The CLICKdesign project is developing a performance based specification protocol to enable a software tool for architects, specifiers and the public to embed service life performance specification for wood.
This will help increase market confidence with users for selecting wood as a reliable product and enhance an optimised performance of timber in the built environment.
Watch the video:
“Delivering fingertip knowledge to enable service life performance specification of wood” by Ed Suttie
The slides from this presentation are also available to download as a PDF.
CLICKdesign goes beyond the current position by:
Robust forecasting of aesthetic changes on surfaces developing the kinetic and/or intensity of variation in such changes due to location, microclimate, architectural design and materials used for construction.
Studying spatial distribution of fungal decay and its interaction with moisture transport and resulting gradients in buildings.
Development of a termite/insect performance measure for the first time in Europe.
Robust integrated performance classification based on the whole set of external parameters – the foundation established for decay, material and integrity aspects, aesthetic limits and performance and termite/insect performance aspects.
Providing a CLICKdesign tool that utilises European standards, the latest research findings and wood databases and puts it at the fingertips of specifiers and users.
Features wholly not integrated into specification now such as the significant variations due to climate change and exposure dose for wood products and also the distribution and locations of wood destroying organisms, which may for example expand termite risk zones in Europe.
Inspiring new wood and wood-based products using the tool, supported by training outreach, and creating business opportunities for industries to innovate
The project is organised into 8 work packages
Position and existing models
led by C Brischke, UGOE
Clarifying the significance of ‘missing’ features
led by C Brischke, UGOE
Aesthetic performance of building
led by J Sandak, InnoRenew
Impact of decay on integrity
led by S Fortino, VTT
A measure of termite and insect performance
led by M Kutnik, FCBA
Validation of models & development of specification tool
led by E Frühwald Hansson, Lund University
Transnational dissemination
led by E Suttie, BRE
Project Management
led by E Suttie, BRE
Industry Group
More information about the Industry Group Partners.
CLICKdesign Industry Group
CLICKdesign has a diverse and growing Industry Group who will help bring together the modelled components of performance of wood in use to develop the specification open source tool.
The Industry Group will contribute directly to the work and are invited to participate in meetings to share their experiences and expertise, contribute to reviewing key project outputs, participate in national workshops and pilot the tool to ensure CLICKdesign has practical implementation and uptake. This approach will enable the specification of wood based on performance to become more mainstream which will optimise use and deliver greater user confidence and satisfaction.
The project is significantly enhanced by the Industry Group of engineering offices, architects, trade associations, forest product manufacturers and public authorities from Germany, Finland, UK, Slovenia, Sweden and Norway. We are actively seeking the input of more architects, SMEs, trade associations and companies so get in touch if you’d like to join.
CLICKdesign in the news
Performance Based Specification Of Wood
Fundamental to the continued growth of wood in construction is reliable information on the performance of wood in different end-use environments. Ed Suttie, Director at BRE outlines how Project CLICKdesign is set to kick-start a knowledge revolution.
Project CLICKdesign is supported under the umbrella of ERA-NET Cofund ForestValue by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (MIZS) – Slovenia; The Ministry of the Environment (YM) – Finland; The Forestry Commissioners (FC) – UK; Research Council of Norway (RCN) -Norway; The French Environment & Energy Management Agency (ADEME) and The French National Research Agency (ANR) – France; The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS), Swedish Energy Agency (SWEA), Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) – Sweden; Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) – Germany. ForestValue has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 773324.