CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 3 TAYLORS LAKESIDE

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONOURS)
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 3
(BLD 60304)
Group assignment:
Prefabricated Timber Framing System
Group Members:
NAME STUDENT ID
Farah Aida Binti Shahar Sham 0322962
Koh Ee Sing 0323855
Lee Lin Hui 0322797
Words count: 1993

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CONTENTS
No. Topic Page
1 Introduction 3
2. Classification of Timber 4
3. Timber Preservation 5-6
4. Advantages and Disadvantages 7
5.
Case Studies
5.1 – Case study 1: Mellor Primary School, UK
5.2 – Case study 2: GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratory, UK
8-11
6. Connection System 12
7. Mechanical Fastener 13
8. Manufacture Process of Prefabricated Timber Frame 13
9. Reference 14-15
10. Appendix 16

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1.0 Introduction
Framing system is one of the most common systems that used in the modern
construction. It carries the loads through their beams and girders to column and to
the ground. This system will form a skeletal structure to support the weight and the
number of load carrying member. Their important function is the capacity to transfer
heavy loads over large spans. Hence, this system usually will have used to build
bridges, warehouse, parking loads, industrial building and so on.
Frame structures only come on its own, it does not enclose the space. Therefore,
infill elements such as prefabricated panel or building the infill elements on-site or
both need to be set up to complete the entire system.
All this explanation of frame system has helped us to understand frame system
better, which lead us to the topic of Prefabricated Timber framing. The term
prefabricated leads many to think about complete structures built in a factory then
transported to the site and set on a foundation. While this building method is
becoming increasingly popular, there are other ways builders are using factory
precision and efficiencies to create quality structures.
These prefabricated timber framing can be used to form a structure of heavy timber
jointed together with various joints, regularly and initially with lap jointing, and the
later pegged mortise and tenon joints. As designs become more intricate, the
distinction between some of these common terms becomes distorted. As an
illustration, timber frames may require engineered connectors in some joints. These
connectors can be concealed inside the joint instead of attached to the timber
surface, by protective the traditional timber frame appearance while assembly use of
non-traditional technologies.
The development of timber frame based structures uses industrial facility made wall
panels, floor and rooftop boards. The frameworks utilized are arranged by method
for either open panel, protected or close panel. These panels can include the wall
insulation pre-fitted and can incorporate the pre-fitting of doors and windows.
Although this kind of building technique seen deemed to be relatively weaker and
less durable compared to other construction materials such as steel and concrete,
but still widely used in certain countries such as Japan, Malaysia, and some
European country. It is because this kind of building system has a good finished
appearance and it is eco-friendly because timber does not reduce any carbon
emissions.

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2.0 Classification Of Timber
According to the Malaysian Timber Council, timber is divided according to their
strength properties.
They are divided into group ABCD.
• Group A- Extremely strong
• Group B- Very Strong
• Group C- Strong
• Group D- Weak
Examples of Timber from Group A and B are:
(Timber from Malaysia):
• Bakau
• Chengal
• Kekatong
• Mata Ulat
• Bekak
(Timber from Other Countries):
• Oak
• Maple Tree
• Mahogany
• Teak

