Think Wood’s partner organisation WoodWorks (US) has launched the US edition of the Mass Timber Insurance Playbook, a guide designed to help building owners and design teams navigate the challenges of obtaining insurance for their mass timber buildings. With detailed steps to bridge the knowledge gap between construction professionals and insurers, this new edition adapts proven strategies from the United Kingdom for the American market. It covers topics from structural safety and fire performance to water damage mitigation and more.   

“Adapting the Mass Timber Insurance Playbook is part of WoodWorks’ commitment to helping address challenges related to innovative wood buildings in the US.” said WoodWorks President and CEO Jennifer Cover in a release. “Dodge data shows that, in 2023, more than 1 billion square feet of new construction could have been built using sustainable wood materials by code—and wasn’t.” One of the headwinds facing broader mass timber adoption in the US is educating insurers to the reality of the risks—and more importantly, safety—of mass timber buildings so they can make proper assessments. The playbook helps unlock opportunities for more sustainable building, Cover says, by offering teams clear guidance to better resolve insurance complexities effectively.