In a move designed to facilitate increased use of wood-frame construction in lowrise educational building, Ontario Wood Works! has published a 64-page reference guide, produced by Patrice Tardif Consulting. It includes a detailed review by Morrison Hershfield of Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements.
Produced for the North Bay-based organization by Patrice Tardif Consulting, the document makes the case for wood construction as a “strategic” option. It includes case studies as well as a detailed review by Morrison Hershfield of Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements pertaining to wood use.
“The purpose is to make it easier for architects and others to use more wood in schools,” said Marianne Berube, executive director of Ontario Wood Works! “The guide is also intended to help school boards in decision-making.”
Wood construction systems and their components available for use in low-rise school buildings in the province are introduced in the recently released guide. Site-built and pre-fabricated options, including the cross-laminated timber system, are outlined.
The report said unsprinklered, one-and two-storey school buildings up to 2,400 square metres in size can be built entirely with wood construction systems, provided certain requirements are met. Adding sprinklers to these buildings brings the maximum area up to 4,800 square metres.
“With the use of firewalls to compartmentalize a larger building into a series of connected smaller buildings, this maximum area can be considerably increased.”
The report said a requirement for non-combustible construction “does not necessarily imply” that school buildings must miss out on the benefits of wood construction systems, such as heavy timber roof systems or wood interior elements and finishes.
“There are also alternative options for complying with OBC requirements which allow for the use of developing wood technologies.”
The guide contains a detailed appendix that documents applications of the Ontario Building Code that are relevant to the use of wood in educational buildings. Limitations, conditions or restrictions are identified.
In addition, opportunities for alternative solutions or changes to future editions of the code are explored. A new edition is expected to be published in 2012.
Berube, whose organization was set up 12 years ago to promote use of wood in nonresidential construction, said one of the hurdles when it comes to school projects has been navigating code requirements.
She said the analysis done by Morrison Hershfield will make it easier for design professionals to understand such requirements and thus potentially make more use of wood in low-rise educational buildings.
“We’ve had great feedback already from architects and engineers on this,” she said.
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