The influence building codes and fire regulations have on multi-storey timber construction in australia

Timber is an environmentally friendly building material that is both renewable and reusable, though being combustible by nature meant historically it has been viewed in some parts of the world as an inferior structural material to steel and concrete in multi-storey construction. Buildings are responsible for a substantial amount of material and energy consumption. The environmental properties of materials aren't traditionally a design or construction priority and typically cost, performance characteristics and aesthetics have governed the choice of structural materials. This trend is beginning to change as the issues associated with climate change continue to come to the forefront and governments and industry look for ways to assuage its effects. Choosing environmentally sustainable building materials is beginning to become a client and tenant expectation and industry is starting to follow suit. Life Cycle Assessment studies have outlined when timber is used as an alternative structural material to steel and concrete the overall environmental impact of the building can be reduced