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Given increasingly stringent climate requirements, timber is once again emerging as a low-emission material for medium- and high-rise buildings; however, its inherent combustibility still limits widespread adoption. This paper critically analyses the MHolzBauRL – guidelines implemented in selected German Länder – as an integrated legal-technical instrument for designing multi-storey timber structures that meet the REI 60 and REI 90 fire-resistance classes. We outline the scope and hierarchy of the regulations, explain the principles in detail and compare them with DIN 4102. A review of completed projects reveals that the guidelines streamline approval procedures and enhance investor confidence in engineered timber. We conclude that the MHolzBauRL provides coherent and unambiguous criteria for the safe construction of tall timber buildings, and we highlight the need for broader regulatory harmonisation – including the potential adoption of similar variants in Poland.
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