Concerns that some marine ply fails to meet the requirements of BS 1088:2003 have been a hot topic in the timber trade, with the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) already implementing a requirement for marine ply to comply with the standard and have supporting independent third party quality assurance.
The independent assurance deadline of June 30, 2013, was recently extended to December 31 to give TTF members more time to get necessary auditing completed.
After establishing the capability of a supplier factory to make marine plywood, BM TRADA’s Marine Plywood Q-Mark Scheme will audit the manufacturing process through regular factory inspections, working with independent auditors such as the Malaysian Forest Research Institute to undertake initial type testing and using local BM TRADA auditors for regular factory audits.
“This is an excellent new initiative from BM TRADA to bring clarity to many of the issues surrounding the quality of marine plywood, and we would urge all members to consider the benefits this scheme can bring to their business,” said Chris Sutton, chairman of the TTF’s National Panel Products Division.
The scheme will also offer appropriate information to specifiers and regulatory and inspection authorities to help them identify suitable products.
