Canadian OSB – Constructing a strong building while reducing construction costs
As part of the Canada Wood Case Study project, we recently visited a 1-storey 2×4 fire-proof building under construction in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture. This will hold a relocated head office and expanded warehouse for a company distributing machinery parts, which had seen their business grow to the point where their present warehouse had become too cramped. The owner’s reason for choosing the 2×4 method was quite simple: he had already built his own home and a branch office using this method so he had a good understanding of its advantages.
This combined office/warehouse building will have a total floor area of 542.26 m2 and height of almost 4.5 m. In addition to the administrative functions such as the president and staff offices, there will also be an employee cafeteria, and a parts warehouse that will be divided into several rooms that are parallel to each other, which allows for a large unloading space and makes the building easy to work in. Overall, the 2×4 method is well suited to this type of structure that requires many interior walls.
Although it’s possible to build a structure of this scale using steel construction, the evolution of wood construction technology has made it possible to skip spans, so buildings such as warehouses can be realized using wood construction. The construction company involved also noted that the 2×4 method is more resistant to earthquakes than structures using diagonal wall bracing, such as traditional post and beam structures. These buildings are more resistant to fire, and fire insurance could be reduced by as much as half by building to fireproof standards.
Wall panels were produced by a local panel plant, with 3×8, 9 mm Canadian OSB utilized for the sheathing. According to the panel plant owner, this product is strong and has a proven track record in Japan, with many major companies using it. Further, it is suitable for various climates and is environmentally friendly.
Overall, this 2×4 structure was lighter than steel construction so foundation costs could be reduced. As well, by using panelized 2×4 walls, construction times could be shortened, leading to further cost savings. Using Canadian OSB was one of the keys in creating a very strong non-residential building while reducing costs at the same time. A win for everyone involved in this project!!