Wood construction information service

The wood products sector lacks an industry-wide information service, such as the Concrete portal maintained by the Finnish Concrete Industry Association, or an information service organisation, such as the Finnish Steel Construction Association. An information service would offer construction professionals verified technical information, planning tools and guidelines related to wood construction and its standards, regulations, products, solutions and manufacturers. Intended primarily for construction engineers and architects, such an information service is critical in terms of competitiveness. Engineers and architects make key decisions in different stages of the construction process and need verified information about wood-based solutions in order to use them.

The project is developing an online wood construction information service that is open to all (available in Finnish only). The service focuses on presenting and promoting new and competitive wood-based solutions for energy-efficient construction and renovation projects. The project involves preparing type libraries of wood-based structural solutions for the use of construction and structural designers. Sitra will fund the following features of the service:

1. Technical bulletins and guidelines related to energy efficiency and structural integrity, including an estimated total of 45 bulletins about the following topics:

• Energy-efficiency regulations 
• Model structure types for new construction 
• Additional insulation in renovation projects 
• Structural integrity.

2. Excel-based programmes for calculating energy efficiency in the following areas:

• The U value of wooden structures 
• The U value of log structures 
• Guidelines for calculating the overall energy efficiency of buildings in accordance with the 2012 requirements. 

The goal is to remove obstacles to gaining and developing wood expertise. The information service will produce information for construction professionals and educational institutions to use in planning and building. The aim is to reach an internationally competitive standard of expertise in wood construction.

The project facilitates a new market for wood processing and wood construction. It also enhances the growth of successful business in energy efficiency and sustainable production. The objective is to establish an internationally successful wood construction industry in Finland.