Thermal Performance:

The thermal characteristics of a timber structure are essentially different from those in a masonry structure.

Dense masonry structures act as a thermal store and consequently heat up and cool down very slowly. Internal temperatures as well as external temperatures also effect them. Timber frame structures have less mass, but are highly insulated and therefore are able to respond quickly to heating and incidental gains.

Fire Performance:

The fire resistance of a timber frame structure is gained through the combination of internal lining material, the timber structure and the insulation.

Greater fire resistance is usually obtained through using a double layer of plasterboard with staggered joints. Plasterboard is the most commonly used lining material due to its economy, ease of working and good fire performance.

Sound Insulation:

Timber frame structures rely to a large degree upon structural separation to achieve sound reduction rather than the alternative method of incorporating mass into the structure.

Sound insulation of walls between to adjoining occupancies is achieved mainly by use of two separate structures with an air space containing sound absorbent materials between them.