The Canada Wood Group Blog

Performance Tests for Extension of Sound Insulation Construction Accreditation

Tae Ik Hwang — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:32:05 +0000

Double wall test specimens under construction inside of massive steel frames

Canada Wood Korea in collaboration with Boral Plasterboard Korea has completed the sound insulation performance tests of 3 wall assemblies for extension of their Sound Insulation Construction Accreditation for another 3 years. Total 6 tests, 2 tests for each wall assemblies, were conducted at the Korea Institute of Construction Technology from April 9 to April 20, 2012 and the results will be available by the end of April allowing enough time for extension of validity of current accreditations which expires on May 14, 2012 without interruption.

Crew fastening 2nd layer of fire rated gypsum boards to a wall specimen

The 3 wall assemblies are also accredited with 1 Hour Fire Resistant Construction, thus allowing the wall assemblies for applications as party walls in duplexes, better known as “Peanut Houses”, and multi-family housings, in which party walls are required to be both fire resistant construction and sound insulation construction by the building code. Wood frame duplexes and multi-family housing have been contributing to the steady growth of wood frame construction market in the midst of downturn of overall construction market.

Elevated Wooden Viewing Deck in Heart of Tokyo

Kevin Bews — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:28:09 +0000

Famous Japanese designer, Tadashi Kawamata constructs a wooden viewing deck at a small park in the heart of Tokyo along the Sumida River. This project is one of a series of objects that was commissioned for the TOKYO IN PROGRESS exhibition. The deck’s platform, railing and bench components were made from SPF dimension lumber, while the supporting structural columns and beams are Douglas-fir. The elevated deck has room for about 20 persons to enjoy the scenery in the park where the object is located and also great views of the various water craft making their way up and down the Sumida River that runs through the city to Tokyo Bay. The deck is a temporary structure that will be in place for approximately one year.

HOWTEC New Span Table for P&B

Hidehiko Fumoto — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:17:01 +0000

Structural calculations are required for post and beam wooden houses when the homeowner wants his or her home designed to the performance labelling system standards even in cases for one or two storey homes. For this practice, designers have been using span tables when they wish to label a house with Rank 2 or higher. The Japan Housing and Wood Technology Centre (HOWTEC) published the first version of the span table in November 2000. HOWTEC recently revised the span table to 2012 version and conducted seminars to explain it. The main revisions were made to review the dead loads and to reflect structural calculation manual (known as Grey Book) also published by HOWTEC. This span table is essential not only for the performance labelling but also for the case where one wants a longevity housing approval. In such a case, structural performance of minimum of Rank 2 is required for the longevity approval.

MLIT Recognizes European Lumber Designation for the PFC Building Code

Hidehiko Fumoto — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:15:47 +0000

On February 6^th 2012, structural lumber from Europe was recognized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT): 16 years after Canadian structural lumber was recognized. MLIT designated the standard strengths of lumber graded by CEN, Norsk Treteknisk Institutt (NTI) and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden. The PFC building code in Japan (MLIT Notifications 1540 and 1541) requires dimension lumber be graded to Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) or its standard strengths (design stresses) be designated by the MLIT minister. By this designation, European structural lumber has now the similar legal position in Japan to NLGA-graded lumber. The significance of this designation is the size factors that are issued in a different way from those in the past. The factors are expressed as a function of lumber sizes so that the strengths can be calibrated in accordance with the sizes. For example, size factor for bending is given as: Sizefactor = (89/h) 0.4 where h is the height (depth, or width) of the cross sectional size of lumber when it is usededgewise. This seems the solution for the variety of size systems from one nation to another in Europe. The 2×4 building code already permits lumber sizes that are different from North American dimension sizes. MLIT recognition of European structural lumber does set the potential for increased European competition for SPF producers.

Monitoring Full-Scale Fire Test for Wooden School Building

Hidehiko Fumoto — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:08:58 +0000

As previously reported, the full-scale fire test for wooden school building on February 22^nd, 2012 resulted in collapse of the entire specimen with fire expansion that was much quicker than had been predicted. Although some media reports that this test gave negative impact to Wood-Is-Good concept, fire researchers who conducted this test insist that the test was successful in that they were able to collect valuable data showing the fire behaviours being observable only by full-scale tests. Nevertheless, some officials in Japan’s and Canada’s building industries expressed concern that fire preventative designs and suppressant technologies will need to be extensively employed during the next test scheduled for 2013. It is important for Canadian wooden industries to monitor carefully what were the acquired data and how the results of the first test will be utilized in the preparation of the next full-size test. The Building Research Institute (BRI) plans to conduct another full-scale fire test for wooden school building once again in February, 2013. After some lobbying with fire experts at the BRI, COFI Japan has succeeded in applying to become a fire subcommittee member from FY2012. It is expected that the participation in this subcommittee would facilitate the monitoring of this issue very closely. The first subcommittee meeting in FY2012 is scheduled in June.

