Curtain walls/Infill walls
In many countries infill walls made from timber are becoming an increasingly common solution, together with load-bearing frames made from concrete or steel. External walls of this type are designed only to take the load of the wall component's own weight and the wind loads that directly affect the component.
The component has a low weight and can be prefabricated in a factory, which is a great advantage. Infill walls made of timber have very good insulation characteristics. The increasingly stringent requirements for energy-efficient buildings in various countries are among the main driving forces behind the use of this wall solution.
The component can be clad with an external layer of plaster, brick, wooden panelling or other sheathing material in order to match the building's design and the surrounding buildings. There are two principally different ways of fitting timber frame elements into the steel, concrete or masonry structure. The panels can be fitted either into or partly into the structure, or outside the structure.
Partition walls/Inner walls
Wood frame in combination with board material is a very common solution when it comes to inner walls that will not bear any loads. These walls are used for dividing up rooms but can also be designed so that they can cope with the fire and noise requirements placed on apartment partition walls.