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Mid-Rise Wood Frame Construction Gaining Momentum
Multi-Story Structures are Becoming Increasingly Commonplace in Urban Areas |
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In Hawaii, multi-story wood frame construction is predominantly used for suburban multi-family residential housing. However, the popularity of urban multi-story wood frame residential and non-residential structures is now spreading, with a growing list of examples from major metropolitan areas throughout the country. With modern design approaches to seismic and fire safety for mid-rise wood frame structures and the benefit of reduced construction costs, wood is providing cities with the opportunity to refresh and revitalize urban streetscapes.
Wood-frame construction has long been recognized for providing superior performance against strong winds and earthquakes. However, special considerations regarding structural durability and fire safety do get taken in to account when it comes to mid-rise buildings. Structural walls and floors sheathed with structural wood panels maintain high stiffness and strength in the design range, and, if pushed to maximum capacity, tend to yield only gradually while continuing to carry high loads. These assemblies have high ductility which absorbs a great deal of energy before failure. When it comes to fire safety, sprinkler systems are used along with fire resistance rated wall, floor and ceiling assemblies to maintain occupant safety. Additionally, building code provisions for wood-frame construction make it equivalent to other construction methods in terms of fire and life safety. Modern wood technologies and building materials, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), also offer even greater structural and fire resistance properties while maintaining a high level of quality. Such innovations may likely enable the construction of buildings greater than six stories.
Additionally, another advantage of this growth in mid-rise, light wood frame structures is cost efficiency. Wood is the least expensive building material. Also, wood offers quicker construction than steel or concrete as wood is easier to design and build. As a result, consumers can benefit from reduced labor costs.
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Framing Lumber Value
in Hawaii Today
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Natural Insulator:
As a natural insulator, wood reduces heat transfer from the sun, cooling Hawaii homes and reducing hundreds of dollars every year in energy costs in
the entire life of the home. |
Environmental:
Wood has the ability to reduce CO2 emissions due to the fact that the
production of solid wood products results in the storage of a portion of the
trees' carbon in another long-term storage medium. |
Economical:
Wood framed structures in Hawaii are designed to be exposed to the weather
and high humidity. Additionally, specially engineered wood is used to combat
termites and decay fungi. |
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