Wood is fire-resistant

Fire can be a threat to all buildings, regardless of their construction. But wood buildings designed to meet fire-resistance ratings are as capable of fending off fire as structures made of any other materials. Heavy timber resists fire at least as well if not better than steel and is significantly less heat-conductive than steel or concrete.

Wood delivers seismic performance

Wood’s high strength-to-weight ratio makes it a good structural component in terms of seismic performance. Research into recent earthquakes around the world shows that modern wood structures are better able to resist seismic forces than other building materials. Wood’s high energy-absorption capacity and ductile behaviour also make it a safe choice. Japan and China are seeking British Columbia wood products to build structures, as durability has been proven over the years.

Did you know?
Wood’s low mass and high flexibility make wood-frame buildings more resistant to earthquake damage than concrete or steel-framed buildings.

Wind resistance

As it’s generally lightweight and very flexible, wood is an ideal material for areas with high winds.

The elements of a wood-frame building that enable it to withstand lateral loads are the shear walls and diaphragms. However, in order for either to be effective, all of the related components—including framing, structural panel sheathing and inter-element fastening details—must be designed and installed correctly.

For the structural system to work, a roof diaphragm must act to transfer lateral loads to the shear walls and the shear walls themselves must transfer this load to the foundation. The effectiveness of the entire system is only as good as the quality and quantity of the connections. Thus, the key to constructing a building that can resist lateral loads is understanding connections and the proper transfer of forces.