Timber construction from the perspective of building insurance

Lower premiums for timber buildings

GVB distinguishes between solid and non-solid buildings, the latter mostly timber. As of 2025, it has significantly reduced premiums for non-solid buildings. The reason is the claims history: new timber buildings that meet the 2015 fire protection regulations are much less prone to fire than older ones. Usage surcharges, for example for commercial or agricultural use, are also calculated regardless of construction type.

Dürig sees mandatory building insurance as one reason why Switzerland was able to build multi-storey timber buildings early on. Insurers, researchers and the timber construction sector have been running fire tests together for decades and developing standards from them. In countries without mandatory insurance, private insurers sometimes struggle to cover timber buildings.

Timber in its own projects

As a developer, GVB considers timber in its own projects, for example in the Burgernziel development in Bern, a certified 2000-watt site. It aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It has also invested in the Thun-based start-up Scrimber, which aims to raise the share of a tree usable for timber construction from around 30 to as much as 90 percent.

For me, it combines being grounded with being fit for the future.

How Timber Carbon sees it

Lower insurance premiums improve the economics of timber buildings. Carbon removal credits can add to this. Timber Carbon, launched in 2026 as a spin-off of Timber Finance, quantifies, certifies and monetises the carbon removed in mass timber buildings on the voluntary carbon market. Our Build biobased page explains how developers can get started.