BM TRADA will showcase its timber expertise to the masses at this year’s Timber Expo with a new ‘live zone’ featuring a range of demonstrations designed to highlight its timber and fire credentials.
The international testing, inspection, certification and compliance body will host a wide range of practical demonstrations – all given by experts in their field. Kyle Morris, BM TRADA senior technical officer – windows and doors, will demonstrate elements of the PAS 24 test on an enhanced security timber window, while Vic Kearley, principal technical officer – timber, will use different types of material to demonstrate slip resistance and carry out a soft body impact test to show the difference in performance between different timber floor types. Meanwhile, Lewis Taylor, timber frame consultant, will conduct a timber frame demonstration.
Additionally, visitors to the stand will be able to see first-hand the differences between a correctly and incorrectly installed fire door, and technical consultant Nick Clifford will carry out timber species identification demonstrations, examining different species and revealing the methods employed to verify the wood species in a product. Visitors will also get the chance to look down the microscope to see for themselves.
Meanwhile, senior technical consultant Phil O’Leary will conduct a timber strength grading demonstration, providing visitors with the opportunity to get an overview of the process of grading timber – and the difference in approach between softwood and hardwood.
All the demonstrations will take place at BM TRADA’s stand (number F30), the footprint of which has been increased to almost 100m² this year, to cater for the extensive programme of activities.
In addition to the demonstrations, BM TRADA’s technical experts will cover some of the hottest topics in the timber industry as part of this year’s seminar programme.
Popular subjects including timber species verification; the EU Timber Regulation; timber in historic buildings; and CE marking versus third-party certification will all be discussed on the stand.
In addition, Jane Owen, head of sales and marketing, UK Certification Services, will deliver a presentation on Willmott Dixon and WWF UK – a Project Certification case study, while fire product assessor Simon Bailey will look at the fire safety challenges and solutions for historic buildings.
Each demonstration/seminar will last around 20 minutes, with additional time set aside afterwards for questions. There is no need to book – delegates just turn up five minutes before the start of each session (although attendance to the seminars is on a first-come, first-served basis).
In addition to this, BM TRADA will host surgery sessions, where visitors will be given the chance to talk/ask any questions they might have relating to one of the many timber-related subjects available.
To complete the programme, the BM TRADA stand will host the shortlisted entries in the Velocity in British Timber student competition. At 3.30pm on Tuesday, October 7, each student will be given the opportunity to present their project. The judges will then announce the winner in Timber Expo’s CLT theatre at 5pm.
