Welcome to NBS |

Timber/joinery

Architects' Journal|

Dry rot - an alternative approach. AJ 18.9.85|

Tropical hardwoods: Fruits of the forest. AJ 8.8.90|

Timber: design for durability. AJ 9.9.92|

AJ Focus Timber, joinery and finishes. AJ Focus 6.88

Architects' Journal Timber in Construction Trade and materials. AJ 10.7.91

Architects' Journal Working Details Internal joinery: chapel. AJ 1.7.92

British Board of Agrement|

Certificate 92/2813 Trus Joist MacMillan - Limited Partnership. Parallam PSL (parallel strand lumber). Third issue
Wood-based material for use in structural members (e.g. beams, ties, struts) or structural framing and also for the fabrication of built-up components such as trusses and panels.

Certificate 99/3619 Boise Cascade Sales Ltd. Versa-lam SP LVL (laminated veneer lumber)
A wood based material for use in structural members and for the fabrication of built up components such as trusses and panels.

BRE Certification|

Certificate 038/96 MiTek M20 punched metal plate timber fasteners (March 2005 reissue)
Document History - Previous edition issued by WIMLAS.
MiTek M20 punched metal plate timber fasteners have been assessed to confirm their suitability for use as mechanical fastenings for joints in factory-manufactured timber structural components in which all members lie in one plane. The fasteners are galvanised steel plates with integral nails that are fully pressed into the adjoining timber members.

BRE|

Digest 307 Identifying damage by wood-boring insects
A number of insects are able to use wood as a food source and some of these may cause serious damage to building timbers in the UK. This Digest introduces wood-boring insects and illustrates the types of damage which are serious enough to require remedial treatment, distinguishing them from other, less significant types of damage. Digest 327 gives recommendations on appropriate remedial treatments.

Digest 345 Wet rots: recognition and control
Decay of timber occurs only when wood is allowed to remain permanently or regularly damp. In buildings, decay is described as either wet rot or dry rot; although both can occur together in damp wood, what type of rot develops depends to some extent on the conditions in the building. The same basic principles govern the successful eradication of both types of rot but additional measures are necessary with dry rot because of its ability to grow through masonry. This Digest describes: i) the main types of wet rot likely to be encountered in buildings; ii) how to distinguish them from dry rot; iii) the strategy for their control.

Digest 407 Timber for joinery
Document History - Replaces - BRE Digest 321
More than half of the UK consumption of hardwood, and about 10% of the softwood, is used for joinery, such as windows, doors and stairs. From the wide choice of timber types, it is important for the user to be able to specify the quality of wood and its moisture content appropriate to the end use. This Digest provides information on timber used in joinery and gives guidance on selection.

Digest 417 Hardwoods for construction and joinery: current and future sources of supply
This digest describes the significant changes occurring in the supply of hardwood timber in the UK, particularly in the types of wood and relative amounts imported from tropical regions. It discusses the importance of identifying sustainable and well-managed sources and the difficulties of defining sustainability. It suggests that greater use can be made of lesser-known or lesser-used species, and of material from plantations, provided adequate data are obtained on their relevant properties. This digest lists 16 timbers that are expected to be of increasing significance in the near future. BRE is evaluating the properties of many of them.

Digest 422 Painting exterior wood
Document History - Replaces - BRE Digest 354, 261, and 106
This Digest explains the principles underlying the successful application of paint to exterior wood and gives details of paint systems and of the initial and maintenance painting process. The structure of wood and its effects on the application and durability of paint are discussed, together with moisture content and dimensional changes, effects of surface finish and end grain sealing. The Digest also considers external influences such as water, solar radiation, micro-organisms and the risk of decay.

Digest 429 Timbers: their natural durability and resistance to preservative treatment
Document History - Replaces - BRE Digest 296
Timber exposed to moisture for any length of time is at risk from attack by wood-rotting fungi. To obtain a good service life, it is important to select a timber species that is either naturally durable or amenable to preservative treatment. This digest explains the classification of durability and treatability for timber, and classifies these properties for over 150 species.

Digest 431 Part 1 Hardwoods for joinery and construction: technical assessment methods
Digest 417 lists 16 lesser-known species of timber that show potential for new or wider application in construction. This set of Digests give the results of tests carried out on each of these species. This first part describes the technical assessment methods used.