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3.0 Timber Preservation
Wood preservatives may be divided into three main groups:
(a) Water-borne (CCA, Borate, Copper Azole and ACQ)
(b) Oil-borne (Creosote or mixtures of creosote and coal tar solutions)
(c) Light Organic Solvent borne Preservatives(TBTN-P and Azole-permethrin)
A. Water-borne Preservatives
These preservatives are traditionally inorganic chemicals which are dissolved in
water, the water acting as a carrier in the treatment process.
The water-borne preservatives advantages:
• The treated wood is odorless.
• Clean to the touch, sometimes imparting a coloration.
• Wet the timber during the treatment process, often causing dimensional
variation, but once the carrier water has dried out, they have no effect on
moisture content of the wood.
There are two main types of water-borne preservatives commonly used:
(a) Borate compound which is subject to water leaching.
(b) Copper-chrome-arsenic (CCA) preservative, which is highly leach resistant.
(c) Alternative to CCA, Copper Azules (CuAz) & Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ),
it has most of the characteristic normally associated with CCA except that they offer
the end user environmental, and health and safety benefits.
B. Oil-Borne Preservatives
The widely-used oil-borne preservative is Creosote, a heavy duty preservative which
is toxic to most fungi and insects.
The advantages of Creosote are:
• It does not alter the dimension of the wood during treatment and is highly
water repellent.
• Creosote treated wood is resistant to water leaching
• It can be used for ground contact hazard.
• Weather resistance due to water repellent
• Creosote treated wood usually has a characteristic odour. It is usually black
and may through 'bleeding' exhibit black deposits on the wood surface.
• Creosote is an excellent preservative for heavy duty applications such as
transmission and telephone poles, railway sleepers, foundation and marine
piles, bridge timbers, etc.

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C. Light Organic Solvent Preservatives (LOSP)
LOSPs are solutions of organic fungicides (such as tributyltin oxide) and insecticides
(synthetic pyrethroids).
They are suitable for interior use in a building.
TBTN-P and Azole-permethrin are medium duty light organic solvent preservatives.
The advantages of LOSP are:
• Ingredients used are internationally acceptable, recognize of health, safety
and environmental properties.
• It can combine effective insecticides and fungicides into a solvent carrier,
such as white spirits, allowing these to penetrate the wood without causing
dimensional distortion, i.e. a change in the size or shape of the wood.
• It is suitable for use internally (under cover) or for use externally if it does not
have contact with the ground and if protective coatings are used.
• Wood may then also be glued or painted. The application is by low-pressure
vacuum plant.
• The solvent may contain plasticizers, pigment or waxy oils to improve the
appearance and performance of this preservatives.

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4.0 Advantages and Disadvantages
Modern Methods of construction are all about raking as much of the grunt work away
from the cold dirty building environment sites as possible. Instead of struggling to
construct brick and block layers and working from a set of plan in all kinds of
weather. These problems will affect the quality of the finishing product and It will
delay the time to complete the whole project. To overcome these problem
Prefabricated timber frame can be a satisfactory solution for that. Here the example
of advantages and disadvantage for Prefabricated timber frame.
Advantage:
-Simple and easy to be construct
-Not Weather dependent, can build at any time without any weather delays
-Quality Assurance
-Reduce Material Wastage
-Renewable Resource
-Ecofriendly
Disadvantages:
-Poor Sound Insulation
-Transportation to site could be a problem
-Greater Risk of Fire
-Biological attacks (fungi & termites)

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5.0 Case Study
5.1 Case study 1 – Mellor Primary School
A primary school on the edge of the Peak District National Park in Mellor, Stockport,
England, has reflected its ‘Forest School’ ethos in a new timber extension to the
existing school building. The construction began in September 2014 and completed
in August 2015. The total cost of the construction takes around £0.59 million.
The extension occupies 226 sqm, was designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects.
The extension is a cluster of timber-clad pitched roof forms set on a deck that
extends into the landscape, like a ‘tree house in the woods’. The extension aims to
harmonise with its natural materials which featuring a striking habitat wall which was
designed and built in partnership with the school’s pupils.
Timber is the dominant material used in the extension - structure, and cladding. Two
rows of glulam portal frames set either side of a traditionally constructed timber
framed structure which acts to brace the two sets of portal frames. The glulam
superstructure was erected relatively quickly in the space of four days, and the
timber cassettes were installed within ten days. Walls are clad with Canadian
Western Red Cedar shingles and vertical cedar boards, while tree-like glulam frames
support the roofs internally and canopies externally, making visual connections
between internal and external spaces. Prefabricated insulated timber wall cassettes
span across the repeating glulam frames. These cassettes were manufactured off
site and could be lifted into place to form the roof and walls. Cedar shingles and
straw bale insulation dress the timber frame, whilst reclaimed materials such as tyres
form stepping stones in the landscape. Locally found timber offcuts, clay tiles, and
glass bottles infill the compartments of the habitat wall.

