Department launches report on research of timber construction in Ireland
The report, Pioneering Research and Innovation for timber and wood-based products in Ireland was launched by minister for agriculture Martin Heydon, minister of state with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae and minister of state with responsibility for research and development Noel Grealish.
Minister Heydon said: 'The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a key funder of forestry and timber research. My department funds this research in order to produce the knowledge, insights and technology needed to address evolving strategic, policy and industry needs.
"This investment in research and innovation reflects the continued government support for utilising our forest resource and creating a renewable building environment.'
Minister of State with responsibility for research and development, Noel Grealish, stated: 'This booklet provides a concise overview of more than €8 million worth of research, supported by my department over recent years, and conducted by Irish institutions on timber and wood-based products… The booklet highlights the practical impact on policy, industry and society that the outputs of this research can have, and it demonstrates the depth and breadth of Ireland's timber research.'
There are three notable examples of research featured in the booklet.
'SAOLWood' is a 'Sustainable Construction and Lifecycle Assessment of Irish Timber' project. SAOLWood aims to support more informed, low-carbon choices in construction by creating Ireland's first national database to track the environmental footprint of Irish wood products across their full life cycle. This data is used to support green public sourcing of sustainable building design and timber-focused climate policies.
'MODCONS', 'Modular Mass Timber Buildings for the Circular Economy', is the second example of research presented in the report. MODCONS demonstrates how Irish timber can support national housing and climate goals.
This project focuses on the design, development, and experimental testing of sustainable modular timber using prefabrication to speed up construction, reduce waste, and improve building performance. The project is also testing how the timber systems measure up in fire safety, sound insulation and long-term use.
Lastly, 'WoodProps', 'Wood Properties for Ireland Programme' will be playing a central role in ensuring Irish-grown timber can be specified with particular focus on modern construction and is actively shaping Irish and European standards.
The project has developed machine grading settings for additional species, thereby diversifying Ireland's timber options, developed finger-jointing technologies and preserved decades of timber research in a national repository.
Minister of state with responsibility for forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, welcomed the output from the Timber in Construction Steering Group: 'Our thriving sawmilling and forest sectors have evolved into a highly advanced processing industry, thanks in no small part to the innovation and expertise generated through past research.
"By building on this foundation, we can further strengthen the sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness of our timber sector, supporting the adoption of the timber construction industry, maximising the value of our forest resources and benefiting the communities that depend on them.'
The steering group was established to create the conditions to increase the use of timber in construction while still ensuring the highest degree of building safety and property protection, to examine regulatory standardisation challenges and to maximise the use of home-grown timber construction.
The group consists of 16 members and minister of state for land use and biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, appointed the independent Chair who is supported by five thematic groups: market opportunity, regulation, standards and compliance, public procurement and demonstration projects, research and development, and communication, education, training and public awareness.
These thematic groups are comprised of 60 members across a range of stakeholders. The members represent key industry bodies, as well as senior representatives of relevant government departments and agencies with responsibilities for policy and the development of sectors.
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