COFI is pleased to announce that it has received funding confirmation from both Forestry Innovation Investment and the Canada Wood Export Program for the new fiscal year started April 1, 2004. The CWEP program, under Natural Resources Canada has awarded COFI $1.5 million for activities in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan. FII contracts total approximately $600,000 (not including South Korean funding - to be announced at a later date). This level of funding will permit COFI and its market access partners to continue the comprehensive programs launched in Asia over the course of the last two years.

We wish to thank Natural Resources Canada and the BC FII for their continued support and cooperation.

The last nine months have been an extraordinarily busy and productive time for the market access team at COFI / Canada Wood. We provide a summary of our activities below:

JAPAN

Fire Approvals Spark Positive Reaction from Builders:
More than 550 register for upcoming Fire Seminars to be held in Tokyo June 1
COFI and the Japan 2x4 Association successfully secured 5 Ministerial approvals validating the performance of wood frame assemblies to so-called ‘fire proof’ performance levels, under the Japanese building standards law. This is the first time wood assemblies have attained fireproof performance ratings and we are hopeful that this will lead to increased penetration of wood construction in urban areas of Japan and in building types that previously would not allow wood construction. COFI in conjunction with the 2X4 association will be delivering numerous fire seminars across Japan. The purpose of the seminars is to communicate the favorable regulation changes that will allow wood-frame construction in previously banned zones. The response to the advertising of these seminars thus far has far surpassed expectations.

View the Fireproof Testing Report (2MB): Testing Report 2003

As an editorial committee member COFI contributed to the compilation of a Wooden Hybrid Design Manual. COFI was responsible for writing 2 chapters in the manual covering medium rise wooden projects and height shrinkage relative to the change in moisture content in structural lumber.

COFI completed a market research report on Promotion of Canadian Lumber for Use in Non-Residential Buildings. This identifies an emerging market for elderly care facilities, health care buildings, social welfare facilities, kindergarten and day care centers. Non-residential low-rise buildings represent a relatively untapped market for wood construction and a significant opportunity to expand the consumption of Canadian wood products.

COFI`s recommendations to The Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transportation in a proposed revision of the Building Standards Law to allow solid lumber to be used equally with glulam in heavy timber construction has resulted in a change of regulations favorable to the use of Canadian lumber. Now not only JAS 143 but also NLGA grading rule and JPS-1 are officially recognized ensuring equal treatment of solid sawn lumber graded to Canadian grading rules. This will allow solid sawn lumber to be used where designers do not have to follow prescriptive rules for things such as shear wall requirements if they conduct structural engineering calculation.

CHINA
On January 1/04, the Wood Design Code GBJ50005 was promulgated. The new Code includes a chapter on light frame construction based on the National Building Code of Canada as well as grade rules that mirror the NLGA Rule for dimension lumber. In addition, design values for North American lumber products are tabulated in the Appendix and are the only imported lumber products referenced at this time.

COFI published an authoritative builder’s reference the ‘Guide to Good Practice’ in mandarin. The Guide is a hands-on publication to be used on the job site and in training as a practical manual for construction advice and guidance

In the early months of 2004 COFI launched a new initiative directed at potential users of wood construction, called the Canada Wood House Service Centre. The Service Centre bundles items such as the Guide and Inspection Manual, a product literature binder, along with planned quarterly newsletters and technical seminars and plus a technical advice hot-line for members who register for this service. We are hopeful that this service will be up and running in mid-2004.

Market research was undertaken on wood trusses as well as treated wood use in China. COFI participated with the Quebec Wood Export Bureau in two truss seminars that highlighted the opportunities for wood truss usage in wood and non wood buildings.

Training: in December 2003 the University of British Columbia partnered with Tongji University to deliver a three week course to engineering students on wood engineering. This is the first time in 20 years that a comprehensive wood engineering program has been offered in China. On the vocational side BCIT completed its certified instructor training program with the Shanghai Real Estate Education Centre. Eleven Chinese instructors were accredited as qualified wood frame instructors by BCIT.

TAIWAN
In October 2003, the Construction and Planning Administration (CPA) approved a revised wood design code enabling the use of light platform frame construction. The code references a prescriptive design manual based on American Wood Council procedures for high wind and seismic condition meaning our products are included.

COFI also submitted a request to the CPA for Canadian lumber and panel standards to be directly recognized by the building authorities. Following an evaluation undertaken by Forintek, COFI met with the CPA standards review committee and, while not formally confirmed at the time of writing, it appears that Canadian standards will be directly recognized in Taiwan for use in wood stuctures.

