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Description
Thermory is the Estonian manufacturer of thermally modified wood and sauna materials. The purpose of the project is to apply new technology in the production of painted fireproof and durable facade wood. For fire resistance, the goal is to achieve the Bs1D0 fire safety standard, and in terms of durability, the aim is to provide cladding with a maintenance interval of up to 15 years and a service life of up to 70 years.
Thermal moification is an energy intensive process that also emits significant amounts of carbon dioxide. The project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the amount of energy needed to produce the product through an innovative co-incineration system.
With the grant, company shall acquire a new painting line, thermal chambers and co-incineration system for energy efficient thermal chambers residual gases. Also, a new technology will be developed to produce thermally modified painted cladding products conforming to Bs1D0 standard and developed capability to produce and sell that product. Achieved fire safety certificate for thermally modified wood. Development shall also include a new technology for the production of durable painted thermally modified cladding products.
Summary of project results
Project was focused on the development of painted and fireproof thermally modified products for use on wooden façades. The solution to be developed in the course of the project is meant to increase the durability of thermally modified façade cladding boards and make them fire-resistant. It will become clear in the course of product development whether these goals can be achieved simultaneously (as one product) or whether two separate product lines will be created to carry out the project. To calculate the market potential of the solution, both goals are viewed separately, as different market segments will be opened/expanded as a result of achieving both targets (durability, fire-resistance).
Several investments were made to develop painted and fireproof thermally modified products for use on wooden façades, for example product development and testing, acquisition of four new heating chambers, creation of a combined combustion system for gases from the heating chamber and acquisition of a painting line. As part of the project, a new paint line was installed and recipes for standard products and works were developed.
Project has increased the durability of the usage of the Project Promoter products. Durability has always been the biggest shortcoming of wood as a façade material. The attractiveness of wood as a façade material is reduced by the warping and cracking of façade cladding boards, moisture damage and also the relatively short lifetime of the material and the need to maintain/paint it after a relatively short period of time to preserve its aesthetic appearance. The development and adoption of thermal modification technology has significantly lessened this problem but has not completely solved it. Nevertheless, besides the attractive appearance of the thermally modified wood, the market success of thermally modified façade cladding boards can so far be explained with its increased durability. This project helps achieve the next ‘leap’ towards ensuring the durability of wood as a façade material. If the desired parameters can be successfully achieved, the needs of even the most demanding consumers should be satisfied – the 70-year durability of the façade boards is equal to the human lifespan and the 15-year maintenance interval also gives no reason to reject a wooden façade.
The thermo-treated boards painted by Thermory have been certified by the Swedish certification agency RISE and fire-class certificates have been issued for the products by the Latvian test laboratory MEKA.