ABSTRACT
Modern timber frame construction in the United Kingdom has been developed from North American and Scandinavian methods and bears little resemblance to the traditional, heavy oak-framed buildings of the late Middle Ages. Indeed, most modern timber frame houses, when built, are visually indistinguishable from their brick and block counterparts. Timber frame construction offers several potential advantages for developers over traditional brick and block forms of building. Timber frame construction can be relatively easily adapted to encompass high levels of thermal insulation. Timber widths have increased as higher insulation standards are demanded by the Building Regulations for new housing and are currently up to 140mm deep to accommodate insulation material. In recent years, timber-framed construction has also become popular for apartments/flats. The separating floors must provide good fire protection and sound insulation. A cavity barrier is a device which may be constructed of any material and is capable of providing fire resistance of at least half an hour.
