E29 - Innovative Timber & Composite Elements/Components for Buildings

The main objective of this Action was to facilitate efficient co-operation in the conduct of research and in the exchange of information between interested parties in the COST member countries concerning development and manufacture of innovative timber and composite elements/components used in the construction of buildings. It also aimed to encourage innovation by taking into account the specific issues of (a) development and manufacturing of innovative timber and composite elements/components to be used in buildings, (b) development of innovative building systems using wood and other material composites and (c) manufacturing and use of multi-layer wood panels for floors, walls and roofs. This Action assembled specialists from 22 member countries to present and encourage innovation in the field of timber composite engineering for buildings. The overall objective of the work was to promote the use of innovative timber and composite elements/components by addressing aspects of their design, manufacture, construction, fire safety, acoustic, thermal performance, environmental impacts, durability, conformity assessment and performance in earthquake regions.

Numerous examples of how current trends for greater innovation, sustainability, productivity and service-life performance, influencing product development and supply for timber and composite materials in buildings, were provided by this Action along with developments of new techniques for fire and other safety engineering techniques.

Acoustic Performance and low frequency vibration subjects dealt by this Action made an important contribution towards the enhancement of the understanding of sound transmission and sound insulation in lightweight timber and timber-composite buildings. The Action supported experts in two separate areas namely, acoustics and thermal performance, to improve communications and understanding of requirements for both fields which mostly contradicted each others’ work.
Earthquake engineering addressed by this Action highlighted how well timber and timber-composite materials perform in earthquake zones. The use of these types of buildings could contribute to save lives in earthquake zones.

Collaborations with other COST Actions such as E49 complimented the aims of both Actions. Many industrial companies and organisations were involved in the work of this Action which added value to the outcome of this Action as well as enhancing their own standing and knowledge in different areas. Knowledge for processing wood wastes into new and useful products provided direct and indirect opportunities for the industrial members. In addition, conformity assessment which forms a crucial part of products was addressed for facilitation of market introduction of innovative products. It was noted how embedded the CE marking process was in Europe’s Construction Products Directive but how little general interaction existed between the various parties involved in the processes. Improvements and strategies to overcome this situation were discussed. Similarly the discussion focussing around environmental issues highlighted the lack of interaction of the various stakeholder groups and the need for concerted thinking and strategies.
A highly informative web-site was established to include all the outcome of the above work.

COST E29 forged links with other European networks and projects such as InnovaWood, Enhanced Use of Wood European group, Fire Safe Use of Wood network, ERA Wood and the Roadmap 2010 initiative led by CEI Bois.