Addressing fire safety and durability concerns to safely expand the use of engineered mass timber
OUR MISSION
Abridged from the Timber in Construction Roadmap
This joint committee seeks to expand the safe use of engineered mass timber while addressing critical concerns around fire safety, durability, and long-term performance. They do so by ensuring that timber buildings meet the highest safety standards, demonstrating timber excellence through robust risk assessment and compliance with building regulations.
To achieve this, government, industry, academia, and regulators are collaborating via this group to strengthen the evidence base, improve understanding of fire and durability performance, and close knowledge and competency gaps. This includes by sharing best practice, supporting data transparency through platforms like the Fire Safety Hub, and demonstrating safe use of mass timber through real-world projects. Together, these efforts aim to build confidence in mass timber as a viable, safe, and sustainable construction material for the future.
INDUSTRY RESPONSE
LATEST UPDATES
01 May 2025
Fire safety has been a prominent focus of regulators, policy makers and industry for some time, and one which we continue to adapt to with free resources like the Timber Fire Safety website. Equally of importance is moisture management – which is crucial to the long term performance of buildings.
While we continue to reinvigorate the Timber Fire Safety website with new assets to support demonstration of best practice when it comes to designing for fire safety, educational opportunities are continuing.
Webinars from TDUK like Working with a Fire Engineer, and ‘Successfully Managing and Monitoring Moisture in Mass Timber’, along with in-person (and recorded sessions) from PEFC with experts from the STA, are working to improve the approach in the UK to timber and moisture to enhance durability.
CHAIR: NIC CLARK
MANAGING DIRECTOR, KLH
With more than 3o years of experience in the built environment, Nic is a market leader and pioneer for mass timber design and construction. For more than a decade, he has lead KLH in the UK to deliver award winning mass timber buildings, including schools, community centres, hospitals, and multi-storey residential buildings.
