Wood-framed multi-storey projects face ‘knotty’ questions

By Ian Harvey
Daily Commercial News
November 1, 2017
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada East

Two high profile wood-framed condominium projects following changes to the Ontario Building code have flipped over to steel and concrete as the learning curve with lumber raises the bar. Heartwood The Beach, …and Cabin Toronto …were both touted for their innovative plans to use wood when they were announced in Spring 2016, following code changes in January 2015 allowing six storey wood framed buildings. The latest hiccup for wood isn’t as much about its vulnerability to fire, it’s the steep learning curve, states Steven Street, a technical advisor to the Canadian Wood Council. He says …there’s a critical need to “educate, educate, educate.” …Having options is the goal, not replacing steel or concrete, say wood proponents. “Not everything perceived as going wood will become wood,” says Street. “The point is that it makes a developer and builder consider alternatives to steel and wood. We’re going to win some and lose some.”

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