Spatial Prefabrication in Timber Structures

Abstract

The term “timber structures” is considered to mean buildings whose horizontal and vertical structures are fabricated from wood-based elements. With timber structures, prefabrication can take the form of planar prefabrication, spatial prefabrication, or a combination of the two. Spatial prefabricated units mainly consist of panel elements that are connected to form completed functional units. The creation of the resultant rooms as 3D units (3D prefabricated sections) in a factory allows them to be delivered to the construction site in as complete a state as possible, meaning that surface finishes and fixtures are already in place. Spatial prefabrication means a significant increase in effectiveness through the use of building units that are assembled at a manufacturing plant before being transported to the building site and added to the structure under construction. These 3D sections have usually already been provided with their final surface finish and fittings at the factory, so all that is required at the construction site is for such units to be incorporated into the rest of the building. The amount of onsite finishing work is eliminated to a maximum degree and transferred to the production plant, where it must be carried out using certified materials and procedures while respecting the requirements of SIP (structural insulated panel) technology. It is undeniable that timber structures are used for a large proportion of constructed low-energy and passive houses. For this reason, efforts should be also made to maximise the use of these types of timber structures in combination with the highest possible degree of prefabrication in the construction of apartment buildings. Such use brings considerable savings as regards the life cycle of buildings and the lowering of ecological load during the production of building materials as well as the construction process itself.