Perception and Use of Timber in Construction: A Case Study of Ireland and the UK

A survey was carried out to examine the perception of timber in construction among industry stakeholders within northwest Europe. The survey received responses from 17 countries in total. The total results of all respondents are presented along with results specifically from Ireland and the United Kingdom to examine differences in these regions in relation to the perception of timber as a construction material, the barriers impeding its use, and the educational needs and requirements of industry stakeholders. The use of timber in construction in these regions has arguably lagged behind the rest of Europe. A large proportion of participants (97.3%) expressed an interest in learning more about the benefits of timber in construction and highlighted topics of interest to them in their respective professions. The key findings from the survey have identified the educational needs and requirements of the industry and will inform future training courses/ material to support the increased use of timber in construction.