Factory building follows new trend in timber

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 13

Factory building follows new trend in timber

A Hornby packaging factory is following a new trend in industrial building by putting up a large extension to its premises in laminated timber. It is already popular in the North Island, and Christchurch could expect to see more like the 150 m by 18m Printpac extension, said the company’s consulting engineer, Dr Andrew Buchanan. Dr Buchanan said that although builders had used laminated timber in housing for years, the industrial sector was just catching on to its advantages over steel or concrete.

As well as being cheaper, timber was

lighter for foundation and earthquake resistance work and, surprisingly, more fire-resistant. “I know it sounds a bit crazy because timber burns and steel does not but laminated timber does not burn easily, while steel structures collapse very quickly in a fire,” Dr Buchanan said.

There were also insurance and tax advantages, Dr Buchanan said. Insurance companies were reducing premiums on laminated timber buildings because of their fire resistance, while the Inland Revenue Department was giving greater depreciation values because they were not expected to

last as long. One had only to look at the 2000-year-old timber buildings of China and Japan to see that this was not so, he said. Work on the $450,000 Printpac extension began before Christmas and is expected to- take three months. The timber roof, which has been assembled on the ground, will be lifted into place in 18m square sections today.

The extension is unusual because the original building is steel-framed. It was designed by Buchanan and Fletcher, Ltd, and is being built by Armitage and Williamson Construction, Ltd.