Edinburgh Napier University

  Napier University and Oregon Timber Frame Ltd have recently completed an award winning two year project in timber engineering. The project was conducted under the
umbrella of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) which is a UK Government funded research programme. As a result of the project academic based research has been put into industrial practice to the mutual development of all parties involved. Oregon Timber Frame Limited design, manufacture and erect specialised timber frame systems for volume house-builders in the United Kingdom. As a direct result of the KTP, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) have been adopted, value engineering has been implemented and regulation change and revised codes of practice have been endorsed. Central to the project are the principles of the Egan Report ‘Rethinking Construction’ which promotes house builders to specify sustainable and environmentally friendly construction methods and reduce accident rates by utilising off-site construction methods, whilst increasing overall efficiency and quality. Through laboratory testing and computer modelling a best practice procedure for the crane erection of pre-assembled components was developed which has resulted in improved Health & Safety, productivity and financial gain. Key drivers were applied to the design process as a means to delivering optimisation in regards to robustness, speed of construction, quality of product and sustainability. Structural design and component detailing have been revised and improved to satisfy new European Structural Codes of practice and UK building regulations (Part L&F).