Mass timber presents an opportunity to decarbonise the built environment with a more sustainable alternative to energy-intensive construction materials. However, ensuring its safe adoption requires an evidence-based approach to research, testing, and competency development. 

To tackle this challenge, BE-ST has been awarded a €219,000 grant by Built by Nature to lead a national research project into mass timber fire safety. With delivery partners at the University of Edinburgh Fire Research Centre, and with additional funding from BE-ST’s academic host Edinburgh Napier University, Timber Development UK, Confor and the Structural Timber Association, the project will address key knowledge gaps and present next steps for advancing fire safety research and regulatory policy for mass timber buildings. 

The research grant is a direct response to the UK Government’s 2023 request in its Timber in Construction Roadmap to identify the actions needed to improve understanding of how timber can be safely used in construction. 

The approach 

BE-ST will input the findings directly to the Government's Timber in Construction policy working group, creating a definitive roadmap of outstanding research and testing around the fire safety of mass timber, to address prevailing concerns held by many stakeholders throughout industry and Government.  

The project scope will leverage the University of Edinburgh’s expertise in timber research, along with BE-ST’s industry network, to create the roadmap and mobilise collaboration across industry and government stakeholders. Following an extensive literature review of mass timber fire safety at material, product, and system levels, plus an analysis of existing fire safety research on timber buildings in the UK and internationally, the project will define future research priorities.  

The team will also provide recommendations for both immediate policy actions to support the UK government and industry in advancing fire safety for multistorey timber buildings and to secure government commitment to future research and testing.  

The vision 

The project’s engagement and dialogue with a comprehensive range of built environment stakeholders will help drive collaborative and informed decision-making, fostering industry alignment and policy coherence necessary to reinforce and advance the case for safe, sustainable multistorey timber construction. 

“This project is about moving beyond an environment of doubt, concern, and negative perceptions towards a broader scientific understanding of mass timber construction,” says Joe Giddings, Built by Nature’s European Network Lead.