Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
511. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the contribution the forestry industry is making to the housing construction industry from an environmental perspective; if he will support the further development of timber-frame construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/20]
View answerAll new dwellings must comply with building regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The building regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) or an extension to an existing building as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings.
The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the second schedule to the building regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M).
Building regulations are performance based. My Department does not have an approval function and does not approve or endorse products for compliance with the building regulations or standards.
I.S.440: 2009+A1:2014 Timber Frame Construction, Dwellings and other Buildings is the Irish standard on timber frame construction (as referenced in Technical Guidance Document A Structure 2012 and Technical Guidance Document B Fire Vol 2 2017). I.S. 440 refers to responsibilities, materials, design, manufacture, construction details, site work and services.
My Department encourages the use of standards and rapid delivery frameworks for delivery of social housing in the construction sector which supports all construction technologies including timber frame. In addition, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are leading a construction productivity workgroup which also supports all construction technologies.
Embodied Carbon in construction materials makes a significant contribution to the lifetime carbon emissions of new buildings as the operational carbon emissions for heating, lighting and other services have been significantly reduced in Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. Measures to take account of embodied carbon emissions are proposed in the Climate Action Plan and in the Construction Products Regulation.
Under the Climate Action Plan, the Office of Public Works are putting in place a roadmap to promote greater use of lower-carbon building material alternatives in construction and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are carrying out a research and development project to examine life cycle analysis and embedded energy in buildings to compare the use of sustainable materials.
In addition, at EU level under the Construction Products Regulation a framework is being discussed to look at the impacts on the wider environment that occur during the whole life cycle of a construction product. The European Commission has invited stakeholder opinion from industry and others through online workshops and a recent survey.
