A forthcoming change in Czech building standards will allow for the construction of taller wooden buildings, potentially ushering in a new era for multi-storey wooden apartment blocks in the country. Starting August 1, wooden buildings up to 22.5 meters in height will be permitted under revised fire safety regulations. Until now, the height limit was capped at 12 meters, except under special conditions. Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček stated that this regulatory change is expected to increase the number of apartment buildings constructed using wood. While wooden single-family houses have become more common—rising from about 3% to 14–15% of new homes over the past decade—wood remains a rarity in the apartment sector, currently representing just a tenth of a percent of projects. Vlček said the ambition is to accelerate the growth of wood-based construction across all residential categories. The fire safety standard amendment also enables the use of certain building materials for multi-storey structures that were previously not considered compliant. Vlček emphasized that this shift could lead to greater use of domestic timber resources, reducing reliance on exports and generating more value for the Czech economy. The country produces around 15 million cubic meters of wood annually, yet only processes about a third of it domestically. Much of the raw timber is exported and then reimported as finished products, which Vlček called a missed economic opportunity. He noted that greater local processing would benefit public finances, especially since much of the forest land is owned by the state and municipalities. The potential of tall wooden buildings is already being tested. In Prague’s Řeporyje district, developer UBM recently completed the Timber Prague project, part of the Arcus City development, which includes four wooden buildings—two four-storey and two three-storey structures. Elsewhere, 34 affordable rental apartments made of wood are being built in Žďár nad Sázavou by Available Housing Česká spořitelna. Experts in sustainable construction have welcomed the move. Marta Gellová, director of the Chance for Buildings Alliance, said that new regulations on wooden construction are an opportunity to meet environmental targets while modernizing the sector. Wooden buildings, she said, can support the shift to lower-emission development. Similarly, Simona Kalvoda of the Czech Green Building Council praised the ministry’s efforts to promote the use of alternative and recycled materials, saying multi-storey wooden buildings are poised for a “new epoch.” The revision of the fire safety standard is seen not only as a regulatory update, but as a strategic step toward reshaping the Czech Republic’s construction industry in line with sustainability goals and resource efficiency. Source: CTK