February 27th, 2024

BC Housing has shared some recently published resources that provide insights into the innovative construction concept of mass timber. These include:

• A “Comparative Feasibility Study for Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction”, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of using mass timber for the construction of 7-12 storey buildings, while also comparing mass timber construction to concrete and steel in terms of energy efficiency, cost, and scheduling;
• A “Mass Timber Navigator Tool” to help designers and architects plan for the use of mass timber in projects. This tool contains an overview of energy performance, utility and construction costs, and level of code compliance (based on the BC Energy Step Code) to help compare mass timber construction with traditional techniques; and
• A “Technical Guide for the Design and Construction of Tall Wood Buildings in Canada”, which shares how to achieve the best environmental, structural, fire, and durability performance of mass timber products and systems, as well as their health benefits.