What other advantages does wood offer for industrial construction?
In the building frame and surfaces, one of the most significant benefits of wood is that it is hygroscopic: the cellulose cell structure absorbs and dissipates humidity. Unlike steel, plastic, concrete, or glass wool, wood does not cause condensation points that can lead to water damage or mould growth.
Another benefit of wood is its porosity. It does not cause thermal bridges in the same way as concrete or steel. In windows, a softwood window frame provides a thousand times as much insulation as an aluminium equivalent and nearly 400 times as much as plain steel.
In an industry that is one of the key contributors to greenhouse-gas emissions, the main advantage of timber is its relatively low carbon footprint. When growing, one cubic metre of wood binds approximately 1,000 kilos of carbon dioxide and releases 700 kilos of oxygen. In buildings, wood retains this beneficial effect by acting as a carbon storage. Manufacturing wooden products is also energy-efficient. It takes only one-sixth of the energy to produce a laminated wooden beam compared to a steel one of comparable strength.
For the European Union to meet its climate targets, new buildings need to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Carbon accounting will become compulsory for the construction industry in 2026. This will undoubtedly increase the use of wood.
It feels compelling to compare the features of different construction materials. However, the combination of different materials might create the best end result. “I believe that the juxtaposition between concrete and wood is over. We will see a rise of hybrid construction,” Markku Karjalainen says.
Sustainability Manager Jaakko Paloheimo from UPM Plywood also contributed for this article.
