The Future of Wood Construction

To achieve the United Nations' goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, significant changes must be made, particularly in the construction sector. As the global population continues to grow, streamlining the construction industry becomes increasingly essential, emphasizing the need to adopt more sustainable practices.

In Europe, most buildings are constructed from concrete, which is made by mixing steel and cement. The process of manufacturing concrete is neither renewable nor sustainable, accounting for 10% of humanity's greenhouse gas emissions. Environmentalists and industry experts believe that one possible solution to this pressing issue lies in wood-frame construction.

A Sustainable Alternative

Building with wood is an excellent way to reduce the carbon footprint. In Finland, for example, wood accounts for 40% of construction, an incredible result given that it only represents 4% in the rest of Europe. There are numerous advantages to building with wood; for example, it could reduce carbon emissions by up to 60%. But that's not all. Wood-frame buildings are lighter than their concrete counterparts, meaning construction requires less logistical support and often lighter, optimized foundations. Additionally, demolishing a wooden building generates far less waste, as most of the materials can be reused or recycled.

The benefits of wood-frame construction are too numerous to list in this article, but the examples mentioned above suffice to explain why the French government has decided to promote a sustainability law, which should focus on using a significant (if not majority) portion of wood for new public buildings. These changes stem from France's strong desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry and position itself as a leading country in this shift.

Mitigating fire risks

While wood-frame buildings offer many advantages, they also pose a significant fire risk during the construction phase. The highly flammable nature of wood makes it vulnerable, especially when structures are incomplete and fire protection measures are not fully in place. Furthermore, during the assembly phases and when using CLT panels (for example), wood dust significantly increases this risk.

However, this risk can be effectively mitigated through appropriate technologies.

Ramtech's WES3 system, combined with the REACT system, offers a powerful solution to significantly reduce fire incidents on wood construction sites. The WES3 system is proactive, allowing for rapid detection of any fire risks before they can spread, thus notably reducing the risk of major damage. Moreover, the REACT cloud platform ensures that project managers are immediately alerted to any fire alarm activation directly on their phones, even when the site is unoccupied. This 24/7 real-time monitoring enables quick responses and continuously improves site safety, also thanks to the geolocation of installed units on-site. By combining the WES3 and REACT systems, construction teams can protect their workers and safeguard their projects by securing their wooden buildings from the outset.

Regulations and Technologies for Green Cities?

Reducing carbon emissions involves changing not only our lifestyles but also how we build our cities. Such change comes with a series of risks and challenges, which is why innovative technologies are at the forefront of the fight to preserve the environment and create nearly carbon-neutral buildings. Since 2022, the wood-frame construction market has been growing at an annual rate of 10%.

This shows that by implementing motivating legislation focused on sustainability, countries can significantly reduce their carbon footprint, bringing humanity closer to the goal of zero emissions. New regulations are also being discussed in various European countries (including France) to support this growth and continue efforts to secure structures during the different phases of construction.