Timber Frame Solutions Ltd (TFS) believes timber frame will continue to be an attractive choice for builders as new technology is developed.
The company, which has an annual turnover of £5-10m, has worked with about 25 clients in the past year, most of which have involved several projects each.
Managing director Tony Pensom said: “An increasing number of timber frame manufacturers are entering the market in order to meet capacity and offer new ideas and technology. This will only serve to have a positive effect on the quality of output and housebuilding as a whole, helping it make the difficult, but necessary switch to modern residential construction and raising standards across the industry.”
Paneltherm
One of the company’s latest products is Paneltherm, which is suitable for wall panels and roof plates. It was used for the first time in the construction of Grangetown Primary School, Sunderland, earlier this year.
Architects chose timber frame as the original brick/ block and steel frame design was too expensive and slow to construct. They saw timber as providing sustainability, energy efficiency, fast build time and minimal waste.
The Paneltherm system is based on the standard 89mm timber frame panel and is designed to deliver rapid build times, high precision and dimensional accuracy, and design flexibility. It also boasts a U value of 0.18W/m2K, almost half the minimum specified in Building Regulations, which TFS says is comparable to a 200mm deep panel insulated with mineral wood.
It is made of brick or other cladding on the outside; ventilated cavity; breather membrane; OSB sheathing; 89mm timber stud; multi-layer insulation system; 25mm timber battens; a service zone; and plasterboard.
Paneltherm is based on the fact that it is not only the depth of the insulation material that determines performance, but also the structure and composition.
TFS claims it prevents convection by overlapping layers of insulation, while alternating layers of foam and wadding restrict conduction. Heat loss through radiation is also combated by metallic films, which TFS says are “impervious” to water droplets in the air.
The system is fixed to the internal side of the frame with 25mm battens, which also provide a service void for cabling and pipework. TFS claims the insulation is tear-resistant, will not stretch, rot, or be affected by damp.
