The new construction act opens new markets for wood construction. In the future, a warehouse of less than 30 square meters or a yard sauna can be built without a permit, as long as the building and planning regulations and the regulations for waterfront construction apply. The new Construction Act will enter into force at the beginning of 2025.

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In Sweden, a similar change already took place in 2014, and since then the construction of single-family houses and outbuildings has more than quadrupled in seven years. In an interview with Forest.fi magazine, Matti Mikkola of Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industries says that a similar phenomenon is happening in Finland as well: “Time will tell, but I believe that small, ready-made or highly prefabricated buildings will increase in popularity.”

The new Construction Act also introduces low-carbon regulatory guidance. Regulatory guidance means that an emission ceiling is set for new buildings, below which the carbon footprint must remain during the construction phase and during the entire life cycle. The system is already in use in the Netherlands, France, Sweden and parts of Belgium. Using wood in construction is a quick way to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

The article was published in the forest.fi online magazine on March 16, 2023. Read the whole story here: New Building Act promotes low-carbon activity