21 September 2017

Timber construction: ready for take-off

The national timber construction survey carried out in 2016 across more than 1000 companies yields positive signs in a context of economic recovery. The advent of the E+C- label* looks set to confirm these prospects.

* Positive energy, reduced carbon

First a global observation: in 2016, timber was witness to falling shares in several market segments. The most drastic of these was in timber house construction, in both scattered and grouped sectors, where timber buildings dropped below 13,000 units after peaking at 20,000 in 2011. Despite this shrinkage, a detailed look at these results shows some encouraging signs.

The apartment block sector has progressed with a rise in the use of mixed wood-concrete and wood-steel techniques. Timber solutions are also holding their own in the home extension and added storey markets. Then there is the non-residential side, where the construction of new industrial and small workshop premises shows timber’s share rising from 12% to 17% over two years.

Promoting and defending the sector

This relative limpness in the market is partly explained by poor knowledge (or a poor image) of timber construction techniques by the public contracting authorities. The offering is seen as still being too focused on the high end, and the sector is feeling the effects of the 2008–2009 crisis later than other business segments. Despite this relatively strained context, the sector is still nursing a lot of hope.

Out of the companies questioned in the survey, 29% expect to invest within two years and 40% of them want to recruit. A recovery is starting to take shape. The next set of thermal regulations, which take into account the carbon footprint of a building over its whole lifespan, naturally privilege wood. The battle between different construction methods looks like being a tough one, but the sector is hopeful that the new environment minister, Nicolas Hulot, will measure the full potential of timber and that the new thermal regulations and techniques will pave the way for its mass deployment.

Consult the summary document of the study by CODIFAB and France Bois Forêt in the framework of the National Timber Construction Observatory.

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