Life Timber for All Project: Industrializing structures combining wood and concrete
Life Timber for All focuses on the development of a family of hybrid industrialized structural systems made of wood and concrete, which will integrate low-carbon concrete made from biomass ash and certified local wood from sustainable forest management. These systems not only aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to precast concrete structures, but also to store carbon long-term. The project also includes certifications and digital passports (DPPs) for the new products.
Evaluation of off-site building systems for bathrooms and kitchens
Drafting of an evaluation protocol according to European and Spanish regulatory criteria for industrialized systems for bathrooms and kitchens where wall-sized elements are delivered to the site with pre-fitted water, electricity and drainage pipes, as well as with the final surface finish.
Analysis of the requirements affecting façade panels with a wooden frame
While developing an off-site façade system based on panels with a wooden substructure, the researchers need to anticipate which kind of legal framework affects a construction system like this one. To this end, ITeC has been asked to identify the relevant regulatory requirements according to Spanish and European legislation, as well as the methods for verifying compliance with these requirements.
Evaluation of a timber construction system for multi-storey buildings
A company has developed a construction system for multi-storey buildings consisting of timber beams, columns, floors and walls which are joined together using adhesives, while mechanical fasteners are only required temporally during the construction process. Although there are European Assessment Documents (EADs) for timber components and kits, the specificity of this new system means that they cannot be used to obtain the CE marking. ITeC has been consulted to find alternatives.
Maderaula Project: harnessing the potential of native timber in industrialized construction
Maderaula project aims to develop new products derived from native pine species to introduce them to the industrialized construction market and thus reduce its dependence on imported wood. ITeC contributes by analyzing the competitiveness of proposed building solutions, comparing their performance with that of other existing systems, and suggesting ways to optimize them.
InCUBE project: deep renovation, within easier reach
Assuming the premise that no two building renovations are the same, the InCUBE project brings together a wide range of construction products, energy systems, digital design tools and resources for site workers, which can be chosen and combined until they meet the goals and needs of each specific project. The InCUBE repertoire will be put to the test in three demo pilots with a very heterogeneous profile: residential or tertiary use, with or without heritage value, publicly- or privately-owned, occupied or empty during the renovation works...
PLURAL project: energy renovation with industrialized 'plug & play' façade components
The renovation kits developed by PLURAL integrate different renewable energy technologies, so they become part of the building at the same time as the façade is renewed. A complementary tool will facilitate decision-making for project designers, directing them to the kits most suitable for the building, the climate and the occupants. It will also reduce manufacturing costs and reduce delivery times.
Contribution to the drafting of the European Assessment Document for timber building kits
CE marking of timber building kits has been carried out according to the criteria of the ETA Guideline ETAG 007, which was first published in 2001. This has changed with the European Regulation for construction products (EU) 305/2011, which required CE marking to be regulated by a European Assessment Document (EAD). ITeC has contributed to revise this ETAG and develop it into the EAD that the Technical Assessment Bodies of the whole EU will use to evaluate timber building systems based in large, prefabricated elements (walls, floors, roofs) produced in series.
Assessment of industrialized building systems based on steel structures
Definition of an assessment protocol according to the European and Spanish regulatory criteria for industrialized building systems based on modules with a structure of metal profiles to be covered with panels that provide insulation and different finishes. It contemplates performance issues from different sides: structural, fire safety, user safety, thermal and acoustic insulation, hygiene, health, environment and durability.
Assessment of clamping systems for precast concrete members
A precast concrete manufacturer has developed a clamping system that connects a beam with the column on which it rests and with the column on the upper storey, transmitting tensile, compression and shear forces. At the time of evaluating the system, it was not covered by any harmonized standard or by any EAD (European Assessment Document), so ITeC has drafted a new EAD to fill the legal gap, as allowed by the Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011.
