HOUSING MONGOLIA - Wood Frame Building Code
Throughout the history of the world, humankind has needed shelter that is safe, warm and comfortable.
Wood has been a preferred building material due to its strength, economy, workability, beauty and its ability to last a long time. Wood has always been the durable and adaptable solution to our housing needs.
In many regions of the world where temperatures reach -40 or +40 Celsius annually, wood frame construction is a primary building choice for single and multi-family housing.
Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and countries across Europe - from Ireland to Germany and the United Kingdom to Sweden, Norway and Finland - build with wood. Most recently, China, Taiwan, and now Mongolia, have adopted new wood-frame building codes, recognizing the many benefits that wood construction offers.
The changes experienced by Mongolia today offer unique challenges in this search for shelter. In an effort to improve housing, energy efficiency and air quality, Mongolia’s Ministry of Construction and Urban Development recognizes the need for new, modern housing solutions.
After much research and a review of building systems around the world, Mongolia has selected the internationally recognized wood-frame building system and code of Canada, and has started a program to introduce this new, high quality housing in Mongolia.
Caption: From the ancient temples of Japan and the great stave churches of Norway to the structures built since the 1600’s in Europe and North America - wood construction is built to last.
The benefits for Mongolia will be many:
- Wood-frame construction is safe and strong.
- Wood-frame buildings are highly energy efficient and comfortable in cold northern climates.
- Building well-insulated homes makes it very cost effective to use new, energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly heating systems. These energy-efficient heating systems help to both improve indoor air quality, but also reduce winter pollution outside – making for a much healthier living environment.
- A wood-frame building can be easily expanded or altered over time as a family grows or space requirements change.
- Building with wood is unaffected by cold temperatures, extending the building season beyond the 5 months when concrete can be poured.
Caption: As part of the transition to better housing, demonstration homes built at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in Ulaanbaatar will allow visitors to experience modern wood-frame homes and their benefits. They will also help builders learn this new construction methodology.
There are many reasons wood frame construction techniques are recognized worldwide as a preferred housing solution:
Wood is light and easy to work with. On a strength-to-weight ratio, wood far outperforms all other common building materials such as concrete and steel in low-rise construction applications.
Wood-frame buildings are strong and durable. Wood-frame housing provides technical solutions for overcoming strong winds, heavy snow loads and extreme temperatures.
Advanced wood construction technology and modern building codes ensure safety and reliability, even in the event of earthquakes. Wood is flexible, so it is more capable of absorbing and dissipating seismic forces. Wood structures best resist severe shaking, producing the lowest risk to human injury and structural damage.
Wood is a natural insulator and delivers far better thermal performance than other building materials. This reduces energy consumption and lowers the cost of operating structures year round.
Modern wood construction is built to withstand and protect against fire, creating a safe living environment.
Wood construction is flexible. Walls can easily be adjusted and moved. Expansion of existing structures can be easily done, making it cost effective.
Wood frame building techniques are less expensive than most other forms of construction Wood buildings can be constructed in any season, and are fast to construct – making them a very affordable housing system well suited to Mongolia.
Caption: Concern about the world’s environment is encouraging the use of materials and designs that improve the environmental performance of building construction and operation. In addition to leaving a lighter footprint, wood-frame structures are healthier for occupants and more cost efficient to operate. Wood is the most environmentally friendly building material. It is versatile and recyclable. Unlike concrete or steel, wood is a natural element. Trees can be replanted – creating a limitless future supply of building materials.
Canada has been a leader in developing wood-frame building systems and products for a variety of climates and geographies. Canada’s housing standards and technology are recognized around the world. Many nations have come to Canada to gather information about housing and construction practices, and have adopted Canadian wood construction technology
As the largest wood product exporter in the world, Canada’s products are inspected and graded to ensure they meet the most demanding international quality control standards. They can be trusted to deliver strength, accuracy and long lasting performance in wood-frame structures.
As a global leader in sustainable forest management, Canada has a reputation for providing the world with a variety of quality wood products from sustainably-managed forests.
Recognizing the limits on Mongolia’s own wood resources, a partnership has been developed with Canada to adopt its wood construction technologies and to source Canada’s high quality, affordable wood building materials.