The Openwall Explainer answers the key questions about Openwall, our construction method and the thinking behind it — from who we are and how the panels are engineered and manufactured, to cost, performance and fire mitigation.
Who are Openwall?
Openwall is an independently owned timber frame manufacturer established in 2021, built on more than two decades of experience in timber frame design, manufacture and delivery.
What makes Openwall’s approach different?
Openwall combines a lean operating structure with digital design, manufacture and project workflows. Paperless processes and developing use of automation and AI allow information to move efficiently from design through manufacture and delivery.
How does Openwall build trust?
Through consistent delivery and long-term working relationships. Many Openwall projects are delivered for repeat customers, supported by clear technical information, quality-controlled manufacture and an experienced timber frame team.
What is the Openwall Method?
Openwall uses higher-grade TR26 timber with pressed metal connector plates to create a lightweight, material-efficient form of timber frame construction. Diagonal timber bracing is incorporated where required by the engineering design, removing the need for structural sheathing.
Is this method new or experimental?
No. The underlying connector-plated timber frame method has been used in UK construction for more than 20 years, with its origins in established trussed-rafter technology. Openwall continues that construction principle using current design, manufacturing and compliance processes.
What makes the panels cost effective?
Material-efficient engineering, repeatable manufacture and a simplified wall build-up help control both factory and site costs. Standard 1.2 metre panels also support efficient manufacture, handling and installation, while external insulation leaves the stud zone available for services.
Why Connector Plates?
Derived from established trussed-rafter technology, connector plates transfer forces between adjoining timber members, allowing studs, rails and, where required, diagonal braces to act together as an engineered timber frame.
The plates are pressed into both faces of each joint during manufacture, creating a mechanically connected timber assembly without the need for structural sheathing.
Why no Sheathing Board?
The panels do not rely on structural sheathing for racking resistance¹. Instead, the engineering design determines where diagonal bracing is required, concentrating material where it contributes to the performance of the frame.
Why 1.2 Metre Panels?
The standard 1.2 metre panel width suits factory manufacture, conventional site handling and standard sheet dimensions. Panels can typically be handled individually and positioned within standard scaffold bays, while longer panels or complete walls can be manufactured where project logistics and mechanical handling allow.
Why No Breather Membrane?
Without structural sheathing to protect, Openwall does not require a conventional breather membrane over the timber frame. Moisture and vapour are instead managed through the complete wall build-up and Openwall’s Triple-Line+ performance layer.
Why insulate on the outside?
Placing rigid insulation outside the panel creates a continuous thermal layer around the timber frame, keeping the structure on the warm side of the insulation. This reduces thermal bridging through the frame and at junctions, while supporting the management of interstitial condensation risk.
Are the walls airtight?
Openwall incorporates a continuous airtightness layer within the wall build-up, but airtightness remains a whole-building responsibility. Junctions, penetrations and interfaces with other elements must also be correctly detailed and sealed on site.
Why is the VCL in the cavity?
The vapour control layer is positioned between the timber frame and external insulation, where it is protected within the completed wall build-up. This position also allows the internal face of the panel to remain available for services and internal linings.
As part of the Triple-Line+ performance layer, it contributes to vapour control and airtightness within the wall.
Are the panels compliant with current fire regulations?
Openwall wall build-ups have been independently tested to BS EN 1365-1, achieving 30- and 60-minute fire resistance. The appropriate wall specification is selected according to the requirements of the individual project.
What about offsite fire risk?
Construction-phase fire risk is considered separately from the completed wall’s fire resistance. Openwall plans manufacture, delivery and erection in accordance with the relevant STA guidance, with project-specific measures determined by site conditions, separation distances and the construction sequence.
How Is Quality Controlled?
Openwall operates controlled design and manufacturing processes covering material traceability, production, inspection and non-conformance. Panels are manufactured within Openwall’s Factory Production Control procedures, with structural components and completed panels subject to the applicable conformity requirements.