In March 2003, BCIT and Royal Oak College in Vancouver launched training activities directed at builders and designers in Taiwan. Training programs were held in two separate centres and were well attended.

KOREA
In Korea market research was undertaken on the prospects for wood construction in that country and also the application of structural wood products as alternatives to traditional building components.

JAPAN

• Commercialization and adoption of the fire-proof approvals by the Japanese construction industry.
• Research on improving the fire resistance on traditional P&B Japanese houses.
• Evaluating design values assigned to European species.
• Addressing potential future issues connected to air quality legislation introduced by the Ministry of Health.

CHINA

• Implementation of the Service Centre.
• Vocational and designer training programs to be offered on a commercial basis.
• Product acceptance initiatives including registration of Canadian gradestamps.
• Detailed research and builder guidance on techniques to avoid condensation risk in hot and humid climates.
• Work on relaxing fire code barriers.
• Publication of 3 wood frame construction product case studies.
• A wood frame construction media campaign.
• Market research on wood infill panels in non wood construction.
• Participation in the development design manual for GB50005 code.

TAIWAN

• Continuation of training activities.
• Acceptance of Canadian standards
• Development of a Taiwanese Guide to Good Practice.

KOREA

• Appointment of a contract representative.
• Research work to overcome restrictive fire code barriers.
• Production of a Korean Guide to Good Practice
• An assessment of wood construction skills and training deficiencies.

AUSTRALIA

• Assignment of Australian grades to North American NLGA lumber grades.

NORTH AMERICA
COFI has been active as a leading proponent in the creation of Canada Wood Market Access, a consortium of associations cooperating in the delivery of market access services for Canadian industry. COFI is pleased to announce that as of April 1, 2004 it has come to an arrangement with the Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB), CFLA and CanPly to jointly undertake market access activities in overseas markets. It is agreed that COFI will take the lead role in Asia and QWEB will play the lead role in Europe. The association/groups will operate under the moniker Canada Wood Market Access. We are hopeful that other organizations such as Alberta Forest Products Association will join the consortium in the future.

PHTYOSANITARY UPDATE
Member companies have been reporting significant back-logs and delays in receiving Government of Canada phyto-sanitary certificates required for markets such as South Korea. At a recent meeting between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board (CLSAB), it was agreed that the two organizations would work together towards developing a CFIA approved program that would incorporate the use of CLSAB and its accredited grading agencies’ marks. In the interim CFIA have indicated that the previous mill certification scheme for Europe has been re-instituted and that additional resources have been added to accelerate the issuance of GOC phytos.

Further information will be provided as it comes available.

• Inventory Levels at Tokyo Ports (49KB): Japan Inventory Levels
• Canadian American Lumber Movements at the Tokyo Ports (51KB): Tokyo Port Movements
• Japan Statistics (43KB): Japan Statistics

Opportunities for wood roof systems China
Currently, the Chinese government is promoting the design of pitched roofs to beautify the skyline as well as eliminate some of the leaky roof problems with associated flat roofs. This study examines the opportunities for the wood truss system in China. The report also includes a cost analysis of setting up a truss factory in China.
Click to see table of contents

Opportunities for the use of solid wood products in traditional structures and applications
Hemlock for concrete forms, sub floors, and interior decorating are a few of the markets identified. Restoration of historical sites is also examined and shows a potential for timbers and larger sized lumber products as well as cedar products.
Click to see table of contents

Market opportunities for wood-frame construction (Growth projections and comparative cost analysis)
This study examines the viability of wood-frame construction in China and provides an interesting cost analysis that compares the cost difference of building a reinforced concrete house vs. the same house using the 2X4 wood-frame system.
Click to see table of contents

Wood-Frame Housing Quality Assurance Program
This report lays out the necessary steps to implement a wood-frame quality assurance program in China by looking at the existing systems in China and comparing them to those in Canada.
Click to see table of contents

Cost Comparison: Wood-frame vs. traditional construction
This study examines the viability of wood-frame construction in Taiwan and provides an interesting cost analysis that compares the cost difference of building a reinforced concrete house vs. the same house using the 2X4 wood-frame system.
Click to see table of contents

Opportunities and prospects for the use of wood in residential and non-residential construction (light wood frame, heavy timber, wood building components)
A number of demographic and socio-economic market forces and government policies are driving South Korea’s ever-increasing use of wood construction and the growing demand for sold wood products, wood building components and finishing products there. This report identifies the prospects for the use of wood in residential and non-residential construction, light wood frame construction, heavy timber structures, other wood building components, as well as secondary wood products for interior and exterior furnishings.
Click to see table of contents