Donaldson Timber Systems

Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS) was proud to support a recent visit from members of the House of Lords’ Built Environment Committee as part of its inquiry into the future of modern methods of construction (MMC).

Chair of the Lords Select Committee, Lord Moylan, along with Lord Best, Baroness Eaton, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Earl Russell, and Baroness Thornhill, first visited West Herts College’s, Hemel Hempstead campus to learn more about the apprenticeship programme offered in partnership with DTS.

As announced earlier this year, the 2.5-year programme, open to students on the College’s Level 2 City and Guilds carpentry course, comprises four days per week working on-site, and one day per week attending the College. The in-class modules include an additional module that will focus on MMC for offsite manufactured timber frame, which was developed in partnership with DTS. This covers an understanding of construction technology; health and safety; an introduction to MMC and offsite timber frame build systems; together with understanding construction information, materials, and the installation process, including site project communications.

The Committee then travelled to Spencer’s Park in Hemel Hempstead, a Countryside Partnerships development, to see first-hand MMC actually taking place on site. The 600-plot development has built its houses using DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system.

The award-winning, BOPAS+ accredited and BBA Certified build system, is designed to achieve superior levels of external wall performance, suitable for projects seeking to attain the very highest fabric efficiency standards. With excellent thermal properties and air-tightness, the Sigma® II Build System offers reduced on-site material and labour costs, by using conventional materials in a more effective manner.

Simon Horn, Technical Development Manager at DTS, said: “The visit from members of the Lords Select Committee was an extremely valuable opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the future of MMC and the wider timber frame industry, through our partnership with West Herts College, as well as showcase the benefits of MMC on a live site at Countryside Partnerships, Spencer’s Park, Hemel Hempstead.”

“Although the Committee’s inquiry is investigating some of the recent challenges the industry has faced with MMC and Cat 1 Volumetric build systems, we were proud to show them our success and the importance of investing in established, sustainable technologies, for Cat 2 Panelised build systems and in training the next generation. We thank the members of the Committee for their time.”

Gill Worgan, Principal and CEO at West Herts College said: “We were delighted to welcome members of the House of Lords Built Environment Committee and colleagues from Donaldson Timber Systems to our Construction and Engineering Centre at our Hemel Hempstead campus.

“The visit provided a valuable platform for discussions surrounding the evolution of construction skills and the pivotal role modern methods of construction play in shaping the industry’s future.
At West Herts College we’re working closely with employers such as Donaldson Timber Systems to ensure that our students are equipped with the modern skills required to step into careers in the construction sector.”

Donaldson Timber Systems’ (DTS) fixings supplier for its Witney factory, YB Fixings, has donated two nail guns to support DTS’ apprenticeship programme with West Herts College.

Beneficiary of one of the nail guns, James Hammond, has been undertaking an apprenticeship with DTS and its service level agreement partner, S.E. Carpentry, for five months as part of the College’s Level 2 City and Guilds carpentry course. The second will be used by the second apprentice who will join the team shortly. Worth over £1,200, the nail guns will support James’ skills development in timber frame construction and bolster his future career in the construction industry.

Under the 2.5 year programme, each apprentice will spend four days per week on-site, delivered by S.E. Carpentry, with one day focusing on in-class modules, including an additional module on modern methods of construction (MMC) for timber frame that was developed in partnership with DTS.

Commenting on the donation, James said: “I’m grateful to YB Fixings for the nail guns, which will be vital in gaining hands-on training and developing my skills in timber frame construction. It has been fantastic to learn from the DTS and S.E. Carpentry teams and I’m excited to develop my experience over the next two years.”

Joe Romo, Senior Contracts Manager at DTS, said: “At DTS, we’re committed to enabling skills development in the next generation so it is brilliant that our suppliers and partners also support our partnership with West Herts College. We’re already seeing incredible progress in our first apprentice and we look forward to continuing to support their learning and development.”

Spencer Earl, Director of S.E. Carpentry, said: “We are very pleased to be part of this pioneering scheme, delivered by West Herts College and supported by DTS, to further educate apprentices in our sector of the construction industry. James is the first in hopefully a very long line that will become part of the S.E. Carpentry family.”

Rachel Hudson, Managing Director at YB Fixings, said: “Investing in the tools of an apprentice is sowing the seeds of a skilled craftsman. By donating the tools needed for their trade, we empower them to shape their future with their own hands, unlocking a world of possibilities. We hope to help build a stronger and more skilled workforce for generations to come and YB Fixings are excited to be a part of this with DTS.”

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 16 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 49 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.

Leading UK offsite timber frame manufacturer, Donaldson Timber Systems (DTS), has launched the Donaldson Timber Systems House Range. 

The range of 18 core house types includes cottage flats with a mix of 1 and 2 bedrooms; semi-detached and detached 2-bed bungalows; and a selection of detached, semi-detached, and terraced homes of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms. 

DTS worked closely with experienced architects and planning consultants and designed the range in conjunction with a leading UK housebuilder to ensure the house types met regulatory housing needs across the UK. 

The homes are designed to maximise the benefits of Design for Manufacture of DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system, as well as the site installation for both the superstructure and all follow-on trades. The specified components are also consistent, using a limited range of window sizes and uniform bathroom and WC setting-out to ensure the efficient procurement of materials from a variety of manufacturers. 

Each home also incorporates individual design flexibility to allow for changes like the addition of showers in ground floors; built-in wardrobes; additional kitchen storage; and space for air source heat pump hot water cylinders, so they are future-proofed for simple adaptions to suit lifestyle changes or improved energy efficiency. 

Utilising DTS’ Sigma II closed panel timber frame system, the house range provides long-term energy efficiency; meets and exceeds Homes England’s minimum requirement for a Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV) of 55% using only the timber frame build system; and allows the frames to be windproof and watertight on site in one day. The homes are also land-efficient, with the width of each floorplan reduced to ensure roads, footpaths and services are minimised, and a consistent depth of floorplan allows different house types to be simply built as terraced blocks. 

John Smith, Technical Director at DTS, said: “We are working closely with the wider housing sector to drive continued quality and performance standards, and our new house range provides both to the market. We conducted extensive research in the sector across the UK to understand the needs of residents, developers, planners, and all relevant regulations, and these house types provide homes that are designed to offer maximum flexibility while meeting all space standards in the most efficient way possible.  

“Sustainability and efficiency are also key to the sector, both for speed of build and longer-term performance for residents. Our timber frame system’s fabric-first approach comes with embodied carbon calculations and PMV assessment for each house type, to ensure sustainable, resilient, and affordable homes that efficiently meet the current build regulations and can be easily and simply updated to achieve the requirements of the Future Homes Standard.”  

The house range is supported by a suite of architectural design information with Level 1 BIM models. DTS is also developing further supporting information, including SAP calcs, specifications, schedules and build costs for the full house range. Having this information in place will not only allow customers to reap the benefits of the efficiency of the house types, but vastly reduce the lead-times and up-front costs associated with developing a range of house types from scratch. 

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 16 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 46 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.