Digest 431 Part 2 Hardwoods for joinery and construction: test results and recommendations
Digest 417 lists 16 lesser-known species of timber that show potential for new or wider application in construction. This set of Digests give the results of tests carried out on each of these species. This second part gives the results and recommendations for bintangor, hevea, kamarare, niove, taun and Ghanaian plantation teak.

Digest 431 Part 3 Hardwoods for joinery and construction: test results and recommendations
Digest 417 lists 16 lesser-known species of timber that show potential for new or wider application in construction. This set of Digests give the results of tests carried out on each of these species. This third part gives results and recommendation for andiroba, dahoma, gmelina, American red oak, Tanzanian plantation teak, and vitex.

Digest 466 EN 927: the new European standard for exterior wood coatings
Describes a comprehensive set of new European standards for exterior wood coatings. EN 927 is in five parts and comprises a guide to selection, a specification for assessing the performance of different types of wood coating systems in relation to end use and test methods for natural weathering and water absorption.

Digest 480 Wood plastic composites and plastic lumber
Wood plastic composite (WPC) is a term which refers to a composite containing wood in any form, combined with either thermoplastics or thermoset plastics. Thermoplastics include polyethylene and polypropylene which are used in numerous non-structural applications, such as bottles and containers. Thermoset plastics are formed from resins such as polyester and epoxy. Solid recycled plastic lumber (RPL), which is usually made from waste plastics without any wood or fibre element, also competes in this non-structural role.

Digest 481 Timber bridges
Timber is a highly versatile construction material, strong and lightweight, with tremendous ease of handling and workability. Correctly selected it has good durability, particularly in relation to de-icing salts. Bridges made from wood also tend to exhibit a natural empathy with the landscape. For the bridge designer, using timber offers a multitude of possible bridge forms ranging from simple beams to glue laminated arches, trusses and space frames. Timber can also be used in conjunction with other materials such as natural stone, stainless steel and glass.

Digest 483 Wind loads on temporary stage decks
Temporary stages used for outdoor events are generally free-standing structures with a flat timber deck supported on system scaffolding or other proprietary systems. General guidance on the design, use and procurement of these structures is given in Temporary demountable structures (Institution of Structural Engineers), but it does not include guidance for wind loads on temporary stage decks. This Digest provides a procedure for designing temporary stage structures for wind loads that follows BS 6399-2 Code of practice for wind loads

Digest 492 Timber grading and scanning
Details advances in grading and scanning technology, for both logs and sawn timber, and changes to structural timber grading due to European harmonisation.

Good Building Guide 64 Part 1 Tiling and slating pitched roofs: design criteria, underlays and battens
Deals with the upper surfaces of pitched tiled or slated roofing. Concentrates on those aspects of tiling and slating which could lead to deficiencies in the performance of the completed roof. Aims to provide practitioners with a summary of the main good practice criteria. Covers general principles applicable to all forms of tiling and slating, together with criteria where requirements for ancillary materials and practices are common to both tiles and slates, such as weather resistance and underlay specifications and some aspects of work on site.

Good Building Guide 64 Part 2 Tiling and slating pitched roofs: plain profiled clay and concrete tiles
Deals with the upper surfaces of pitched tiled or slated roofing. Concentrates on those aspects of tiling and slating which could lead to deficiencies in the performance of the completed roof. Aims to provide practitioners with a summary of the main good practice criteria. Covers battening, nailing and product and material quality requirements for tiles.

Good Repair Guide 12 Wood rot: assessing and treating decay

Information Paper 16/79 Effect of dimensional tolerances on machine graded timber

Information Paper 24/79 Effect of flame-retardant treatments on some mechanical properties of wood

Information Paper 10/80 Avoiding joinery decay by design

Information Paper 14/80 Grumixava (Micropholis gardnerianum)

Information Paper 8/81 Tatajuba (Bagassa guianensis)

Information Paper 9/81 Termite resistance of board materials

Information Paper 5/83 Cerejeira (Amburana acreana, Amburana cearensis)

Information Paper 2/84 Canafistula (Peltophorum vogelianum)

Information Paper 17/84 Timber stress grading machines

Information Paper 9/91 Blue staining of timber in service: its cause, prevention and treatment
This paper describes the defective timber known as 'blue stain in service', caused by the growth of a particular group of fungi. It indicates the conditions required for the growth of the fungi, the means of preventing the defect and the remedial treatment necessary to prevent further development.

Information Paper 8/98 Reducing kiln-drying twist of Sitka spruce
This paper evaluates the extent and significance of twist in UK-grown and commercially prepared Sitka spruce. It describes how top weighting during kiln drying, together with modified kiln schedules, can reduce twisting, and demonstrates generally good distortional stability of dried timber under subsequent fluctuating humidity conditions in storage and use.

