The speakers are from a wide variety of disciplines including architects, contractors, community self builders, engineers and technical detailing experts.

Join us for some healthy debate on the topic, great networking and festive food and drink!

Most construction professionals appreciate that the building materials we specify have some kind of negative impact on the environment, whether it is high embodied energy, short life span or inability to reuse the product at the end of its useful life.

There is, however, just one building material that could be described as carbon neutral - timber. Providing it is sourced from sustainably managed forests, wood absorbs as much CO2 during tree growth as the timber product emits at the end of its life.

Coupled with this is the fact that timber has a huge variety of uses in construction from structural frames, external cladding, internal finishes, insulation, furniture and even as a fuel to heat buildings.

The construction industry is responsible for nearly half the carbon emissions of the UK and as we move towards the exacting and legally binding government targets to reduce emissions down to 80% below 1990 levels, specifying timber is an obvious and sustainable choice to help us achieve this goal.

Presentations include:

• A critical analysis of forestry practices in the UK and beyond
• Case studies of Zaha Hadid architect’s new Forest Green Rovers building and the innovative cross-laminated timber (CLT) building for Vitsoe
• A contractor’s and a structural engineer’s perspective on using timber in construction
• The specification of wood fibre products
• Technical detailing of fixings for timber products

Attendance is a must for those who are interested in using the (possibly) only carbon natural building material in their projects.

Programme

For more details about event content and speakers download the pdf here

09.20 : Registration and coffee

09.50 : Welcome and introduction from the Chair – Lucy Pedler, Director, The Green Register

10.00 : Keynote Speech: Timber in Construction - The Coming of Age – Rupert Scott, TRADA

• How timber compares with other building materials, how construction professionals can encourage clients chose timber as a building material, and what tools, guidance and publications are available to 'change the hearts and minds’ of those in the design team resistant to using timber.

10.20 : Sustainable Forestry – Robert Borruso, Community Self Builder

• Specifying ‘sustainable timber’ does not always lead to ‘sustainable timber’ being used. What schemes are available, where they can go wrong and how can we design out the risk of unsustainable timber being used in the first place?

11.00 : Refreshments

11.25 : The Structural Engineer’s Perspective – James Allen, E&M West Ltd

• An engineer’s perspective on the pros and cons of using timber as a structural building material, how the current market is served and the steps being taken by the volume end of the market to address the sustainability agenda.

12.05 : The Builder’s Perspective – Richard Hatfield and Malcolm McMahon, Greenheart Sustainable Construction Ltd

• A builder's perspective of working with timber - successes, challenges and case studies.

12.45 : Lunch

13.45 : How Much Carbon in a Yuletide Log? – Workshop facilitated by Matt Harrison, White Design & Aaron Coleby, Real World Visuals

• An interactive workshop that will challenge some common assumptions of timber as a building material.

14.30 : Natural Wood Fibre Insulation, Airtightness and Windtightness Solutions – Neil Turner, Ecological Building Systems

• A technical review of natural wood fibre insulation, airtightness, windtightness solutions and high performance mass timber constructions.

15.00 : Fixings with Timber – Paul Southcott, HECO Schrauben / Aptus Fastener Systems Ltd

15.30 : Refreshments

15.50 : Case Study 1: Vitsoe HQ and Dalston Works – Alastair Ogle, Waugh Thistleton Architects

• An architect’s experience of building mass timber buildings using two innovative timber frame case studies.

16.20 : Case Study 2: Forest Green Rovers Stadium – Victor Orive, Zaha Hadid Architects

• A presentation on the design of the new Forest Green Rovers Eco Park Stadium which employs a unique use of timber as the main structural element for both the roof structure and the bowl including the terraced seating structure.

17.00 : Round up discussion

17.30 : Festive drinks (with thanks to sponsors Eurban)

18.30 : Close

What have our delegates said about Green Register seminars?

"All was useful, in depth and interesting – stimulating the mind!"
"Case studies and product information were particularly useful and applicable to my projects"
"Excellent specific examples!"
"Concise, covers a lot of information, good product guidance and good practice guidance"

SPECIAL OFFERS 

BOOK 3 PLACES FOR THE PRICE OF 2!

Book 3 places at this event and get the 3rd place free. Book your places online as normal and we will deduct the cost of the 3rd place once your booking is received. This offer may not be used in conjunction with other offers.

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