INTRODUCTION 16 Long lifetime and value preservation Long tradition in crafts and industry as well as targeted research and development have generated the experience to use the right product in the suitable manner for the various applications. Austrian institutions and businesses are internationally leading in the production and further development of wood and timber materials, and in state-ofthe-art production and processing techniques. In modern timber construction, all businesses that manufacture self-contained wall and ceiling elements are subject to internal and external supervision. Moreover, many businesses are voluntary members of workmanship and quality associations. The quality of the used timber materials and products is ensured by means of defined standards and permits. If wood is used professionally (constructive wood protection), it has a long lifetime and its value is preserved. Stability and light-weight Wood stands out for its very high static quality. In reference to its deadweight, wood carries 14 times as much as steel; its pressure resistance equals that of reinforced concrete. Multi-story wooden buildings and wide-area load-bearing structures are optimal areas of use. The reason for the high stability is the microstructure of wood, which ensures high load-resistance with simultaneously low deadweight. Wood is therefore a light-weight building material with excellent technical characteristics. In spite of its low weight, wood offers high tensile and pressure resistance and it is resilient to weathering when it is used correctly. More net useable area by virtue of narrower wall structures Wood has excellent heat insulating characteristics, which is why substantially leaner walls than in conventional construction can be incorporated in solid timber buildings. For example, the portion of walls in timber construction adds up to merely 20% of the constructed overall floor space, while this portion is greater in conventional buildings (see Figures 4 and 5). This means that up to 10% more residential space can be had in a building made of wood with the same exterior dimensions as a conventional building. In the case of a single-family home this means a gain of floor space of almost an entire room. For larger projects, this outstanding construction feature of wood also has positive effects on the construction density. Significantly less land is needed for high-quality residential buildings. Thus, also the cost share for land is reduced for all involved. Building with wood creates more living space. Figure 4 – Floor plan of a flat in the conventional construction style Residential floor space of 100 m² Figure 5 – Floor plan of a flat in the timber construction design Residential floor space of 110 m²
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