The merger between the Institute of Wood Science and the Institute of Carpenters and the appointment of a joint director is a move in the right direction and brings with it new opportunities and exciting possibilities.
One key issue for both institutes is the enticement of young blood into the industry. This is good, as I am increasingly concerned about the old blood, mine rapidly becoming this!
Over recent years the UK has lost many renowned experts as they have retired, or sadly died, or who have had funding withdrawn, who have given their time and expertise over many years in codes and standards development.
I started in 1992, or thereabouts, and of the people on the various committees at the time, few now remain and there are none coming up to take their place.
The individuals we need in these positions are experts from industry who work on a daily basis with the materials for which standards are being developed. Until companies are prepared to let their employees become the new standards committee experts, UK industry will have no say at all in how CEN and ISO standards develop.
Dwindling still further, David Duke-Evans is finally hanging up his boots, leaving the BSI wood-based panels committee without a chairman.
David has also been a driving force on regulatory issues, hounding intransigent government departments into some form of activity on the issue.
At European level the UK has good coverage on the structural timber code and standards and preservation committees but “wood-based panels” does not and solid timber and its various groups could be better served – although John Hedgecock provides stalwart coverage here.
Come September this year UK wood-based panels representation at the European level will, unless something changes, be down to one person – me – a wholly unacceptable situation. It used to be John Sunley, John Dinwoodie, Eddie van der Straeten and David Duke-Evans when the UK had some real clout!