Information Paper 14/01 Durability of timber in ground contact
This paper reports recent findings from a programme of testing at BRE to benchmark the performance of timber in ground contact. It concludes that most of the new hardwood species becoming available in the UK are of limited durability. It recognises, though, that treatment can extend the service life of many softwood species. This paper complements IP 6/99, IP 2/01 and Digest 429.

Information Paper 9/03 Best practice of timber waste management
Presents the practical issues that affect timber waste in UK construction. Describes timber sources, composition, use and waste, and markets for recycling and disposal together with the plant and machinery necessary to exploit this resource. It proposes a timber waste classification. The various types of equipment for processing waste timber are listed; legislation covering the disposal of waste timber is briefly mentioned. This material is then drawn together to provide the best practicable environmental option for timber waste, and a model is tested to provide two examples of what could be achieved.

Information Paper 10/05 Green gluing of timber: a feasibility study
Reports on the technical and commercial feasibility of creating a green gluing enterprise in the Greenwood Community Forest in the East Midlands. Results from the study strongly indicate that this enterprise would be commercially viable. The steps required for its implementation are outlined in this Information Paper.

Information Paper 13/05 Incising UK grown Sitka spruce
Provides a platform for understanding the potential opportunities and benefits of incising spruce, and for increasing the end use applications of UK-grown timber. Gives results of field trials and laboratory tests which show how incising the timber can improve penetration of preservative, increasing durability.

Report 48 Determination of softwood strength properties for grades, strength classes and laminated timber for BS 5268:Part 2

Report 233 Briefing guide for timber framed housing
Document History - Included in BRE Report 469 - Non traditional houses.
To assist those who wish to use the timber frame construction method but are not experienced in, or are familiar with, its principles. It attempts to point designers and specifiers toward best practice so that they will be able to produce houses with adequate long term performance.

Report 241 Strength properties of timber (3rd ed.)
This report describes testing procedures and presents the results of physical and mechanical tests on 223 hardwoods and softwoods in the green (unseasoned) and dry (seasoned) conditions.

Report 311 Biological durability of timber in ground contact
When timber becomes wet it is liable to attack by wood-destroying fungi which eventually can cause the wood to rot. This condition arises when timber is used in damp or wet environments, such as in contact with the ground, or is exposed to rainfall or condensation. This report is concerned with the on-going, long-term BRE ground contact field trials where stakes of different wood species are half-buried in the ground. To simplify the terminology in this report, 'biological natural durability' will be used to refer to the resistance of a timber to attack by wood-destroying fungi in ground contact. The report presents and reviews the results and considers different ways of analysing the data for use in specifying timber performance.

Report 321 Timber drying manual. 3rd edition
Document History - First edition published 1974

Report 323 Timber in construction: challenges for the future
Proceedings of the BRE 75th anniversary seminar, in collaboration with TRADA Technology Ltd. Topics covered: Prospects for timber in construction and Timber - the natural choice.

Report 329 Strength properties of timber: 1997 supplement
This supplement to the BRE Report The strength properties of timber[1], provides a summary of the physical and mechanical properties of 12 timber species supplied from current commercial resources. Small clear test samples were prepared, conditioned at 20 ° C and 65 per cent relative humidity, and tested in accordance with British Standard BS 373: 1957[2]. Test results include moisture content, density, specific gravity, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity from static bending tests, impact strength, and compression strength parallel to the grain.

Report 400 Handbook of hardwoods with 1997 supplement
Document History - This edition comprises a facsimile reprint of the 1972 edition and the supplement published in 1997. Combines rather than supersedes these documents.
Provides fundamental information and data on timbers available to the UK. Data on strength properties, working properties and plywood manufacture are included.

Report 407 Wood bending handbook
Document History - Facsimile reprint 2000.
Addresses the selection and preparation of bending material, softening treatments, hand bending, machine bending, the setting of bends, the process of laminated bending, pressing laminations to shape, curved structural laminated members, the movement and distortion of laminated bends, factors affecting the bending of plywood, production of plywood bends, and theoretical considerations.

Technical Note 10 Strength of timber

Technical Note 38 Movement of timbers

Technical Note 46 Moisture content of timber in use

British Standards Institution|

BS 1186-2:1988 Timber for and workmanship in joinery. Specification for workmanship (AMD 9385)
Requirements for the fit of parts in various details of joinery.

