Initiative examines damage assessment and repair of mass timber buildings
The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) is heading up a cross-sector group to develop practical guidance.
The 14-month project will explore how the damage should be investigated and appropriate levels of repair. The aim is to improve assessment and repair of mass timber buildings affected by damage caused by water, fire, fungal rot or infestation.
The group will consolidate international best practice and expert knowledge in one place so that users don’t have to rely on fragmented information. Uncertainty around repair routes, for example, can affect insurer confidence.
The resulting guidance will also seek to support insurance pre-qualification by helping to define which repair options may be acceptable to insurers.
The document will outline practical test suites for different forms of damage, the purpose being to help investigators determine proportionate assessment methods.
Finally, it will map repair pathways so that users are clear about the repair options available and circumstances in which they are appropriate. The ASBP reports that the guidance should be launched in spring 2027.
