Summary
• The Code for Sustainable Homes is seen as a market driver for timber frame and its steel fastening systems.
• Around 35% of Simpson Strong-Tie’s business goes into timber frame.
• Paslode Duo-Fast sees timber frame as its main focus.
• Higher steel prices may have to be passed on to fastenings customers but are not expected to dent timber frame growth.
New design, regulation, certification and legislation have combined to increase the importance of timber frame to the manufacturers and suppliers of connecting and fastening systems. The same drivers have also required those companies to push back the boundaries of product development.
Simpson Strong-Tie (SS-T) launched its Engineered Timber Division a year ago to position itself as a specialist connector supplier and has ambitions to grow sales by 25% year on year. About 35% of its business now goes into timber frame and in the past 12 months SS-T has launched seven new products, such as the HITB heavy backer-free I-joist hanger, ITBS skew I-joist hanger and the IUBS skew open web joist hanger. One of the more unusual was the ETFS engineered holding down strap, which restrains the sides of the frame of the building into the base to guard against extreme weather.
Further launches
Richard Jarvis, head of engineered timber, said SS-T expects to launch another six products in the next year. “We have completely restructured our business to try and position ourselves as the best supplier of connectors in the engineered timber industry.”
All of Wolf Systems’ products – nailplates for trussed rafters, easi-joist metal web floor joists and smartroof panels – can be used in timber frame buildings. Sales and marketing director Alan Ritchie estimates around two-thirds of the manufacturers using Wolf’s products and systems are suppliers of timber frame structures to the construction market, while many of the others supply timber frame panel manufacturers with products.
“Through our ongoing contact with our manufacturers and industry bodies we consider the timber frame sector very highly in the development of our products and services,”?said Mr Ritchie. “One example of this was the Robust Standard Detail E-FT-3 we achieved for our easi-joist floor system, which can be used in any timber frame apartment project.”
Steel price
One cloud on the fastening sector horizon at the moment is the soaring price of steel. Paul Baron, managing director of Gang-Nail Systems, which introduced the first connector plate timber engineering system in the UK timber truss sector and now markets webs for the Ecojoist system, said he believes the industry will soon have to pass on some of the cost.
“The rising price of iron ore means the price of steel to us has gone up by 60% in the last few months. National housebuilders want to get a six or 12-month fix on prices and, on the other side, the big players in the steel market are putting up prices, leaving our customers caught in the squeeze by both sides. We cannot compromise the product so something has to give.”
That said, he added: “I can see timber frame and our products becoming even more popular. For example, with the Code for Sustainable Homes, Code level 3 can be achieved now with timber frame; 4 and 5 will be much more difficult for the brick and block people.”
