Oct 8, 2026 · 31 min · 10 segments
***Future Framing Initiative with Jon Shanks*** *The future of lightweight timber framing is changing, and our sector needs to be ready for it. In this episode of F&T Time, Kersten Gentle sits down…
Kersten GentleHost
So tell me, I've spoken a lot about the Future Framing Initiative in FTMA News and on previous podcasts, but just in case anyone's been living under a rock and they don't know what FFI is and what it's trying to achieve, can you give us an overview?
Yeah, it's... it's a pretty amazing initiative i mean it's a generational thing i haven't been in australia you know 15 years or so i haven't been here decades and decades but from my understanding this is a pretty unique moment in time for various reasons and one of those is the ffi it's a collaboration between industry and fwpa to basically look at stream effectively streamlining compliance pathways So for those out there working in Frame and Trust, which would be most of your listeners, most people would be doing most of their work in houses that are probably compliant with AS 1684, our deemed to satisfy pathway for housing design that has limits on scope and scale and building class and so on.
And the important thing about AS1684 is not only does it tell you what kind of member sizes you need for different applications, but it also gives you details and construction practices and all those things.
through industry collaboration with researchers looking at developing new standards so that we can expand the buildings that we can deliver under that streamlined compliance pathway like 1684 but across more building classes and bigger buildings so effectively You know, we're looking to get to the point whereby, you know, a three, four-story building, townhouse, small apartment building, whatever building class it is, could potentially be delivered with a pathway that looks a bit like the pathway through AS1684, which would just, you know, open up opportunity for so many different people.
And when 1684 came out, you know what, nearly 30 years ago, it was a world-leading document at the time.
I don't even think it recognises engineered timbers to the extent that we're using them now.
But I think, John, when we get the funding, like through the Australian Forest Wood Innovation, which has come through the Albanese government, we still need industry contributions.
It doesn't matter how good the project is unless you've got, you know, people funding it from industry, then it doesn't get up.
Yeah, so there's 12, 13, I think, last count businesses that are contributing to the FFI.
And you mentioned about AFWI, and it's really interesting because the FFI is involved in a whole bunch of research through various mechanisms because the aim with this industry standard, you know, these smoother compliance pathways, is that there needs to be research to drive these decisions forward, evidence-based research, all framed around modern methods of construction, new ways of designing and detailing and building.
So 12, 13 companies, we've got AKD, Dindus, Multinail, Mytek, Meijer, Hein, Westpine, Westbeam, Timber Trust, Stora Enzo, Prida, 141 and Porter.
I want an amazing range of businesses across the supply chain who see the value in this, who understand that by providing this pathway to realise like timber frame buildings for scales bigger than AS1684 covers, so more than single residential housing, they see the value in this.
But it's not just about sitting down and sort of writing a document because it has to be the research to back this up.
So as well as the industry contributions, the FFI is working with, I think at the last count, eight different universities and testing facilities and research providers.
to go and source the expertise where it exists, where it's needed, through various mechanisms, AFWE, which we'll come on to, but also just direct funding if need be, to get research done to build understanding above and beyond what's been done historically.
So tell me, I've spoken a lot about the Future Framing Initiative in FTMA News and on previous podcasts, but just in case anyone's been living under a rock and they don't know what FFI is and what it's trying to achieve, can you give us an overview?
Yeah, it's... it's a pretty amazing initiative i mean it's a generational thing i haven't been in australia you know 15 years or so i haven't been here decades and decades but from my understanding this is a pretty unique moment in time for various reasons and one of those is the ffi it's a collaboration between industry and fwpa to basically look at stream effectively streamlining compliance pathways So for those out there working in Frame and Trust, which would be most of your listeners, most people would be doing most of their work in houses that are probably compliant with AS 1684, our deemed to satisfy pathway for housing design that has limits on scope and scale and building class and so on.
And the important thing about AS1684 is not only does it tell you what kind of member sizes you need for different applications, but it also gives you details and construction practices and all those things.
through industry collaboration with researchers looking at developing new standards so that we can expand the buildings that we can deliver under that streamlined compliance pathway like 1684 but across more building classes and bigger buildings so effectively You know, we're looking to get to the point whereby, you know, a three, four-story building, townhouse, small apartment building, whatever building class it is, could potentially be delivered with a pathway that looks a bit like the pathway through AS1684, which would just, you know, open up opportunity for so many different people.
And when 1684 came out, you know what, nearly 30 years ago, it was a world-leading document at the time.
I don't even think it recognises engineered timbers to the extent that we're using them now.
But I think, John, when we get the funding, like through the Australian Forest Wood Innovation, which has come through the Albanese government, we still need industry contributions.
It doesn't matter how good the project is unless you've got, you know, people funding it from industry, then it doesn't get up.
Yeah, so there's 12, 13, I think, last count businesses that are contributing to the FFI.
And you mentioned about AFWI, and it's really interesting because the FFI is involved in a whole bunch of research through various mechanisms because the aim with this industry standard, you know, these smoother compliance pathways, is that there needs to be research to drive these decisions forward, evidence-based research, all framed around modern methods of construction, new ways of designing and detailing and building.
So 12, 13 companies, we've got AKD, Dindus, Multinail, Mytek, Meijer, Hein, Westpine, Westbeam, Timber Trust, Stora Enzo, Prida, 141 and Porter.
I want an amazing range of businesses across the supply chain who see the value in this, who understand that by providing this pathway to realise like timber frame buildings for scales bigger than AS1684 covers, so more than single residential housing, they see the value in this.
But it's not just about sitting down and sort of writing a document because it has to be the research to back this up.
So as well as the industry contributions, the FFI is working with, I think at the last count, eight different universities and testing facilities and research providers.
to go and source the expertise where it exists, where it's needed, through various mechanisms, AFWE, which we'll come on to, but also just direct funding if need be, to get research done to build understanding above and beyond what's been done historically.
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