The need for timber to capitalise on its environmental credentials was highlighted at this year’s Institute of Wood Science (IWSc) conference at Birmingham.
The event, themed “Wood Procurement & Performance”, heard Dr Peter Bonfield, the BRE‘s construction division managing director, say that timber had to push home its inherent advantage as rival materials were now fighting back with sustainability arguments.
IWSc president Jim Coulson, who later described the September 30 conference as a great success, told the 120 delegates that the industry had to avoid being accused of “raiding the forests”.
The programme included an update on forest certification by Rupert Oliver, of Forest Industries Intelligence, a look at Eurocodes and standards by TRADA president Peter Ross and architectural case studies of buildings featuring wood.
Delegates included timber suppliers, joinery companies, timber frame manufacturers, government department representatives and architects.
