COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 10, 2017

MOTION NO.9

MOTION: Councillor F.N. Duffy

That this Council adopts a ‘Wood First Policy’ to facilitate a culture of wood, by requiring the use of wood as the primary building material where practical in all new and modified South Dublin County Council funded buildings. In a manner, consistent with the Irish Building Regulations, and National / EU sustainability policy objectives that substantially reduce embodied energy and CO2 emissions, which in turn protect our environment. Similar policies exist across the globe, some include the Wood First Act in British Columbia, Japan’s Law No. 36 of 2010 promoting the use of Wood materials for Public Buildings, and closer to home in 2012 Hackney in London became the first Local Authority to promote timber construction in its planning policy.

REPORT:

The Council uses wood as a key building material in terms of structure, joinery, doors and windows, kitchens etc., on all its buildings.

The St. Aidan’s housing scheme of 90 dwellings due to start on site shortly will be based on timber-frame construction, for example. Like all building materials, however, wood has limitations as well as advantages. Provenance of hardwoods, distances travelled, structural and load-bearing restrictions and problems of ongoing maintenance in a wet, humid climate like Ireland’s can create concerns about the universal use of wood construction. Fire safety concerns render wood unsuitable for certain types of structures – Tallaght Stadium and the park pavilions are not appropriate projects for wood as a first choice. The Council will seek to use wood wherever possible practical and a suitable choice following design analysis but advises against legislating for wood as a “first choice” in all projects.