Wooden housing construction: cost estimates and fire safety regulations will be approved in 2026

The Federation Council discussed measures necessary to accelerate the development of wooden housing construction. At a meeting of the Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management, representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on the implementation of the roadmap and the preparation of new regulatory documents.

According to the Ministry of Construction, cost estimates for the construction of wooden buildings are planned to be approved by the summer of 2026. The current lack of such standards complicates the passage of state expert review and the receipt of funding for wooden housing construction projects. At the same time, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is finalizing a new set of fire safety regulations, which are expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2026.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources are preparing an updated Forestry Development Strategy. Among the priorities are Stimulating the processing of low-grade timber and expanding its applications, including in the energy sector. A separate roadmap for processing low-quality raw materials is also being developed.

Alexander Dvoynykh, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management: "Initially, we agreed with the industry and the regions that the colossal challenge facing the forestry industry and forested regions due to unfriendly countries' ban on the export of domestic products should become a window of opportunity for us in terms of transitioning to new environmental standards and approaches. We understand how to do this, but we are not satisfied with the implementation timeframe."

The senators noted that the barriers have been known for over two years, but progress in eliminating them remains insufficient. The Council on Forestry Development is scheduled to address these issues at its extended meeting on November 27 and recommend that the government expedite the implementation of regulatory and strategic decisions.

The adoption of costing standards and fire safety regulations, as well as an updated industry strategy, should pave the way for the wider use of timber structures in housing construction and social infrastructure throughout the country.