Wood industrialization provides a contribution to timber-based building. The Chilean market is based on attributes such as the experience and trust of companies. The sales price, meeting deadlines and quality are attributes that have motivated buyers. There are more attributes to assess that are important for the client and market country: building materials and safety, sustainability, and environmental assessment. Some of these valuations are provided by certifications such as life cycle analysis, reduction of energy, water, gas consumption, thermal, acoustic insulation, fire resistance, etc. The objective is to propose an evaluation tool using sustainability indicators for prefabricated lumber-based buildings, using technical benefits of wood as an option for manufacturing prefabricated structures. They constitute references that can be integrated with international construction standards and with it, a process of improvement of the current standards for the housing solution and protection of the environment. The methodology is based on standards compliance levels, according to current, voluntary, or referential regulations, seeking to differentiate the market offer of prefabricated homes through quality indicators, benchmarking and sustainability. The results are an evaluation model synthesized into three tables according to the category evaluated: materials, products, or structures. It concludes that, to meet demand, the market must adapt its offer to new requirements where it does matter how the housing is produced, not only in the economic aspect, but also its impact on the social aspect and the environment and what it offers in terms of quality of life. The lumber-based building sector needs sustainability attributes indicators to potentiate the companies and start a differentiation business.

Wood is an essential construction material because of its renewable nature, versatility, and ability to store carbon, which aids in climate change mitigation. However, its biodegradability requires preservation treatments to prolong its service life and improve its durability. This study compares international wood preservation regulations with the Chilean framework and evaluates their alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings reveal a global trend focused on reducing hazardous preservatives like chromated copper arsenate (CCA) while promoting environmentally friendly alternatives. The discussion emphasizes the need for strategic regulatory updates and investment in sustainable wood protection technologies. These efforts are essential for ensuring long-term structural performance, resource efficiency, and market competitiveness.

In Chile the amounts of wood sawdust, shavings, and chips available is around 2.72 million, 340 thousand, and 4.25 million m3/year, respectively, and about 30% of this material is employed in the manufacture of particleboards. Two types of particleboards were made from wood residues as moisture-resistant particleboards, and the main goal was to meet the requirements for P3 moisture resistance according to the European Standard EN 312. Five mats of each type were pressed without stops in a 30 cm diameter electrically heated hot press at 180°C for 3.5 min. Target board density was 680 kg/m3 (T1) and 720 kg/m3 (T2), mat moisture was 10%, resin dosage applied was 6%, and board thickness was 15 mm for both boards (0.5 x 0.5 m). Samples were designated as T1 and T2, on which both physical and mechanical tests were conducted. Density, moisture content, thickness swelling, and water absorption were measured. Mechanical tests included internal bond before and after cyclic test, as well as fire retardancy. The analysis of the high resolution images allowed us to ensure that there was no gap between the veneer and the particleboard; therefore it can be concluded that there was no adherence loss. Results for all tests showed that both boards met all the P3 standards for moisture resistant non-structural board for use in humid conditions.

DOI: 10.7764/RDLC.18.1.96 As part of the analysis of the technical criteria for emergency housing of Fondef project D09I1058, the acoustic behavior of three types of dwellings was measured: brick social housing, structural insulated panel (SIP) emergency housing and "mediagua" emergency housing. The acoustic reduction index (Rw) was measured in medium-density fiberboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB), plywood (Plywood), hard fiberboard (HB) and particle board (PB). PB and HB obtained Rw values of 20 dB, while MDF and Plywood obtained Rw values of 17 dB, and OSB obtained an Rw value of 19 dB, reflecting an additional positive characteristic of their structural properties that enables a lower cost for the manufacture of SIP emergency housing in compliance with the technical thermal mechanical regulations enforced by the General Ordinance of Urbanism and Construction (Ordenanza General de Urbanismo y Construcción, OGUC). To reduce costs, these dwellings were not designed to comply with acoustic regulations, but if they were evaluated for compliance, their result would fulfill the important criteria for a positive impact on acoustic insulation. NCh 432-10, according to OGUC, requires a minimum attenuation of 45 dB (Insttituto Nacional de Normalización, 2010a) in paired walls for social housing but not for emergency housing. The test was performed according to NCh 2785-2002 (Instituto Nacional de Normalizacion, 2002), using a sound-emitting speaker and a sound level meter, to obtain the attenuation of the paired wall. The social housing reached an attenuation of 42 dB, the SIP housing reached an attenuation of 39 dB, and the mediagua housing reached an attenuation of 6 dB, evidencing the precariousness of housing that is constructed from low-quality wood and that is poorly assembled, without air- and water-tightness, consequently affecting quality of life.    

The wood-based housing market in Chile requires a complementary review that considers the competitive advantages of this material regarding its technical features and structural properties, to strengthen compliance with the Chilean General Urban Planning and Construction Ordinance (OGUC, in Spanish) and the Sustainable Building Codes. The purpose of this research was to develop an Integrated Sustainability and Safety Indicator (IISS, in Spanish), which integrates regulatory, social, territorial, and environmental aspects, considering (1) presentation, (2) sustainability, and (3) safety variables for wooden houses. For this, information was collected from 230 wood construction companies located between the regions of Valparaíso and Los Ríos, in Central Chile, where product presentation and safety were highlighted as inputs to calculate the IISS. This integration resulted in a classification of useful technical indicators to promote wood use as a construction option that prevails over or complements other building options.