BS 1186-3:1990 Timber for and workmanship in joinery. Specification for wood trim and its fixing (AMD 9386)
Requirements for the species, moisture content, classification, quality and workmanship of fixings.

BS 5756:1997 Visual strength grading of hardwood
Specifies the grading requirements for one grade of structural tropical hardwood and four grades of structural temperate hardwood.

BS 8000-5:1990 Workmanship on building sites. Code of practice for carpentry, joinery and general fixings
Recommendations on basic workmanship.

BS EN 336:2003 Structural timber - Sizes, permitted deviations (AMD Corrigendum 14533) (AMD 16208)
Document History - Supersedes BS EN 336:1995. Amendment 14533 is Corrigendum No.1 dated July 2003. Amendment 16208 dated March 2006.
Specification is given for classes and moisture content of permitted deviations from target sizes for structural timber of softwood and hardwood species. Can be applied to sawn and prepared square-edged timber with parallel edges having sawn thickness or widths in the range 22 mm to 300 mm.

BS EN 338:2003 Structural timber - Strength classes
Document History - Supersedes BS EN 338:1995
Characteristic strength, stiffness properties and density values are given.

BS EN 350-2:1994 Durability of wood and wood-based products - Natural durability of solid wood. Guide to natural durability and treatability of selected wood species of importance in Europe

BS EN 942:1996 Timber in joinery - general classification of timber quality
Document History - Supersedes BS 1186-1:1991

BS EN 1313-1:1997 Round and sawn timber - permitted deviations and preferred sizes. Softwood sawn timber (AMD 11020)
Document History - Supersedes BS 4471: 1987
This standard specifies permitted deviations for thicknesses and widths at a reference moisture content and adjustments for changes in size due to changes in moisture content. This standard applies to softwood sawn timber.

BS EN 1313-2:1999 Round and sawn timber - permitted deviations and preferred sizes. Hardwood sawn timber (AMD Corrigendum 10981)
Document History - Supersedes BS 5450:1977. Amendment 10981 is Corrigendum No. 1

BS EN 1912:2004 Structural timber - Strength classes - Assignment of visual grades and species
Document History - Supersedes BS EN 1912:1998
Lists the grades of timber from various national standards that satisfy the requirements of European standard strength classes

British Woodworking Federation|

Hardwood at work: guide for specifiers
This brochure has been produced to guide specifiers in selecting the most suitable hardwood for the job.

Guide 4 Resin exudation in joinery timber. 1998 revision
Document History - First published - 1996
Gives general advice on the cause of resin exudation in joinery timber and the procedures which can reduce its effect in service.

Guide 5 COSHH and the joinery manufacturer. 1998 revision
Document History - First published - 1997
Gives general advice on the Control of Substances hazardous to Health Regulations 1994, with regard to joinery manufacturers.

Chartered Institute of Building|

Procuring legal and sustainable timber: a construction industry guide
Aimed at enabling the construction industry to procure sustainable timber in the most straightforward way. Provides directions for producing a Timber Procurement Policy in order to ensure timber is obtained from a sustainable or well-managed source.

Council of Forest Industries|

Introduction to selected grades of Canadian Timber in the UK
This brochure explains the principles used in defining grades of clear, factory and shop, and construction timber.

Croft Consultants|

Wetland timber decked paths
Provides guidance as to when it is appropriate to build paths in wetlands, and what should be considered when they are being constructed.

Department of the Environment|

Handbook of hardwoods
This book aims to provide information that will assist users of hardwoods to select the timbers best suited to their purposes and to process them in the most satisfactory manner, having regard to the individual features of each timber. In all, the book provides full descriptions of 117 hardwoods and a further 103 are described more briefly.

English Heritage|

Waterlogged wood - guidelines on the recording, sampling, conservation, and curation of waterlogged wood
This document aims to set out some general guidelines on national recording policies, site sampling and conservation strategies, planning and running of projects involving waterlogged wood and any special considerations that should be taken into account when formulating and implementing such policies.

Practical building conservation. Volume 5: Wood, glass and resins
The sections on wood analyse the problems of fungi, insects and timber distortion and explore the use of substitute materials and finishes for external surfaces. Techniques for conservation of historic glass include an evaluation of cleaning methods, treatment of paint loss and how to protect glass from vandalism, breakage and the problems of variable climatic conditions.

