SUST.org

On behalf of the Highland Council and the Forestry Commission, Sust. organised a major conference in Aviemore on the use of timber cladding in extreme climates. The conference presented outcomes from a major European Northern Peripheries research project.

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External timber cladding is increasingly popular due to the interest in sustainability and the attractions of timber fa&ccedil;ades in the search for a fresh architectural form. Although timber cladding can achieve a long service life, it remains relatively unfamiliar as a material of choice for many designers, but this is changing.</p>
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A major conference, &ldquo;External Timber Cladding: Designing for Durability&rdquo;, was held in Aviemore on 22 September 2005. The event marked an important &lsquo;coming of age&rsquo; for timber cladding in Scotland - no longer the pariah material for planners, politicians and the general public, there is now far greater appreciation of both the role it has played within the country&rsquo;s architectural history, and of its current potential as a distinctive and sustainable fa&ccedil;ade material.</p>
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The conference presented the findings of a Northern Periphery research project that looked at the performance of timber cladding in extreme climates. Issues such as coatings and maintenance, detailing, fire, whole life costing and species &amp; grading were covered in the course of the day, together with case studies and examples of good cladding practice in other countries that have maritime climates such as western Canada, Norway and the Faeroe Islands.</p>
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The conference proceedings will form the substantive part of a new publication that is likely to establish itself as the &lsquo;bible&rsquo; on timber cladding in Scotland for many years to come. The background to the conference is contained in the pdf opposite. A final report on this research project will be available on the Highland Council website and an associated book is being published &ndash; due late summer 2006.</p>
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The conference included presentations from: Ivor Davies Napier University Centre for Timber Engineering Stig Geving Norwegian Building Research Institute Colin Hird Scottish Building Standards Agency Dennis Jones Building Research Establishment Paul Sharphouse TRADA Technology Geoffrey Stell (ex Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments) Ed Suttie Building Research Establishment</p>