Re-establishing timber in Malaysia’s construction industry

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KUCHING: The traditional kampong house remains to this very day one of the richest components of Malaysia’s cultural and architectural heritage.

Mohd Ariff believes that timber has great potential in the local construction industry.

Typically built from Chengal and sometimes distinctively adorned with carved panels, the traditional kampong house does not only spark aesthetic interest but also is naturally cool through a clever combination of timber material and design.

Many kampong houses have been around for a several hundred years, proof that timber homes are highly durable and can outlast those made of other materials.

Increasingly a rarity in today’s urbanised residential setting, the wooden kampong house is fast disappearing and along with it, the use of timber in building construction.

Taking a deeper look into the misconceptions and scepticism of timber in construction, the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) recently held its Timber Talk Series entitled “Why Not Timber in Building Construction?” by distinguished speaker, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Ariff Jamaludin, senior lecturer heading the Bio-Composite Technology Programme at Universiti Teknologi Mara.

According to Mohd Ariff, scepticism and lack of knowledge were the root causes for this misperception on timber.

“Many believe that timbers cannot really perform in areas such as design, durability, fire resistance, costs and, production and fabrication.

Therefore, many are not open to the idea of using timber as a building material in construction,” he said during the event.

Citing various well-known timber buildings worldwide, namely, the Mokuzai Kaikan office tower in Tokyo and University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Earth Sciences Building in Canada, Mohd Ariff explained that timbers – predominantly glued-laminated and cross laminated timbers – were gaining popularity for multi-storey buildings in many developed countries as timber is light but durable and able to withstand heavy loads when properly engineered.

At the talk, Dr Mohd Ariff also debunked the misconception that timber is a costly building material.

He highlighted that cost has always been a function of design and that such calculations must also take into account the long-term cost of maintaining and servicing the building, not just the capital outlay of constructing it.

Shedding light on the myriad of timber species in Malaysia, he explained that some were less expensive but comparable to the strength of the better known heavy hardwoods.

Therefore, buyers could opt for cheaper options that are equally durable once properly treated.

Primarily, he stressed that knowledge is an essential tool to help builders and architects make smart choices when buying timber.

Participants were also informed that in a burning building, timber beams and columns are safer than those made from steel.

The naturally insulating properties of timber provide a predictable rate of burn, contributing to better fire safety. In the event of a fire, timber burns slowly and forms a char on the surface, leaving the inner structure intact, providing sufficient time for safe evacuation of occupants.

On the other hand, steel expands and can quickly buckle without warning under high temperatures.

Taking on a challenging topic, Mohd Ariff also explained the common reasons for failures in timber-based buildings and structures.

These include exposing timber structures to moisture, poor ground work, fabrications and installations, and repurposing of building spaces.

Through each example, he pointed out that it was not timber, but rather a lack of understanding of timber’s characteristics that contributed to these failures.

“Decay sets in when timber is exposed to moisture. Therefore, it is important that timber is always protected against soil or water and designed in such a way that the timber members get sufficient ventilation. Ground work is also important. Building on uneven ground requires some adjustments. Otherwise, it can cause timber structures to eventually split due to uneven pressure,” he added.

Mohd Ariff believes that timber has great potential in the local construction industry and commends MTC’s efforts in creating various opportunities to promote its benefits.

With Malaysia being blessed with abundant timber resources, members of the architectural and construction fraternity were also urged to be open to the possibilities and opportunities to use timber in construction.