Wood Building Construction: Trends and Opportunities in Structural and Envelope Systems

Purpose of Review

The main goal of this study was to review the latest developments in the use of wood-based building materials and systems over the last 5 years. The methodology was carried out by using the systematic review procedure. This study considered only peer-reviewed articles written in English published over the last 5 years (2018 to 2022) on materials used in structural systems and building envelopes.

Recent Findings

The energy demand for cooling and heating represents from 40 to 60% of a building’s energy consumption depending on the energy mix. Every increase in energy efficiency increases the pressure on the energy embedded in the materials. In this context, bio-based and especially wood-based materials are gaining popularity. Their use is significant in structural and envelope systems, making them a powerful tool for working on both efficiency and embedded energy. Furthermore, the building construction industry is among the most significant in the economy of industrialized countries.

Summary

Forests are a carbon asset for our societies. Since buildings have been identified as a global warming mitigation tool, an increase in the use of wood and bio-based products should be considered. To support a better scientific understanding of building carbon sequestration under climate changes, a thorough understanding of structural and envelope systems is needed. Various materials are used in these complex systems, and a variety of assembly options are available. In structural systems, research has tended to be incremental over the last 5 years, with a focus on prefabrication and hybrid structures. As new designs and materials are introduced in the future, building physics principles will become increasingly important to ensure the quality of building envelopes. This review presents the latest research related to wood structural and envelope systems to support their use in the construction industry.