A UK Guide to Insuring Mass Timber Buildings

The components of the MTIP are qualitative design review, solutions engineering and peer review as outline in the graphic from page 8 of the Playbook.

Obtaining insurance for a mass timber home is often flagged as challenging by designers, developers and homeowners because the industry perceives it as risky. In the UK, the insurance industry is responding to the client's desire to build with timber, and the construction industry is responding to insurers' concerns.

At the UK Timber Design Conference in June, Kate Fairhead, Head of Mass Timber for Construction at specialty insurance broker Marsh, provided insights into how insurers perceive timber buildings. She advised early engagement with the insurance broker to demonstrate that you can address key concerns.

"Insurance is now frequently being considered at the design phase of timber buildings", Fairhead said. "This is very refreshing because, with most other buildings, it is thought of last – sometimes just a few months before starting onsite".

The fact that a risk-management approach is increasingly being brought in at the infancy of projects benefits all parties. Fairhead explained: "From the insurer's point of view, a risk-management approach is essential because timber projects – whether lightweight or mass timber – are associated with greater risk. This perception is not likely to change any time soon".

In 2023, the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products published The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook: A Guide to Insuring Mass Timber Buildings. It is co-authored by Philip Callow and Jim Glockling and funded by Built by Nature, Marsh, and Zurich Resilience Solutions.

Robert Innes, Senior Risk Engineer and Construction & Power Team Leader of Zurich Resilience Solutions writes in the Foreword of the Playbook:

"The insurance industry wants to support sustainable construction,but for this to happen, there must be a better understanding of the needs and requirements of all parties involved. We can overcome the insurance challenges by engaging with the insurance industry earlier in the building's lifecycle and through close collaboration by all parties.

"The Mass Timber Insurance Playbook (MTIP) was created specifically to help create a platform to facilitate this collaboration and early engagement. The Playbook aims to do this by giving the reader insight into the key insurer considerations, providing engagement guidance linked to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) stages and outlining some essential mitigation principles.

"The Playbook provides us with a real opportunity to address all parties' needs and deliver sustainable buildings considered best in class for building safety and property protection during construction and operation", Innes wrote.

Download the Playbook from the Built by Nature website: www.builtbn.org/knowledge/mass-timber-insurance-playbook/41

Source: WoodBiz / SA Forestry - August 2024 Newsletter (Page 39)