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MATERIALS 51
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those found in equivalent concrete structures. determination of the carbon content per unit mass of wood.
Regarding the defined roof types, both are gable roofs with While there is some debate regarding the carbon fraction
a 40 percent pitch. One case considers a smaller volume of associated with the dry mass of wood, this analysis follows
wood covering a span of 3,000 mm and a length of 2,400 the recommendations outlined by the UNE-EN 16449 standard.

mm, while the second case involves a higher volume of wood, Therefore, the carbon fraction in the oven-dry state is established
spanning 6,000 mm with a length of 4800 mm. as 0.5, consistent with other similar studies.
Horisontal structural elements, such as ventilated floors or This enables the quantification of both the biogenic carbon
intermediate floors, are not considered in this analysis because present in the mass of wood used in construction in the case
they cannot be identified in the real estate database. It is study and its equivalent in carbon dioxide captured from the
assumed that these elements are partially represented within atmosphere.
the wood volume addressed by the roof cases.
Results & Conclusions
Quantification Of Biogenic Carbon The results are presented by first quantifying the wood

The methodology used to determine the biogenic carbon usage per square metre in buildings from the case study and
content in wood follows the guidelines established in the generating wood MI data, categorised by historical period.
standard ‘UNE-EN 16449: Wood and wood-based products. Second, these results are cross-referenced with the real
Calculation of the biogenic carbon content of wood and estate database to identify average values for the entire case
conversion to carbon dioxide’. study and to determine their variation by the studied municipality.
The calculated volume of wood for each building and year Finally, the results for biogenic carbon storage and the
recorded in the real estate database is used to estimate the equivalent CO2 amount are presented, both aggregated for

biogenic carbon. the entire city and by municipality.
Additionally, since wood density can vary by species, the Regarding the wood MI results, which range from 54.69 kg/
analysis considers two species that establish representative m2 to 13.07 kg/m2 with an average of 33.88 kg/m2, previous
minimum and maximum values. From the second half of the studies have established values for housing, considering
20th century onward, the period with the highest number of variations in wall and roof structures, between 15 kg/m2
wooden constructions according to the real estate record, and 50 kg/m2.
Pinus radiata (radiata pine) has been the most widely used Also, these studies show similar wall/roof wood usage
wood species.
Meanwhile, Nothofagus obliqua (Chilean oak) is one of the

most common woods in the central–southern region of the Hacker Noon
country and represents the oldest constructions in the case
study. Radiata pine, with a density of 450 kg/m3 (oven-dry),
is one of the lightest local woods used in construction, while
Chilean oak, with a density of 558 kg/m3 (oven-dry), is among
the densest common construction woods.
The moisture content for both species is considered to be

around 14 percent, in line with the equilibrium moisture content
established for the climate in the case study, allowing for the