“There is a renaissance taking place in the use of timber for construction and considerable renewed interest in the use of timber for building envelopes”. We spoke to Professor Callum Hill, JCH Industrial Ecology Limited, who is well acquainted with the SiOO:X Silicon technology.

“Timber is a very versatile material that serves as a (long-term) temporary storage for atmospheric carbon and has considerable potential for producing buildings with favourable environmental credentials. Wood can be used in several applications from single-family dwellings to large multi- storey buildings.” *

SiOO:X is playing an increasing role in this renaissance using silicon technology to modify and improve the properties of the wood and protect the substrate.

“There are many ways in which the properties of the material can be improved, but above all else, what is most important is the application of good design principles and an understanding of how this material behaves in the environment. Selection of the correct wood species and cladding type and orientation of the boards for optimal  performance form a part of a functioning facade, but the protective measures achieved by design potentially affect the service life of the whole building envelope. Some of the vital measures include ensuring appropriate ventilation, properly directing splashing water and rainfall and avoiding trapping and ingress of moisture.’*

Only through applying good design principles in combination with appropriate interventions to improve material properties will the desirable outcome of life extension be achieved. SiOO:X, when applied to building envelopes and structures where good design principles have been implemented and where sensible inspection and maintenance regimes are used, will give long life before re-treatment is needed to sustain aesthetic appearance.  The beneficial protective property changes conferred by SiOO:X in the timber substrate remain throughout the lifetime of the timber product and do not change.

*  Review of the use of solid wood as an external cladding material in the built environment 

Callum Hill, Maija Kymalainen and Lauri Rautkari. Published by Springer.