Key publications have been updated and thousands of pieces have been printed and distributed by Canada Wood including Canada’s Sustainable Forest Products, SPF Products and Caring for Elderly with Wood, among others.
During the past year, Canada Wood Group made significant progress opening up the market for five and six-storey platform-frame construction (PFC) wooden mid-rise buildings in Japan. New market research has identified opportunities in the midrise and hotel segments that could generate an additional 250,000 m3 annually of new forest products demand.
Demand for wood pellets in Japan has jumped from 65,000 (2012) to 350,000 tonnes per year (2016), with Canada supplying 80% of the market.
For the first time, Canada Wood Group and its in-market partners have achieved a two-hour fire rating for wood-based assemblies.
In 2016, Canada Wood and the Japan 2x4 Home Builders Association jointly obtained a series of fi ve two-hour "fireproof" approvals from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for 2x4 exterior walls, standard and double Midply partition walls, party walls and fl oor assemblies.
Completed in March 2016, and following efforts to obtain two-hour fireproof approvals, Japan completed a six-storey, two-by-four demonstration project (funded by the Japanese government), which shows the viability of six storey, two-by-four, mid-rise structures made entirely from wood by incorporating “fireproof” features, a double-Midply wall system and other innovations.
Wood building technology developed in B.C. is key to the design of a new elderly care facility now under construction in Japan.
The Japan 2x4 Home Builder Association reported another strong year for fireproof building approvals with 275 applications being processed for a combined total floor area of 88,240 m² for the fiscal year 2014.
Delegates from B.C.’s 2014 forest sector trade mission to Asia helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of Canada Wood and COFI establishing a presence in Japan.
More than 40,000 industry visitors had the opportunity to learn about B.C.’s innovative wood products and building systems at the Japan Home and Building Show in Tokyo.
BC Wood Specialities Group coordinates trade show activities in Japan on behalf of Canada Wood Group and uses eye-catching displays to build traffic and consumer interest.
Wood building technology developed in B.C. has played a key role in the design of a proposed new elderly care facility in Japan.
On February 12, 2014, Canada Wood celebrated the opening of the Jericho Support Centre in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The third of four buildings under the $4.6 million Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project opened this past summer in Japan.
On March 11, 2011 a 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred off Japan’s northeast coast in the area of Sendai. The earthquake and resulting tsunami caused mass fatalities, casualties and catastrophic loss of infrastructure.
Increasing awareness of the use of SPF in post-and-beam design was achieved through displays at trade events such as at the Japan Kenzai Fair in 2013.