The selection of a structural system is an important decision as it dictates which materials will be used in a building. This makes structural and serviceability performance a very important attribute for the use of wood products. With its alliances, Forintek has been and still is one of the main providers of the technical information to keep wood structural systems competitive with respect to other materials.
A review of our structural research strategy as part of the Building Systems Program was undertaken so that our efforts focus on the areas with the greatest positive impact on Canadian wood products and systems. A national strategy for structural research in line with Forintek’s strategic research direction was developed in consultation with representatives from the wood products industry and the structural engineering community.
As wood construction evolves to absorb emerging engineered products and hybrid building techniques, the resulting system provides opportunities for the wood products industry to obtain a larger share of the non-residential building market, which has traditionally been the domain of non-wood products. The national structural strategic plan will further enhance Forintek’s contributions towards maintaining and expanding markets for Canadian wood products and systems.