Projects (23)

An Investigation into the Structural Performance of Engineered Wood I-Joists with Web Openings Mar 1, 2023 - Feb 28, 2026
This research will be conducted in collaboration with James Jones and Sons. The aim is to conduct a research investigation to evaluate the influence of geometrical and numerical configurations of web openings on the strength and stiffness of I-joists... Read More about An Investigation into the Structural Performance of Engineered Wood I-Joists with Web Openings.

Building From England's Woodlands Jul 1, 2022 - Jun 30, 2025
The focus of the project is to develop 5 building system concepts through innovative digital design, adapted to the characteristics of 5 underutilised home-grown English timber species. Each project should be developed to create 1:1 physical prototyp... Read More about Building From England's Woodlands.

SIRT 2021-2022 (WP1&2) Sep 1, 2021 - Jul 31, 2025
Our research activities are focused on understanding the physical and mechanical properties of wood and how these affect its performance in different applications. Our main aim is to better understand how the management site, and climate, of forests... Read More about SIRT 2021-2022 (WP1&2).

Commercialisation of Homegrown Wood Fibre Oct 2, 2023 - Mar 27, 2025
To enhance the utilisation of the current English Forest resource for built environment delivery and correspondingly influence future forest strategies by demonstrating what is possible and scalable. Derive these scalable solutions and stress test th... Read More about Commercialisation of Homegrown Wood Fibre.

An easier route for strength grading UK hardwoods Mar 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2026
The project aims to improve grading options for home-grown hardwoods, with a more cost-effective route to establishing grading and easier to apply visual grading rules for producers. Properties of three home-grown hardwood species are characterised b... Read More about An easier route for strength grading UK hardwoods.

SIRT Transition & Project Development 2023 Feb 1, 2023 - Jan 31, 2024
Forward planning for the SIRT project as we move into the new phase of the project in April. This includes time taken for field work not included in the original SIRT plan, project planning for the current and future projects and training for staff... Read More about SIRT Transition & Project Development 2023.

Phase I: Innovation and commercialisation of homegrown wood fibre insulation Jan 18, 2021 - May 31, 2022
A project that seeks to outline the innovation and commercial use of natural fibre insulation products in the UK. It will be based on a gap analysis of products that are currently available from natural fibre materials but are non-UK produced. Addit... Read More about Phase I: Innovation and commercialisation of homegrown wood fibre insulation.

SIRT 2020-2021 (WP1&2) Sep 1, 2020 - Aug 31, 2021
Our research activities are focused on understanding the physical and mechanical properties of wood and how these affect its performance in different applications. Our main aim is to better understand how the management site, and climate, of forests... Read More about SIRT 2020-2021 (WP1&2).

Digitisation of Home Grown Timber Products Jul 1, 2020 - Jun 30, 2021
The aim of this project is to determine the potential for the symbiosis of renewable resource (forestry, woody bio-mass and naturally replenishable) and the high value manufacture of a resilient and sustainable built environment leveraging the potent... Read More about Digitisation of Home Grown Timber Products.

Adapting to Industry 4.0 oriented international education and research collaboration Oct 1, 2020 - Sep 30, 2025
The project aims to utilise the seed fund from British Council to develop an international research and education network to 1) form a virtual research centre on AI and Robotic for Industry 4.0; 2) conducting a thorough evaluation of the current rese... Read More about Adapting to Industry 4.0 oriented international education and research collaboration.

SIRT 2019-20 (WP1&2) Sep 1, 2019 - Aug 31, 2020

Our research activities are focused on understanding the physical and mechanical properties of wood and how these affect its performance in different applications. Our main aim is to better understand how the management site, and climate, of forest... Read More about SIRT 2019-20 (WP1&2).

CSIC Mass Timber Commercialisaton Dec 1, 2019 - Aug 31, 2021
Edinburgh Napier University to investigate and undertake the following tasks:
•Collate, analyse and summarise their research base on mass timber and its viability as a construction technique for the UK construction industry.
•Update figures around... Read More about CSIC Mass Timber Commercialisaton.

SIRT 2018-19 (WP1&2) Aug 1, 2018 - Jul 31, 2019
Our research activities are focused on understanding the physical and mechanical properties of wood and how these affect its performance in different applications. Our main aim is to better understand how the management site, and climate, of forests... Read More about SIRT 2018-19 (WP1&2).

InFutUReWood Mar 1, 2019 - Feb 28, 2022
Timber and construction research

SIRT WP2 2017-18 Aug 1, 2017 - Jul 31, 2018
Timber grading standards support ensuring standards are good for the domestic timber industries, and supporting industry in using them

SIRT WP1 2017-18 Aug 1, 2017 - Jul 31, 2018
Applied research and knowledge transfer addressing industry needs – as set out by the SIRT management board. This includes providing information and advice to industry sponsors

Getting the numbers right and getting the right numbers: quantifying the embodied carbon of building structures Feb 1, 2018 - Apr 30, 2019
Building-related carbon emissions in the UK total over 200MtCO2e, which is more than 40% of the national figure. The correct measurement of the embodied carbon of structural materials would enable a reliable and correct assessment of the carbon inten... Read More about Getting the numbers right and getting the right numbers: quantifying the embodied carbon of building structures.

State of the art review of solar kiln technology Mar 22, 2017 - Mar 27, 2017
Forestry Commission Scotland have asked us to carry out a short review of solar kiln technology and, specifically, a kiln design proposed by a small Scottish sawmill.

The report is for the public benefit and will be openly available online.

Appearance grading Scots pine timber for joinery Dec 1, 2016 - Nov 30, 2017
This one year project will undertake a literature review and physical testing of Scots pine logs and boards. The aim of the project is to develop a predictive model of the knot characteristics of boards produced from Scots pine logs. The project will... Read More about Appearance grading Scots pine timber for joinery.

Extractives database support Mar 1, 2017 - Feb 28, 2018
Maintenance and hosting of website database developed in previous project