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1. Front View
2. Side View
Architectural Plan:
Front
View
Sid
e
Vie
w

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5.2 Case study 2 - GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratory of Sustainable Chemistry
The GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory (GSK CNL) of Sustainable
Chemistry in the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus is known as the UK’s
first carbon neutral laboratory. The project was started in 2013 and completed in
September 2016. The total cost of the center is £15.8m and its £12m is supported by
GSK company.
This laboratory had achieved a LEED Platinum certification & BREEAM Excellent in
2015, that built from natural materials – timber & energy used from renewable
sources, such as solar power and sustainable biofuel. The concept of the center is to
serve as a hub to catalyze new collaborations with pharmaceutical industry; that aim
for the highest ‘clean and green’ standards to minimize environmental impact and
ensure that the new chemistry developed is both energy and resource efficient and
sustainable.
The building designed by architects - The Fairhursts Design Group, occupies 4500
sqm over two floors includes teaching and research laboratories, writing areas,
outreach space, offices, seminar rooms and a communal winter garden.
The center is two-storey engineered timber structure with 22m tall. Cross-laminated
timber (CLT) as the main structural component of the building being used for
structural walls, floors and roofing elements working with the main structural glulam
frame. The hybrid design allows the structure to be adaptable when it comes to
meeting any future building changes.
The glulam columns of 500mm x 500m, weighing up to 1.5 tons, and 960mm deep
glulam beams with maximum spans of 10.0m, trap almost 1,600 tons of carbon
extracted from the atmosphere through the process of sequestration and tree
growth. Four large prefabricated glulam and CLT ‘horns’ were erected on the roof
structure to provide natural ventilation to the building. The horns weighing

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approximately 11 tons each. The horns were assembled at ground level with M&E
already installed before erected.
Traditional connections were used for the timber connections to reduce the amount
of steel. The connections used dowelled fixing with the dowel holes being plugged
with oak plugs; these provide a visual finish and provide fire protection to the steel
dowels.
Challenge and Solution
The challenge faced in the project was the building burn down in September 2014,
when at nearly two-thirds (70%) complete. It caused by a fire started by an electrical
fault burned the entire site to the ground. No blame was attached to the building
process and construction firm - Morgan Sindall has rebuilt it using exactly the same
design. The rebuilt was started one year later and completed in September 2016.
Due to the incident happened, the fire protection system is then added to the building
design. (The fire investigation report will be inserted in the appendix)
This photo was taken hours before the fire ravaged the building.

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6.0 Connection System
The connection system used for this case study is The Resix System that is
specifically from the SIMONIN Company. This system gives out a high-quality
finishing outcome. The system is a totally invisible and has a high performance
assembling process. It also has a higher resistance factor than traditional bolt-in-
place construction. This system uses 3 elements: glued laminated wood, high-
performance epoxy resin, threaded steel bars.
High quality finishing of The Resix System.
The laminated wood uses the threaded steel bars as a connector to connect to
another laminated wood. This enables a high-quality invisible finishing.

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7.0 Mechanical fasteners
A mechanical fastener is any device, metallic, plastic or timber, which transfers load
from one piece of timber to another piece of timber. The most common types of
fasteners are metallic and include:
• Nails
• Dowels
• Screws
• Bolts
• Coach-screws
• Toothed ring connectors
• Split rings
• Nail plates
• Proprietary or patented fasteners.
Most fasteners transfer forces through bearing on the timber and shear in the
connector. Screws may under certain circumstances be used in withdrawal, although
end grain withdrawal is not recommended.
8.0 Manufacture Process Of Prefabricated Timber Frame
1. First Process: Harvesting the timber
-Harvesting the timber from the tree
2. Second Process: Kiln Drying
-This process is to control the moisture of the timber
3. Third Process: Laminating
-A Process to improve the strength and stability of the timber
4. Fourth Process: Milling
-Cutting the log sizes into the desired size
5. Fifth Process: Pre-Cutting
-This ensures no costly miscuts in the field
6. Sixth Process: Joint the each Part Together
-Joint the part of the timber to form a frame
7. Final Process Shipping
-After the frame is complete it will be ship and will be assembly at the construction
sites