New PFC Elderly Care Facility Design Manual Released

Hidehiko Fumoto — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:08:08 +0000

Over the past year COFI Japan in collaboration with the Japan 2×4 Home Builders Association’s Public Building Technical Committee has been working to develop a comprehensive designers guide for fireproof elderly care facilities. While the number of 2×4 fireproof care facilities is growing in Japan, there remains a tremendous need to educate builders and general contractors on the merits and methods of 2×4 PFC care facilities. The design manual is intended to address the knowledge gap for builders who are experienced in building homes, but are unfamiliar with larger public structures as well as general contractor companies that are experienced in building elderly care homes in reinforced concrete, but not in wood.

COFI Japan participated as a guiding member of the Elderly Care Facility Design Manual Working Group. The working group committee was comprised of leading PFC elderly care home experts including the Chair, Mr. Seino (Mitsui Home); Fumoto (COFI); Bews (COFI); Mr. Nakamura (Seibu Construction); Mr. Iwata (Seibu Construction); Mr. Echizen (Tokyu Construction); Mr. Sato (Sato Benec); Mr. Sato (Consultant, Home Research One); and Mr. Tsujimura (Secretariat, 2×4 Association). In addition the working group also invited Mr. Yoshitaka, Mr. Fujishima and Mr. Hiraguchi to contribute to the guide development as specialist architects in the field of PFC fireproof elderly care facilities.

The final designers guide totals 104 pages and includes the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Explanation of the Merits PFC Elderly Care Facilities

Chapter 2: Overview of PFC Fire Resistive, Earthquake Resistive, Durability & Energy Efficiency Performance

Chapter 3: 2×4 Elderly Care Facility FAQ’s (Structure, Cost, Maintenance, etc…)

Chapter 4: Considerations & Recommendations when Designing PFC Elderly Care Facilities

Chapter 5: Construction & Project Management of PFC Elderly Care Facilities

Chapter 6: Case Study Examples of PFC Elderly Care Facilities

The manual also includes appendices that provide related information on legal framework including Fire Code and Ministry of Health & Welfare requirements and additional supplementary data impacting Elderly Care facilities. Dissemination of the manual will be coordinated through SPF Group market development programs and Japan 2×4 Home Builders Association seminars.

Popularity of 2×4 Rising for Tohoku Housing

Shawn Lawlor — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:56:22 +0000

Tohoku Housing Reconstruction Trends:

Selco Home’s Hear Architect Mr. Sugiura in front of newly opened 2x4 Showhome in Nagamachi (South Sendai).

Canada Wood recently visited Sendai’s largest 2×4 home builder, Selco Home Co., Ltd. and interviewed the company on recent building trends in the Sendai region. The company’s head architect Mr. Sugiura commented that the popularity of 2×4 housing is rising dramatically since the impact of the March 11^th earthquake. When asked why this was the case, Mr. Sugiura pointed to the fact that not a single 2×4 home suffered complete structural failure as a result of the earthquake – which was not the case with alternative forms of housing. Although buyer perceptions held that steel was the strongest structural material against earthquakes, there is evidence that steel housing did suffer earthquake related structural failure in certain cases. It is also widely known in the Tohoku region that when the tsunami struck there were several cases of 2×4 homes being physically lifted from their foundations and later deposited in tact by the tsunami at other locations. Locals are impressed. Word of mouth testimony of these stories appears to be supporting buyer preferences for 2×4.

In addition, it was reported that those families that were housed in emergency temporary housing showed high levels of satisfaction with the sound and thermal insulation properties of wood frame housing. As these occupants begin to look for permanent housing, according to Selco Homes they are demonstrating a preference for 2×4. Asked if there was any way that he might quantify this increased popularity, Mr. Sugiura pointed to the fact that at a newly opened housing park, 6 of the 12 companies with show homes at the site were selling 2×4 homes. The company advises that they are currently closing nearly twice the amount of new orders compared to year prior levels. Indeed, new home buyers in the Sendai region now face a one year waiting list before their homes can be built. The company expects strong housing demand in the region for the next 3 to 5 years.