Forestry Commission|

Information Note 42 Timber cladding in Scotland
Outlines the development of timber cladding in Scotland, describes the range of historical timber clad buildings that currently exist and provides practical information on the specification and detailing of external timber cladding for Scottish conditions. The technical issues covered include: design for durability, choice of timber species, suitable coatings, and energy efficiency.

Glued Laminated Timber Association|

Engineered timber
Types of engineered timber covered include glulam, LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) and its derivatives. These notes comment on structural forms with rules of thumb for initial sizing.

Health and Safety Executive|

Health and Safety: Legal Series L 114 Safe use of woodworking machinery. Provision and use of work equipment regulations 1998 as applied to woodworking machinery
Sets out the regulations of PUWER 98 where specific Approved Code of Practice and guidance material is necessary for woodworking machinery. Reflects on widely accepted precautions. Covers the provision of information and training as well as aspects of guarding. Applies to machinery (not hand-held tools) used for wood, cork and fibreboard.

Nordic Timber Council|

Swedish and Finnish whitewood
This publication gives comprehensive information about the properties and uses of Nordic Whitewood. Details include; durability, preservation, fire performance, machining etc.

Properties of Swedish and Finnish redwood and whitewood
Presents in one booklet the majority of the properties of Swedish and Finnish Redwood and Whitewood which will normally be required by architects, engineers, builders etc.

How to specify Swedish and Finnish redwood and whitewood
This booklet is intended to be a guide for architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, designers, manufacturers, builders and buyers when specifying Swedish and Finnish Redwood and Whitewood for end uses.

Scottish Executive

Timber cladding in Scotland
This report highlights the issues and use of timber cladding in Scotland. Looking at benefits, the current market and attitudes, sustainability and the future, historical information and factors in the development of use of timber cladding. Other considerations include durability, weather effects and recommendations for best practice in specifications and detailing. There are several case studies detailing specific varieties of cladding used in various projects.

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings|

Information Sheet 2 Timber treatment
This publication provides a warning about the defrassing of timbers.

TRADA Technology|

Timber pole construction: an introduction. 2nd edition
This document gives a general introduction to timber poles as a construction material, and covers the processes of harvesting and protecting the poles through to specific applications in the construction of domestic and industrial buildings.

British grown hardwoods: the designers handbook
Covers structural applications, landscape design, external and internal joinery and floors with information on environmental aspects and the characteristics and implications for design.

Timber in construction | Chapter 0 - Contents and introduction. (1 of 15)
Document History - This is the 1987 reprint. This document is part of a larger document, Timber in Construction, which has been split into parts for ease of use.
This book has been prepared by the Timber Research and Development Association as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. There has long been a need for an authoritative reference book on the use of timbers in construction for architects and specifiers and for students in these fields. This book, with each chapter written by a specialist in the subject, is intended to fill that gap.

Timber in construction | Chapter 1 - Timber. (2 of 15)
Document History - This is the 1987 reprint. This document is part of a larger document, Timber in Construction, which has been split into parts for ease of use.
This book has been prepared by the Timber Research and Development Association as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. There has long been a need for an authoritative reference book on the use of timbers in construction for architects and specifiers and for students in these fields. This book, with each chapter written by a specialist in the subject, is intended to fill that gap.

Timber in construction | Chapter 4 - Specifying timber. (5 of 15)
Document History - This is the 1987 reprint. This document is part of a larger document, Timber in Construction, which has been split into parts for ease of use.
This book has been prepared by the Timber Research and Development Association as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. There has long been a need for an authoritative reference book on the use of timbers in construction for architects and specifiers and for students in these fields. This book, with each chapter written by a specialist in the subject, is intended to fill that gap.

Timber for marine and fresh water construction
Document History - Document reference number: TBL 21
The aim of this publication is to show how timber can provide a solution to many of the problems confronting dock, harbour and river board engineers and others, concerned with water construction.

Research Paper 1/2003 Timber supply chain: environmental impacts
Introduces concepts and some statistics relating to the whole subject of environmental impacts and supply chain factors, looking. firstly at transport in general, with some lessons from other industries and then more specifically at the transport of timber products. Secondly the effect and implications of e-commerce on supply chains are examined and finally the factors that can disrupt. supply chains are discussed. A glossary of terms is also included.

Technology Report 4/99 From sawmill to customer: wax treatments for timber protection
Document History - Alternative series title Research Report 4/99
This project was undertaken to determine whether the treatment of timber with wax emulsions has potential for use by UK sawmillers. A combination of experiment and practical trials was undertaken to explore the claimed advantages of wax emulsion treatments and to assess the impact of some of the side effects.

