A wooden building as an industrial hall? Panattoni shows it can be done

The first project in the Czech Republic where Panattoni has received permission to use this innovation is Panattoni Park Pilsen West III in Úherce, 14 kilometres west of Pilsen. This modern industrial park will offer more than 40,000 m² of lettable space and will pioneer sustainable design for large industrial buildings. Wood as the main material for roof structures brings a number of environmental benefits. It is a renewable material with a low carbon footprint that contributes significantly to minimising emissions during production and processing. In addition, the use of timber trusses allows for more efficient material management and reduced energy consumption during construction.

“We have received a positive opinion from the Fire Rescue Service of the Pilsen Region for the use of wooden trusses and roof trusses in the construction of large industrial halls for production and logistics. So far, in the Czech Republic, it has been possible to use wooden roofs exclusively in residential, office and smaller industrial properties. The precedent-setting decision to use wooden roof structures in industrial halls represents a significant milestone not only for our company, but also for the entire Czech construction industry. I am thrilled that we are once again confirming our leading position in sustainable development. It is crucial for us, our investors and our clients that the permitted fire solution does not limit the use of the hall in any way compared to a concrete structure,” said Pavel Sovička, Panattoni’s General Manager for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The decision, issued by the Fire Rescue Service of the Pilsen Region, was the result of an intensive approval process. ARCHaPLAN and A2 Timber played a key role in this process, providing technical documentation, studies and necessary supporting documents in cooperation with the Panattoni team under the leadership of Regional Sustainability Manager Pavel Fojtík. A2 Timber prepared the complete design documentation for the implementation of the project and ARCHaPLAN, using an engineering approach, designed the fire protection concept for the wooden roof structure using modern materials and in combination with modern fire safety protection elements so that the wooden structure of the hall fully complies with the general technical requirements for construction according to current legislation. On the basis of these materials and with the active participation of representatives of the Fire Brigade in Pilsen during the discussion of the technical solution, a positive opinion was issued, which opens the way for the use of wood as a roof construction material also in large industrial buildings. So far in the Czech Republic, it has been possible to use wooden roofs exclusively in residential, office and smaller industrial properties.

“The project of the load-bearing wooden structure of the roof of the logistics and production hall is a pilot experience for ARCHaPLAN in the field of fire protection of wooden buildings. Experience has shown that the principles of modern methods of timber building assessment using Eurocodes, BIM modelling and the use of active and passive fire protection for timber-based buildings are the right way forward, even for industrial construction using renewable materials. Thanks to the involvement of a comprehensive team of specialists, the project has obtained a fire safety certificate acceptable to the state administration in the field of fire protection,” adds Robert Prix, Managing Director of ARCHaPLAN.

The benefits of using wood as a building material can be measured. The LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) report prepared by Grinity for the Panattoni Park Pilsen West III project showed that a building with timber roof trusses will have a 290 tonne lower carbon footprint compared to using reinforced concrete trusses. LCA is an analytical method for quantifying and interpreting flows between a product and the environment. It is used in industry to understand the environmental ‘hot spots’ of products in order to make improvements as efficiently as possible. It was the LCA method that helped the building designers in their efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the building at Panattoni Park Pilsen West III, which is being built in partnership with the WOOD & Company Logistics Fund.

The positive opinion of the Fire and Rescue Service for the use of wooden roof structures in industrial halls represents a significant milestone not only for Panattoni, but also for the entire Czech construction industry. This step sets a new standard for sustainability and shows that environmental responsibility and innovative technology can go hand in hand. With this step, Panattoni confirms its leading position in sustainable development and opens up new opportunities for a greener future for industrial construction.

Panattoni Development Company is one of the world’s largest privately owned real estate development companies with 60 offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Since launching operations in Central Europe in 2005, the company has completed a total of nearly 22 million sqm of modern industrial space in the European Union and the UK. Over 11 million square meters of buildings are under management and more than 3 million square meters are currently under construction. It offers industrial, warehouse and office space. It specialises in turnkey (BTS: build-to-suit) developments that precisely match the requirements of individual clients. Panattoni has defended its position as the European industrial market leader for the sixth consecutive year and all its new projects aim for international BREEAM New Construction certification of at least Excellent. Key clients include companies such as Amazon, Tchibo, DSV, H&M, DHL, Kion, ND Logistics, Still, Schenker, Selgros and Tesco. In addition to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Panattoni also has offices in most other EU countries, the UK, Saudi Arabia and India. For more information visit www.panattonieurope.com.