Is the golden age of wooden construction coming?

New solutions for industrial production in wood construction are being developed, and the possibilities for using wood are being promoted through government programs. The attractiveness of wood is particularly increased by stricter energy and climate requirements.

The Ministry of the Environment amended the fire regulations with regulations that came into force in April. The amendment allows for a maximum of eight-storey wooden-frame residential and workplace buildings. As a general rule, all wooden-frame buildings with 3–8 floors must now have automatic fire extinguishing equipment.

In Sweden, similar regulations came into force as early as 1995.

“Wood now has a 20 percent market share in the construction of residential apartment buildings in Sweden. In Finland, the share is 0,5 percent,” says the Development Manager of Stora Enso's Wood Products business. Janne Manninen.

According to Manninen, fire regulations are not the reason for the lack of wooden construction in Finland.

"I think it's more about cultural differences in construction. In Finland, the industrialization of the concrete industry and element development have been progressive."

The wood construction industry has recently developed several solutions for industrial construction. Construction companies have also warmed up to wood construction.

Wooden apartment buildings have been built in Finland since 1995, when fire regulations were last updated.

Finland's first five-story wooden apartment building will be completed in Vierumäki, Heinola next year, and a large number of other projects are planned. The first eight-story wooden building is expected to be built in Finland in 2013.

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