Pinewood Structures first in Green Guide

Pinewood Structures is the first timber frame manufacturer to be awarded the BRE’s (Building Research Establishment) Green Guide rating for its roofs, walls and floors. Along with the company’s recent Chain of Custody certification, the Green Guide rating allows Pinewood Structures’ customers to maximize their sustainability scores. These two accreditations, combined with the inherent sound insulation and thermal efficiency benefits of timber frame, allow Pinewood Structures’ customers to significantly increase their Code for Sustainable Homes scores. The Code is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes and is a key driver towards the zero carbon house.

The Green Guide provides guidance for specifiers, designers and their clients on the relative environmental impacts in terms of carbon usage for elements such as roofs, walls and floors and is based on life cycle assessments developed by the BRE and funded by the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Pinewood Structures’ managing director Geoff Arnold said: “We already know that timber frame is the most sustainable main stream build technology. The BRE’s Green Guide rating demonstrates this by fact. This is a major step forward for our company and more importantly, our customers. Our products really do encourage sustainable building and help our clients demonstrate that they are driving down the environmental impact of new homes more than ever, through the use of timber frame construction. We’re delighted to be the first timber frame manufacturer to offer this level of reassurance. Specifying Pinewood Structures’ Green Guide products will also allow many clients access to funding and enable them to demonstrate compliance to the criteria for Sustainable Homes.”

Those using Pinewood Structures’ timber frame products will gain credit points towards their score in the Code for Sustainable Homes sponsored by the NHBC (National House-Building Council) which builds on the Eco Homes code. An A+ rating indicates the products with the lowest environmental impact.

Pinewood Structures’ products gained:

Roofs: A+ rating under the Green Guide criteria = 3 credits
Floors: A+ rating under the Green Guide criteria = 3 credits
External Walls: A rating under the Green Guide criteria = 2 credits
Internal Walls: A rating under the Green Guide criteria = 2 credits

The total number of credits acquired is 10 leading to a score of 2.7 points. A client specifying Pinewood Structures’ timber frame system and also using an A or A+ rated window would acquire a minimum of 12 credits leading to a score of 3.6 points.

Pinewood Structures is based in Bedfordshire and is a member of the UK Timber Frame Association. Pinewood Structures employs 155 people and is ranked in the top five of timber frame specialists in the UK. Pinewood Structures’ customers include major contractors and housing developers such as George Wimpey, St James, John Laing Partnership and Persimmon.

Pinewood Structures is currently involved in the SmartLIFE housing project which aims to demonstrate how modern methods of construction can be used to help alleviate housing shortages. Around 100 houses are being built at three sites in Cambridgeshire. 75% of the houses will be built using three modern methods of construction, including Pinewood Structures’ timber frame method and will be compared and monitored against the remaining homes built using the traditional ‘brick and block’ method.

Pinewood Structures, The Station, Gamlingay, Sandy,
Bedfordshire SG19 3HB
Tel 01767 651218 | Fax 01767 651928
mail@pinewood-structures.co.uk