Technology Report 6/99 Wood residue: waste or resource
Document History - Alternative series title Research Report 6/99
Produced as a result of a survey amongst timber processors through to demolition and reclamation companies, this report identifies types of residues and their use or disposal.

Technology Report 5/2000 UK softwood drying: a best practice guide
Document History - Alternative series title Research Report 5/2000
This report presents notes on a number of recent advances in softwood timber drying that can be applied to the UK industry through a targeted research, development and implementation programme.

Wood Information Sheet 1/25 Structural use of timber: An introduction to BS 5268-2:2002 (January 2003 edition)

Wood Information Sheet 1/31 Timber for landscape architecture
This information sheet gives guidance to specifiers and users of timber in the area broadly described as landscape architecture; i.e. wood used outdoors e.g. bridges, towers, poles etc. but excluding habitable buildings.

Wood Information Sheet 1/42 Timber I-joists - applications and design (2003 revision)
Looks at the applications and uses of timber-I-joists and outlines some of the considerations and possibilities of utilising UK material for I-joist manufacture.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/ 1A Finishes for exterior timber: appendix - product list
This appendix is a list of products found to be 'satisfactory' in performance in natural exposure tests on smoothly machined softwood cladding.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/ 6 Wood decorative and practical (June 1999 revision)
This information sheet gives information and includes photographs of a core selection of 48 timbers which are generally available or are commonly used in the UK.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/10 Timbers - their properties and uses (includes 2002 amendment)
Document History - 1999 edition with 2002 amendment
Covers the colour, density, texture, moisture movement, working qualities, durability, treatability, availability, price, use and size characteristics of a range of timber species, with additional commentary.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/18 Kiln treatment for sterilisation of insect-infested timber
This information sheet has been produced to assist a kiln dryer or other person faced with the task of eradicating an insect infestation of timber or timber products by heat treatment.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/28 Introducing wood (February 2003 revision)
Document History - Revised February 2003
This sheet explains the terms used when describing timbers and their properties.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/31 Adhesively-bonded timber connections - adhesives and timber construction (June 2003 revision)
Document History - Supersedes 1992 version
This information sheet is concerned only with the use of adhesives in structural joints.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/37 Softwood sizes
Document History - Supersedes 2002 revision
Identifies the preferred sizes recognised by the European market for softwood timber produced by sawmills. Figures provided for sawn softwood, machined timber, surfaced timber and planed timber. Takes into account deviation between actual and target sizes given moisture content.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/54 Exterior coatings on 'alternative' hardwoods

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/56 CE marking: implications for timber products
The Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) sets out six Essential Requirements with which all structures subject to regulation must comply: Mechanical resistance and stability, Safety in case of fire, Hygiene, health and environment, Safety in use, Protection against noise, and Energy, economy and heat retention. Covers the requirements of timber under the CE marking scheme, which allows trading of timber in other member states of the EU.

Wood Information Sheet 2.3/57 Specifying wood-based panels for structural use
Covers design considerations, correct specification, maintaining fitness for purpose and includes some example specifications.

Wood Information Sheet 4/ 7 Timber strength grading and strength classes (February 2003 revision)
Document History - Revises the 1996 edition. Change of title

Wood Information Sheet 4/12 Care of timber and wood-based products on building sites
This document covers; moisture content at time of erection; care in manufacture and delivery; storing timber on site and; building programme.

Wood Information Sheet 4/14 Moisture in timber
This information sheet provides basic information for the specifier and user on the facts and importance of the moisture content of wood.

Wood Information Sheet 4/18 Moisture meters for wood (with 97 amendment)
This information sheet discusses the use of moisture meters for timber, their suitability for particular purposes and provides a checklist for good operating practice.

Wood Information Sheet 4/19 European standards on timber

Wood Information Sheet 4/23 Non-destructive testing of timber (2004 revision)
Provides an introduction to non-destructive testing of timber in buildings and other structures for architects, engineers, surveyors and building inspectors. The various NDT techniques are discussed, together with their capabilities and limitations. Potential future developments are outlined.

Wood Information Sheet 4/28 Durability by design. 2nd edition
Document History - 1st edition published 1998
The life of timber components can be extended considerably by attention to detail at the design stage. Achieving 'durability by design' requires a designer first to target and define performance and maintenance expectations and then to specify and detail appropriately.

BackToTop