Norwegian architects’ and civil engineers’ attitudes to using wood in major urban building constructions were investigated. Wood currently has a relatively small share of the market in urban construction, and increased use of wood as building material in urban building constructions is important for the wood industry. The principal objective was to develop knowledge about the mechanisms influencing key players when choosing building materials. Structural interviews (n=15) and a quantitative survey (n=203) was carried out to acquire further knowledge about the specifiers making the decisions regarding choice of building materials. The criteria investigated included attitudes towards the physical and mechanical properties of wood, perceived risk of using wood as a building material, and the environmental properties of wood. The knowledge status and use of information sources among the specifiers was also investigated. Factor analysis revealed previous experience, perceived fire related properties of wood and norms in the construction industry as important factors when using wood as a structural material. Perceived visual properties, fire related properties and previous experience were important factors when using wood as a facade material.
Keywords: Theory of planned behavior, wood, structural material, façade material
Authors
Bysheim K.
Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology, Oslo, Blindern
Nyrud A.Q.
Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology, Oslo, Blinder
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