Japan Economy, Housing & Lumber Shipments

Shawn Lawlor — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:50:21 +0000

Japan Economic Update

Starting on a positive note, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that 660,000 new graduates entered the work force in the new fiscal year starting in April. Employment levels in Japan remain comparatively robust with the unemployment rate stable at 4.5%. Consumer spending and capital investment also appear to be rising slightly.

One April development that threatens a serious setback to Japan’s game book for economic reform is the acquittal of DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa from a political funds scandal that has sidelined his leadership within the DPJ. Prior to the scandal Ozawa was a leading contender to become Prime Minister. Current DPJ Prime Minister Noda is pushing hard at fundamental economic reform, advocating a rise in the consumption tax to 10% to shore up public finances as well as Japan’s entry into the TPP and bilateral trade negotiations. Ozawa and his 100+ old school Diet Member supporters remain opposed to trade liberalization and the consumption tax hike. With a vote on the consumption tax scheduled for June, there is now a significant threat of the stalemate and potential leadership challenge in the Diet.

While the Diet continues to attempt to get its fiscal house in order, the Bank of Japan expanded quantitative easing: announcing a U.S. $61.7 billion asset purchase program expansion on April 27^th. As the B.O.J. ramps up the printing press to purchase Japanese Government Bonds in hopes of achieving an end to deflation, the bank’s moves are not going unnoticed by hedge fund managers. Some financial pundits have recently commented that Japan could be the next country to face a Southern European styled debt crisis, pointing to a steady climb in credit default swaps to insure JGB’s. With Japanese financial institutions sitting on US $7.45 trillion in JGB holdings, Japan’s financial system holds a significant risk of unraveling should hedge fund managers spike an increase in long term JGB yields.

Japan February Monthly Housing Starts Summary

Housing starts bucked the typical seasonal downturn, posting a 7.5% increase to finish at 66,928 starts. Total wooden starts increased 6.1% whereas the “mansion” condominium market surged 19.5%. It finally appears that reconstruction housing is beginning to show up in the Tohoku region with February starts in Miyagi and Iwate up 68.7% and 27% respectively. With ongoing “fallout” from the Daiichi Nuclear Plant, starts in Fukushima Prefecture decreased 0.2%.

Total 2×4 housing starts finished at 6,723 units: up 5.3 % from year prior levels. Custom built owner occupied homes increased 7.9% to 2,179 and speculative homes were up 2.1% to 1,212 units. Rental housing increased 4.7% to 3,329 units. On the post and beam side starts finished at 27,564 for a 5.7% increase. Pre-fab wooden housing starts increased a remarkable 18.3% to 1,278 units. Total pre-fab units increased 5.0% to 9,578 units.

SPF Shipments

February 2012 SPF Shipments to Japan totaled 57.2 million fbm, a 3.8% increase over year prior figures. SPF shipments in the first two months of 2012 totaled 111.5 million fbm or a 6.7% increase over year prior results.

Korea shows appreciation of Canadian Veterans

Min Hong — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:07:30 +0000

As a member of the United Nations Command during the Korean War, Canada had contributed the third largest number of soldiers among the UNC allied countries. Every year, the Republic of Korea GO6 Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) invites a number of Canadian Veterans to re-visit Korea in order to commemorate their participation to the defense of the Korean people and to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.

As part of the re-visit program, the Canadian Veterans participated in a ceremony at the Canadian Monument of the Korean War at Gapyeong, a remote area located 70 km North-East of Seoul. The Gapyeong commemoration ceremony took place in April 26^th in 2012.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the dispersing of scholarship to Gapyeong Buk Middle School students. Canada Wood Korea has donated scholarship for two students this year as well as last year.

Construction inspection courses big hit in Korea

Sunny Kim — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:59:42 +0000

Multi-Family Wood Frame Construction training for architects and building inspectors is underway.

Greeting by Chan Kyu Park, Chairman of KWCA

The 10^th KWCA-WUC Multi-Story, Multi-Family Wood Frame Construction Training Course program, one of the CWK’s association-based training programs is underway from April 14, 2012 with 22 enrolled professionals. This is a theory training course for architects, builders and building inspectors to educate in-depth knowledge on architectural design, construction and building inspection techniques for wood frame construction.

Class room lecture

CWK’s association-based training programs become the most authentic educational programs in Korea. The alumni of CWK’s association-based training programs become the trainers at many universities and institutions. Moreover, the alumni of CWK’s association-based training programs are leading the wood projects and wood construction industry in Korea. For instance, 4 out of 5 awarded projects at the 2010 Korea Wood Design Awards(KWDA) and the Grand Prize project for the 2011 KWDA were designed/built by the alumni of KWCA-WUC’s MSMF WFC Training program.