Our Commitment

Porta is committed to providing architects and designers with the knowledge and resources to specify and design with timber for optimal performance. 

Our CPD presentations are for architects, designers, landscape architects and those who work in landscape construction who love the feel, warmth, and aesthetics of using timber in their designs. 

We offer an in-house presentation that provides you with a valuable opportunity to expand your knowledge and understanding of designing with timber, along with updates on the latest timber products and services. 

Bookings

If you would like to book an in-house presentation, contact us and one of our presenters will be in contact to schedule a suitable date and time. Please specify if you would like us to share more about Porta’s timber products and services. For groups of six or more, we offer a morning tea, light lunch or afternoon tea.

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Topic #1: Biophilic Design – The Benefits of Timber

Our Biophilic Design – The Benefits of Timber’ CPD presentation has been created to help architects and designers understand the benefits of timber using biophilic design concepts.

Biophilic design connects people and the natural world by incorporating elements of nature and organic materials into the residential and commercial built environment.

Sourcing research from credible sources such as Planet Ark and Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), these findings link biophilic design to a range of positive health responses in humans. The research reports increased levels of wellbeing, productivity, creativity and in workplaces, a reduction in absenteeism.

Our goal is to educate design professionals about the proven benefits of biophilic design to ensure you have the required information to make informed design choices on your next project whilst benefitting from the power of natural and organic materials such as timber.

Competency:

Design

Learning Outcomes:

  • Define Biophilic Design and its positive impacts on humans.
  • Understand that timber is one of the most important materials used in biophilic design with proven positive health benefits.
  • Be able to apply creative imagination, design precedents, research, emergent knowledge and critical evaluation.
  • Be able to draw on knowledge from building sciences and technology, environmental sciences, and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimise the performance of the project.
  • Be able to identify, analyse and integrate information relevant to environmental sustainability.
  • Understand how the integration of material selection, structural and construction systems impact on design outcomes.

Presenters

Our sales and architectural team offer you extensive expertise in designing with timber and how to design for optimal performance.

The CPD presentation can be tailored to run for one hour or we can expand the content to answer specific questions for your projects. We recommend allocating some time for Q&A.

Topic #2: Timber Chain of Custody Certification

Our ‘Timber Chain of Custody Certification’ CPD presentation is designed to help you understand the Chain of Custody Certification for timber products and the critical elements of the certification process to assist you in specifying products for higher Green Star ratings.

Our goal is to leave you with the knowledge of timber certification and its benefits to ensure that the timber species and product choices in your designs are certified and sustainable.

Competency:

Conceptual Design
Schematic Design
Detailed Design

Learning Outcomes:

  • Explain the concept of Chain of Custody Certification for timber products
  • Name the two schemes in Australia that certify Chain of Custody for timber products
  • Describe the five critical parts of the certification process
  • Explain the differences and benefits between FSC and PEFC certification
  • Specify products that are certified by FSC and/or PEFC to assist in achieving higher Green Star ratings for projects

Presenters

Our sales and architectural team offer you extensive expertise in timber and how to design for optimal performance.

The CPD can be tailored to run for one hour or we can expand the content to answer specific questions for your projects. We recommend allocating some time for Q&A.

Topic #3: Designing with Timber – Ensuring Durability, Style and Compliance

Our ‘Designing with Timber – Ensuring Durability, Style and Compliance’ CPD presentation is designed to help you select timbers that are certified and fit for purpose, provide you with an understanding of the relevant fire requirements, and help you understand the coatings available.

Our goal is to leave you with the knowledge to ensure that the timber species and product choices in your designs are fit for purpose and last for years to come.

Competency:

Design

Learning Outcomes:

  • Define the certification levels for sustainably sourced timbers
  • Select timbers that are fit for purpose based on:
    • Durability
    • Visual Appearance
    • Stability
  • Understand the relevant fire requirements
  • Understand the various coatings commercially available and define maintenance schedules

Presenters

Our sales and architectural team offer you extensive expertise in timber and how to design for optimal performance.

The CPD can be tailored to run for one hour or we can expand the content to answer specific questions for your projects. We recommend allocating some time for Q&A.

Topic #4: Achieving Group 1 with Timber Designs

Our ‘Achieving Group 1 with Timber Designs – How to Safeguard Your Timber Specification (including External)’ CPD presentation is designed to help you understand the key factors required to ensure timber linings and/or facades used in your designs and specifications can achieve Group 1 and fire retardancy requirements for internal applications.

Our goal is to leave you with the knowledge of timber certification and its benefits to ensure that the timber species, products and coating choices in your designs last for years to come.

Competency:

Design

Learning Outcomes:

  • Define the benefits of using timber in design
  • Define and apply the assessment criteria to understand the material performance of timber to meet performance requirements
  • Identify and apply the NCC requirements for compliance for timber linings & claddings, including considerations for high rise timber construction
  • Recite an understanding of timber in fire safety & the different types of fire ratings
  • Apply the learnings to control compliance costs and prevent construction delays
  • Recite methods of protection, encapsulation or timber coatings
  • Define the testing methods, facades, design guidance, and fire stopping in timber design

Presenters

Our sales and architectural team offer you extensive expertise in timber and how to design for optimal performance.

The CPD can be tailored to run for one hour or we can expand the content to answer specific questions for your projects. We recommend allocating some time for Q&A.