Challenges and opportunities in timber construction: professional perspectives from the Finnish construction industry

Abstract

This study examines the market acceptance of timber construction in Finland by identifying and evaluating key opportunities and challenges influencing its adoption. Positioned within the broader transition to sustainable building practices, timber offers environmental and esthetic advantages but faces regulatory, economic, and technical barriers. Using a two-phase methodology, literature review and empirical stakeholder survey, the study applies an assessment framework, the Timber Construction Evaluation Number, adapted from Failure Mode and Effects Analysis and reports uncertainty-aware rankings and consensus assessment. Survey responses from 34 industry professionals were used to prioritize eight challenges and eight opportunities across three dimensions: impact, frequency, and feasibility. The findings reveal that the most critical barriers were lack of knowledge and expertise in multi-storey timber construction and compliance with regulations and fire safety concerns. The most prominent opportunities were esthetic and comfort appeal of timber and its environmental sustainability traits. Findings are offered as contextual prioritization for decision support rather than population generalization.