Timber cladding
The Executive offered grant of £30,000 towards a total project cost of €981,839 to develop new knowledge and share best practice in the design, construction and maintenance of external timber cladding in the north and west of Scotland, western Norway, Iceland and the Faroes. The project followed the Executive's publication in 2002 of a booklet, Timber Cladding in Scotland, containing research reports on a wide range of topics to do with the use of timber cladding on buildings in Scotland.
With Highland Council in the lead, other Scottish partners are the Forestry Commission Scotland, the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Forestry Trust, BSW Timber plc and James Jones and Sons Limited.
The project, entitled "External Timber Cladding in Maritime Conditions", is part-funded by the EU's Northern Periphery Programme, and in Scotland has looked at whether our expanding production of Sitka spruce timber is suitable. The "Northern Periphery" of Europe includes the northernmost counties of Finland, Sweden and Norway; the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and Iceland, Greenland and the Faroes. The Northern Periphery Programme supports people of the periphery working together to secure prosperous and sustainable development and wise management of distinctive cultural and natural resources. More information is available on http://www.northernperiphery.net
Buildings in the north and west of Scotland can be severely exposed to wind-driven rain, leading to a concern that moisture will penetrate timber-clad external walls and lead to building failure. Such perceptions have led Scottish builders to shy away from timber for external use.
Until about 300 years ago most buildings in Scotland were made of wood. Countries with similar maritime climates, such as Norway, the Faroes, Iceland and coastal Canada, continue to use durable, timber-clad buildings very successfully.
Research within the project in Scotland has been done by bodies including Napier University and Forest Research. Publication of project findings and the sharing of published material between the countries has been recognised as a key element of the project. Continuing longer than originally anticipated, the project was substantially complete by December 2005.
Information about the project can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6a3kkz
Contact
European Unit
Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness IV3 5NX
Scotland
Tel: 01463 702523