November 25, 2009

Woodframe construction

New Shanghai building code opens door for Canadian wood

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

The demand for Canadian wood products in China is being boosted by a new building code in Shanghai, as well as an agreement between the federal government and the city to promote wood-frame construction.

“When we first met the mayor of Shanghai, Han Zhang, he was the vice mayor responsible for construction,” said Paul Newman, executive director, market access and trade with the Council of Forest Industries.

“He said to crack the Chinese market and make wood a mainstream system, we must address the gaps in standardization and the building code system.”

Earlier this month, the key to opening up the Chinese market was achieved when Shanghai approved a new wood-frame building code.

“The same way in Canada we have a national building or design code, they have the same set up in China,” said Newman.

“The Shanghai building code is akin to the B.C. or Ontario building code, as it sets out requirements in that region. This code is much more detailed than the existing Chinese code at the national level.

The Shanghai Local Code is the most comprehensive and detailed code for wood-frame structures in China, addressing all technical issues related to wood-frame construction, including structural, fire, durability, energy conservation, noise transmission and construction inspection.

“The new code is the missing ingredient for getting started in China and opens up the way to do the same thing in other jurisdictions,” said Newman.

“Shanghai is seen as being an innovator in China.”

The development of the new building code comes at the same time that the federal and B.C. governments signed an agreement with the city of Shanghai to endorse wood-frame construction for affordable housing.

“Affordable housing links to an initiative by the Chinese government called security housing for low income people,” he said.

“Shanghai is one jurisdiction that is implementing the Chinese national governments housing security plan.”

According to Newman, six storey affordable housing units will be built, which have a concrete superstructure, but utilize wood for internal partitions and the roof.

The agreement with the Shanghai Housing Bureau is aimed at linking B.C. and Canada to a $141 billion urban housing initiative that’s part of China’s $586 billion stimulus package.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the Government of Canada, through Natural Resources Canada, will contribute $800,000 in 2009-10 to construct a wood-frame demonstration building to showcase the application of wood design and building materials.

The B.C. government will manage the project through Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), the province’s international marketing agency for wood products.

The City of Shanghai will provide land and some building materials.

Work on updating the building code has been underway since 2006.

Shanghai is one of the most important markets in China for Canadian wood products.

Canada is the second-largest supplier to China of softwood lumber after Russia, with about 98 percent of this lumber sourced from B.C.

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