The Future Framing Initiative (FFI) is bringing industry and research together to tackle some of the barriers to using lightweight timber framing across larger and more diverse buildings.
In a recent episode of FTMA Australia’s F&T Time podcast, FTMA CEO Kersten Gentle interviewed Jon Shanks, a timber engineer at the University of Tasmania and key contributor to the FFI.
Shanks shared why the work goes far beyond developing a new standard, and what it could mean for the future of timber construction in Australia.
The FFI is a collaborative industry project managed by Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), focused on creating new pathways for lightweight timber construction in Australia.
For lightweight timber framing to play a bigger role in Australia’s built environment, the opportunity needs to be supported by more than ambition. It needs research, technical evidence, practical systems and, critically, industry behind it.
“There needs to be research, evidence-based research, framed around modern methods of construction, and this has to happen with industry,” Shanks said.
That industry backing is central to FFI. The initiative is supported by AKD, Dindas, Hyne Timber, Meyer Timber, MiTek, Multinail, OneFortyOne, Porta, Pryda, Stora Enso, Timber Truss, Wesbeam and Wespine.
For Shanks, that investment reflects industry recognition of the opportunity to create pathways for lightweight timber-framed buildings beyond the scale and building types currently covered by AS 1684.
“They understand, they see the value,” he said. “Providing this pathway to realise lightweight timber-framed buildings for scales bigger than AS 1684 covers, more than residential, they see the need for it.”
Designing for bigger opportunities
A key focus of FFI research is how lightweight timber framing can evolve from conventional stick construction towards systems and details better suited to offsite manufacture and modern methods of construction.
That includes investigating the efficient use of studs, the role of noggings and potential alternatives, as well as developing more standardised construction details.
The aim is to give designers standardised details and construction practices that support modern methods of construction from much earlier in the design process.
This becomes particularly important as timber moves into larger and more complex buildings, where considerations such as fire and acoustics need to be addressed early.
As Shanks explained, this work can help steer those decisions from the outset, allowing timber to be considered earlier in the project.
Building knowledge and industry capability
FFI is not only advancing research and standards development, it’s also building capability across the industry. With work spanning the supply chain, from sawmills and producers to manufacturers, each project provides an opportunity to capture existing knowledge, upskill the people involved and strengthen connections across the sector.
“We often lose all those notes. We have so much intelligence, but we have too many people reaching retirement, so it’s so important to document information as we go as an industry,” Gentle said.
The work underway through the FFI creates an opportunity to capture more of that technical knowledge and embed it in resources the industry can continue to build on.
One major piece of work Shanks highlighted is the revision of AS 1720.1.
“AS 1720 Part 1 is being revised as part of this work. This effectively lets you do anything with timber frame,” he said.
The standard has not undergone a major revision for 16 years, with FFI funding supporting this work.
“It’s a huge piece of work and it will open so many doors.”
But building capability is about more than standards. Shanks also pointed to FFI’s engagement with universities and early-career researchers, bringing emerging researchers into the timber space and helping develop the next generation of industry expertise.
De-risking the move into bigger buildings
Ultimately, the work is intended to create more practical pathways for designers, builders and manufacturers to consider and deliver larger lightweight timber-framed buildings.
When asked what the new standard could mean for frame and truss manufacturers, Shanks said:
“It will de-risk things for builders. It will enable frame and truss manufacturers to take on these bigger buildings.”
He also sees opportunities for greater collaboration, with businesses potentially combining resources to participate in projects bigger than those they might traditionally tackle individually.
“There’s an opportunity to take on and contribute to buildings that are way bigger than an individual frame and truss company may think of taking on their own,” he said. “It’ll open collaboration.”
While that creates a clear opportunity for the frame and truss sector, the implications of clearer pathways for larger lightweight timber buildings extend across the built environment, from manufacturers and suppliers to engineers, designers, builders and researchers.
“The future is bright”
Asked what he ultimately wanted manufacturers to take from the initiative, Shanks was optimistic.
“The future is bright. The timing couldn’t be better.”
“There’s no doubt that lightweight timber frame is part of the solution to decarbonising the built environment, providing quality houses, providing an engaging and rewarding career for young folk. There’s a whole bunch of exciting things coming from this.”
That captures the bigger ambition behind FFI.
It is not simply about developing technical documents. It is about bringing research, industry knowledge and investment together to make it easier to consider, design and deliver timber across more of Australia’s built environment.
Hear more about the Future Framing Initiative
Listen to Jon Shanks and Kersten Gentle discuss the Future Framing Initiative in FTMA Australia’s F&T Time podcast.
Be first to hear what’s next
Want to stay across the Future Framing Initiative and be among the first to hear when the draft standard is released for broader industry consultation?
Visit the FWPA Future Framing Initiative page to learn more about the work underway and sign up for updates as the new industry standard progresses towards broader industry consultation.
