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Québec launches 12-storey Wood Building Construction Guide

August, 17 2015 – The Government of Québec announced the publication of a technical guide entitled Bâtiments de construction massive en bois d’au plus 12 étages (Construction of Mass Timber Buildings Up to 12 Storeys). The guide outlines the technical principles required to design and construct wooden buildings up to 12 storeys using mass timber. The announcement was made by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard in the presence of Sam Hamad, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, and Pierre Lapointe, president and CEO of FPInnovations, which acted as scientific advisors on the guide.

“We are very proud to have contributed the scientific expertise necessary to enable the Government of Québec to develop this manual,” said Lapointe. “The Quebec construction industry now has the knowledge necessary to design and construct buildings to the highest possible standards of safety using wood, an abundant and renewable natural resource and a cornerstone of the Québec economy.”

Research in Canada, and internationally, has shown that it is possible to construct safe and secure wooden buildings greater than six storeys in height and that, at those heights, rather than light wood framing, mass timber construction materials must be used such as cross-laminated timber. The Government of Québec is following in the footsteps of countries in Europe, where similar wood-based construction methods are permitted. Québec has recently seen an increase in wooden construction with a local consortium announcing the development of a 13-storey wooden residential building in Québec City. Based on the scientific expertise of FPInnovations’ researchers, this manual provides a technical framework for a growing tall wood building construction industry of which Québec is expected to be a significant beneficiary.

About FPInnovations
FPInnovations is a not-for-profit world leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness and responds to the priority needs of its industry members and government partners. It is ideally positioned to perform research, innovate, and deliver state-of-the-art solutions for every area of the sector’s value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products. FPInnovations’ staff numbers more than 525. Its R&D laboratories are located in Québec City, Montréal, and Vancouver, and it has technology transfer offices across Canada. For more information about FPInnovations, visit www.fpinnovations.ca.

 

August 17, 2015  By FPInnovations