Round small diameter timber for construction: Market summary

This is the Final report of task 2a Market study of small round wood in the project EU-FAIR CT-95-0091. The respective participants of Part 2a have been VTT Building Technology (Finland), University of Surrey (the United Kingdom), CTBA (France), TUDelft (The Netherlands), BOKU (Austria) and MTT (Finland). The measure of forest and the use of wooden products vary in different countries. The resource of forests per capita and the use of wooden buildings is significant in Finland and in Austria. Wooden structures are not so common in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. Presently small round wood (dia. 8-15 cm) is used for firewood, paper industry pulp or on limited scale as sawn goods primarily in the countryside and yards. The purpose of this sub-project is to seek potential and interesting markets for the products in construction in participants countries in the future. The research has consisted of brainstorming sessions, statistical data, expert interviews, literature searches and the data banks of construction market. Every country has done asking for potential clients. Potential quantity calculated from Finland. TUDelft has drafted an appendix report of realised roundwood structures. Construction directions in Europe until 2000 seem to increase about 2% from the level of 1995. The volume and structure of construction have its impact on potential demand for the products. However it's much to work if potentials clients want to use small round wood in structures. The main results seem that potential markets could be both in small buildings and large engineered structures. It seems that the work will include : - the development of small buildings with traditional structural systems to be build in rural areas, including agricultural buildings. - the development of systems for larger buildings which could attract when combined with unique architecture, especially leisure industry. Larger volumes come from small buildings and simple structures. The key buildings could be log cabins, small storage buildings and agriculture buildings. Buildings could be also larger architectural buildings for instance in woodlands. In civil engineering area could develop small bridges (footbridges, light vehicle access brigdes), sound barriers and landscaping. The essential material properties to small round wood are straightness, taper, durability, strength properties and jointing methods. Architects and structural designers would appreciate products, which are also readily available, standardized, slightly processed and used locally . Treatment is also important. Small roundwood is most often seen as a competitor of sawn goods, but the structures could be developed with new ideas. The product must be priced competitively and easy to install. Now it s too little experience. Good showcase projects and instructions promote the use of the product since end-users and designers have to be convinced of a product's advantages.