainable. Wood is a natural, sustainable product, so it’s understandable to assume that wooden decking is the more environmentally-friendly choice. Most of the time that may be true, but not always.
SWEDEN — A stunning 6.5 billion plastic caps are consumed around the world, every day. Blue Ocean Closures aims to reduce that number by providing screw caps and seals based on cellulose fibre. The company’s first production plant in Sweden was opened on 24 November. Blue Ocean Closures, a member of the Paper Province business cluster, recently started its first production unit, developing ground-breaking screw-cap solutions that can make a big difference on a global level. The plant is located in Säffle, a town in the densely forested region of Värmland, in western Sweden. Based on cellulose fibre, the biodegradable and recyclable screw-on caps and lids target a huge market, since players around the world look for renewable packaging options. Around the world, 6.5 billion plastic caps and seals are used and discarded every day. That corresponds to 2,500 billion a year!
NEW ZEALAND — A 2022 survey of design, construction and building professionals into the perceptions and barriers to mass timber use in construction highlights a growing awareness and adoption of mass timber however also that more can be done. The survey was… commissioned by the Mid-Rise Wood Construction Programme. …
LONDON — London is the leading city for investment in green construction tech designed to decarbonise the built world according to new research. …Cities have the potential to become carbon sinks if developers and owners adopt bio-based materials and circular economy principles in building structures. …Embodied carbon is expected to account for half of total emissions from the built world by 2035, the other half coming from operational emissions generated from the day-to-day running of existing buildings. …Investment in low carbon building materials has grown rapidly over the past five years as the need to swap traditional materials for low carbon, bio-based or recycled alternatives has become more urgent. …Timber has seen the greatest market adoption, with regulations increasingly permitting its use in mid to high-rise structures, although the ability to trace timber to source and obtain sustainability accreditations needs enhancing.