Architects

Timber is the only truly sustainable, natural, and beautiful construction material. When you choose to build with timber, over more energy-intensive materials such as steel and concrete.

Wood absorbs and stores carbon from the atmosphere, and it is estimated that one tonne of carbon dioxide is absorbed for every cubic meter of timber used in construction.

As architects become increasingly conscious of the significant impact of construction on global warming, many are pledging to use more sustainable materials including timber to help turn the tide on climate change.

This has led to a wave of innovation in the UK, as wood continues to inspire architects as thought leaders aspire to create a built environment more closely aligned with nature, including building tall with timber.

Timber is naturally a strong, durable and versatile material.

However, the overall performance of timber is dependent on the properties of the wood species, where it was grown, whether it was treated or modified, and where it is installed.

Getting the best performance out of timber requires having a knowledge of all of these factors. Learning about the properties of timber will allow you to specify a timber which not only looks great, but which will last a long time.

Some of the most important properties to understand when specifying are; the wood type, moisture movement, durability, treatability, and colour. Find below our guide to these different properties.

Timber is the sustainable choice for construction. The Climate Change Commission estimates that if timber were used to build 270,000 new houses, we could increase the amount of carbon stored in UK homes to 3 Mt.

Research by Heriot Watt University for the Wood Window Alliance in 2013 estimated that using a timber framed window instead of a PVC-U one saves approximately one and a half tonnes of carbon dioxide per home.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reports that a single five-storey cross-laminated timber (CLT) building can cut carbon emissions by levels equivalent to removing up to 600 cars from the road for a year.

However, it is important to ensure that this timber comes from sustainable sources. By choosing to buy from TTF members, who are subject to our Responsible Purchasing Policy, you are helping preserve our forests.

The TTF RPP (Responsible Purchasing Policy) is a mandatory risk management framework developed by TTF for our members in line with the requirements of the EU/UK Timber Regulation.

The RPP framework has also been adapted for higher risk products and countries to allow for an auditing process to confirm compliance with other regulatory requirements such as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).

By holding our members to the very highest standards we can help assure the market that, wherever their products are from and whatever the application, if they buy from a TTF Member they are buying Timber You Can Trust.

We regularly review and update the tools and keep close contact with NGOs, law enforcement and regulatory bodies to ensure that the RPP benchmark and processes are in line with the EU/UK regulations and best practice.

As part of the RPP process our members are subject to an independent third-party audit. We are constantly seeking to improve this process, and use the latest scientific methods and best practice to ensure responsible sourcing.