The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and Wood Protection Association (WPA) have just announced a strategic partnership that will see the two trade associations join forces in raising supply chain knowledge and buyer confidence in treated wood. The agreement is set to provide tangible commercial benefits to members of both organisations by providing a platform on which to grow demand for added value treated wood.

In 2017/18 the TTF and WPA collaborated on a survey of wood treaters and distributors to identify what industry saw as the priority actions to unlock growth in demand for treated wood. This survey was the most significant piece of research conducted in this sector for many years. Responses identified three priority areas for action.

  • To address the common failure to specify treated wood correctly;
  • To address the lack of understanding on how to correctly install and use treated wood;
  • To ensure independent verification of the treatment process.

Flowing from this decision, TTF and WPA agreed to collaborate on developing joint guidance for TTF members that would seek to address compliance with the treated wood membership policy prior to its adoption at the TTF AGM in June 2019.

Through this collaboration it became increasingly clear that the members of both associations would see significant benefits through a longer-term strategic partnership aimed at tackling major issues of mutual interest. The considerable experience, technical knowledge bank and profile in the European wood protection market available from the WPA team provided a good match with the TTF’s timber supply chain understanding, communication networks and lobbying influence.

On March 19 the TTF and WPA announced in a joint news release that they are joining forces in a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening the UK market for treated wood and on providing other WPA specialist services on a privileged partner consultancy basis. For clarity, both will continue to operate as independent trade associations and this is not the first step towards a merger. The partnership is very much focused on delivering a joint action plan for the benefit of the members of both organisations and which will provide a springboard for treated wood growth.

The partnership agreement includes the following:

  • Development of joint TTF/WPA guidance on application quality assurance, accurate specification, end user training and the safe and effective use of: preservative treated wood products flame-retardant enhanced wood-based materials modified wood systems
  • Site-specific consultancy on any of the above, with discounted rates available for members.
  • Operation of the WPA Benchmark quality accreditation scheme for wood treaters, with discounted rates available for members.
  • Management and delivery of collaborative research work on wood protection matters (for example, WPA UK field trial).
  • Promotion of supply chain education and development and delivery of training resources for third-party audiences, working with Wood Campus as appropriate.
  • Provision of advice on all matters relating to wood protection for members, product end users and/or specifiers.

The intention is that, by an agreed deadline, TTF members with an interest in wood preservation should be able to demonstrate compliance with the following principles:

  • That preservative treated wood is being accurately and unambiguously specified/ purchased, for use or resale, and is clearly identified at all points of the chain (on orders, internal stock movement records and sales records) as fit for the intended purpose.

As a minimum this will require identification of the product as suitable for either:

Interior Use only (ie BS8417 Use Class 2) Interior or Exterior use (above ground only) (for example, Use Class 3/NTR Class AB) or All exterior applications (for example, Use Class 4/NTR Class A)

  • That customers purchasing treated products from TTF members are provided with adequate information and, where appropriate, training to be able to use and install those products safely and effectively.
  • That preservative treated wood is being produced by or purchased, directly or indirectly, from a treatment provider whose operation has been assessed and approved under an independent and reputable accreditation scheme

This campaign tops the agenda at the WPA Conference ‘Making the Most of Wood’ on April 11, where David Hopkins of the TTF and Gordon Ewbank are keynote speakers.