China: New standard to allow more timber to be used in construction

China has recently released a new design code for timber structure as to give a boost to the industry to extend the use of wood and improve the grading system of wood strength, Canada Wood reported. 

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban and Rural construction, this new standard, numbered as GB50005-2017, will come into effect on the 1st of August 2018 and highlights contents about the grading system of wood strength and its design specifications.

Item 3.1.3、3.1.12、4.1.6、4.1.14、4.3.4、4.3.6、7.4.11、7.7.1、11.2.9 in the new standard is compulsory and should be strictly implemented into practice, according to Canada Wood.

This new code guarantees to improve the design criteria for glued timber structure and light wood structure, along with increasing the use of domestic wood species and imported wood species.

Also, it will make additional design requirements on structure composite materials and engineered wood products, as well as carrying out comprehensive research and unify the calculation requirement of wood structure components and connectors, Canada Wood says. 

The GB50005-2017 design code will, further on, improve the design criteria for glued timber structure and light wood structure, along with the regulation on seismic design and structure requirement. Also, it will coordinate and improve the requirements on fire-protection design and structure requirements.