31/10/2025
The global push for sustainable construction has brought timber to the forefront of architectural innovation. From residential buildings to large-scale commercial projects, timber is prized for being renewable, for having a lower carbon footprint and for its aesthetic appeal.
Mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (glulam), are redefining the possibilities of modern construction.
A notable example is the Sara Kulturhus Centre in Skellefteå, Sweden. This 20-storey, mixed-use building is constructed almost entirely from CLT and glulam, combining prefabricated modules and glulam columns to form the structural core and load-bearing system. Over its 50-year life cycle, the building is expected to sequester more carbon than it emits, effectively making it carbon negative.
From a fire safety perspective, Sara Kulturhus demonstrates how timber can be engineered to achieve high levels of fire resistance. Its cross-laminated timber (CLT) elements are designed to char predictably, and fire tests showed that they could maintain their load-bearing capacity for up to 90 minutes.Timber buildings are expected to remain stable even after the fire, which highlights the need for detailed design, testing and simulation to ensure post-fire structural integrity.
To support this evolution, Efectis offers full-scale and component testing, charring and fire performance modelling, performance-based engineering and integrated design reviews with simulation. We also provide design approval support, helping architects, engineers and regulators ensure that timber buildings meet both sustainability and safety objectives. The current newsletter offer a view about the wok of Efectis, from research to the characterization of construction project.
The timber boom is more than a trend; it is a defining moment for construction. By combining sustainable materials with rigorous fire safety measures, we can build a future that is both greener and safer.
For more information, please contact Talal Fateh