Canadian Softwood for China

Shanghai’s approval of a new wood-frame building code is a major step forward in the growing demand for Canadian wood products in China, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and British Columbia’s Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.

“The Shanghai Local Code is the first comprehensive set of guidelines for wood-frame construction ever published in China,” said Minister Raitt. “This is a big step forward in achieving our goal of opening new markets for Canadian forest products. We are confident that the Shanghai Local Code provides a framework that will be easily adaptable to other cities and provinces across China.”

“Shanghai – a city with about four times British Columbia’s population – is now a wider, more open market for Canadian and B.C. lumber,” said Bell. “Modern wood-frame construction can now be used to meet Chinese building needs, something that previously wasn’t easily done due to complex and dated building and fire codes.”

The Shanghai Local Code is the most comprehensive and detailed code for wood-frame structures in China, addressing all technical issues related to wood-frame construction, including structural, fire, durability, energy conservation, noise transmission and construction inspection.

Canada Wood Group (an industry marketing agency supported by the federal and B.C. governments), FPInnovations (a Canadian forest products research organization) and their Shanghai counterparts began work on updating the code in 2006.

Bell made his comments while attending the official launch of the code, which took effect Sept. 1, 2009. The event was attended by more than 300 guests, including engineers, architects and building officials who worked on the code changes.

Shanghai is one of the most important markets in China for Canadian wood products. It is home to the Dream Home Canada demonstration site that showcases wood-frame design and offices for Canada Wood Group and Forestry Innovation Investment staff promoting the province’s wood products and building solutions.

Canada is the second-largest supplier to China of softwood lumber after Russia, with about 98 percent of this lumber sourced from British Columbia.

Photos from the trade mission are available online in the Ministry of Forests and Range media room at www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/media/.

Shanghai
November 9, 2009
Ministry of Forests and Range
Natural Resources Canada
2009FOR0072-000595

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Issue date: November 9, 2009

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