Construction Magazine December 2014 | Page 12

major projects
maximum energy efficiency standards , whilst building in assured performance , in this case , Code level 5 .
CG : What is the role of timber frame in achieving sustainability ?
SD : Timber is a natural carbon sink and is the most sustainable building material available today . Because energy efficiency is designed into our Sigma II Build System , timber frame homes are better insulated and more energy efficient than conventional methods .
The use of timber systems also allows a high degree of design flexibility allowing many external finishes and house type designs to be achieved .
Our Witney facility is an automated factory which allows for high quality , greater productivity and lower waste .
Furthermore , our highly-streamlined factory processes reduce the amount of waste in the factory and on site , as well as building in assured performance by pre-insulating and airsealing panel designs .
At Bicester our use of closed panels , which are manufactured offsite and pre-insulated , allow for much quicker construction where homes can be made wind and watertight with 78 hours . This is important given the project is a fast build over a winter
12 December 2014