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9.0 References:
1. 1 September, 2016 By Laura Mark. (n.d.). Stephen Lawrence Prize: Mellor Primary
School by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects. Retrieved June 07, 2017, from
https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/stephen-lawrence-prize-mellor-primary-
school-by-sarah-wigglesworth-architects/10010330.article
2. 17 September, 2014 By Paul Thompson, & Simon Freeman30 September, 2014 7:20 pm.
(n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2017, from https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/analysis/news-
analysis/what-nottingham-university-fire-means-for-timber-frame-
construction/8669704.article/
3. Back to nature: Mellor Primary's sustainable extension. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2017,
from http://academytoday.co.uk/Article/back-to-nature-mellor-primarys-sustainable-
extension
4. Case study: Mellor Primary School (2017, April 20). Retrieved June 09, 2017, from
https://www.trada.co.uk/news/case-study-mellor-primary-school/
5. Centre for Sustainable Chemistry, University of Nottingham. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24,
2017, from https://construction.morgansindall.com/case-study/centre-sustainable-
chemistry-university-nottingham
6. Centre for Sustainable Chemistry. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2017, from
http://www.usgbc.org/projects/centre-sustainable-chemistry
7. Connection system for timber structure RESIX® By Simonin. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6,
2017, from http://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/simonin/connection-system-for-
timber-structure-resix_30337
8. CSC Nottingham University | Robru Steel Erection. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2017, from
http://www.robru.co.uk/case-studies/csc-nottingham-university/
9. GlaxoSmithKline's Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry, Nottingham,
UK. (n.d.). Retrieved May 26, 2017, from http://www.breeam.com/index.jsp?id=1732
10. Mellor Primary School - By Sarah Wigglesworth Architects. (n.d.). Retrieved June 8,
2017, from http://www.offsitehub.co.uk/projects/mellor-primary-school-by-sarah-
wigglesworth-architects/
11. Mellor Primary School, Stockport. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2017, from
https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/mellor-primary-school-stockport
12. Mellor Primary School. (n.d.). Retrieved June 08, 2017, from
http://woodawards.com/portfolio/mellor-primary-school/
13. Mellor Primary School. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2017, from
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14. Modern Timber Connections (2014, August 14). Retrieved May 15, 2017, from
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opens.aspx
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17. Pryda Australia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2017, from http://www.pryda.com.au/architects-
builders-designers-engineers/product-information/wall-framing/
18. Rhodes and Partners Timelapse video - Mellor Primary School (2016, November 04).
Retrieved June 12, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z34WCTVr9hs

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19. Rising from the ashes: GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory one year on. (2016,
September 23). Retrieved June 02, 2017, from
http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/newsroom/2015/09/07/rising-from-the-ashes-
glaxosmithkline-carbon-neutral-laboratory-one-year-on/
20. The wood from the trees: The use of timber in construction (n.d.). Retrieved May 18,
2017, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116306050
21. Timber Frame Benefits: Why Timber Framing is the Best Option for Your Home. (2016,
January 26). Retrieved May 28, 2017, from http://www.harmonytimberworks.com/timber-
frame-benefits
22. Timber Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2017, from http://www.tpaa.com.au/timber-
treatment/
23. Time lapse: GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry. M.
(2016, July 01). Retrieved May 16, 2017, from
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24. User, S. (n.d.). Our Log Home Manufacturing Process. Retrieved June 05, 2017, from
http://www.timberhavenloghomes.com/about/our-manufacturing-process
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May 12, 2017, from http://www.psbj.co.uk/features/from-the-magazine/upfront/1095-
morgansindall-positive-reaction-to-chemistry-laboratory-setback
26. Wood as a Building Material | Timber | Lumber. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2017, from
http://www.understandconstruction.com/wood.html

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APPENDIX