Safe, Durable and Resilient
Wood is safe, durable and resilient, making it an excellent choice for heavy-use
buildings such as recreation centres, schools and churches.
Fire Resistance
Fire is a threat to all buildings, whether they are made of concrete, steel or wood. Walls,
floor and roofs using conventional wood framing, wood trusses and I-joists make wood
buildings as safe as those built from other materials. Heavy timber resists fire
far better than steel, for example, which weakens and collapses quickly when faced with immense heat.
Seismic Performance
Wood-frame construction stands up to earthquakes
and high winds due to its flexibility and high strength-to-weight ratio. The many nailed
connections flex when subjected to the sudden loads of an earthquake. Low-rise structures framed
in wood that meet basic requirements for wall bracing, connectivity and anchorage provide excellent
safety and reliability. Larger wood-frame buildings can also be engineered to resist earthquake forces.
Wood and Moisture
Unlike other building materials, wood has the ability to release or absorb
moisture. Its moisture content always matches that of the air, which results in natural
regulation and stabilization of humidity. Properly designed wood-frame structures
can deliver excellent performance even in the wettest climates.
Termite Control
Although British Columbia wood species such as western red cedar and yellow
cedar are resistant to termites,
it is prudent to take precautionary measures in areas where there is an identified risk of
termite infestation, regardless of the materials used to construct a building. Products such
as zinc-borate-treated plywood, OSB and sheathing, cellulose insulation and sodium-borate-treated
dimension lumber make wood termite resistant. Borate is a benign chemical that is less toxic than
table salt.
Sources
Canadian Wood Council, www.cwc.ca
FPInnovations – Forintek Division, www.forintek.ca