Chapter 11: Timber design

Timber is widely used for building construction in highly seismic areas, in both the developed and developing world, and its use is increasing. Timber is a renewable, potentially carbon-neutral construction material, particularly when supplied from sustainable sources, and its low weight relative to its strength make it easy to transport. Moreover, the timber components of a building are straightforward to connect and form. With current production methods, small components can be assembled into strong, reliable composites, avoiding the dependence on natural growth to achieve long spans or special shapes. Architects – and their clients – like the natural beauty of exposed timber. These aspects combine to make it an attractive building material.