Three of Finland’s leading forest products companies, Finnforest, Stora Enso and UPM-Kymmene, are working in partnership with the BRE to assess the timber product ThermoWood, especially for use in timber cladding.
Manufactured using a method developed and patented in Finland, ThermoWood is a modified timber product that has undergone thermal treatment to improve its properties. The wood material is heated to at least 180 degrees C while being protected with steam.
The manufacturers say the treatment makes the wood more stable in changeable climatic conditions, improves its thermal insulation properties and darkens its colour.
If carried out properly, thermal treatment also makes the wood more resistant to decay, reducing the need to use preservatives and so improving the timber’s environmentaal performance.
And the manufacturers say the dimensional stability produced by the treatment will give the product an advantage over many traditional timbers used for cladding due to the reduction in movement.
End uses for heat-treated wood include exterior cladding, windows, doors, joinery, garden furniture and interior applications such as flooring.
