The TTF has issued the guidance to all its members to help them understand the affects of the changes and what actions they may need to take.
The Federation says EN 14081 will mean a wider range of structural timber products on offer in Britain using visual strength grading standards of other countries and overseen by unfamiliar certification bodies. This presents “opportunities and threats”, but the TTF believes existing products will continue to fulfill most market needs.
Members are being warned that if they distribute unfamiliar material they are declaring the product fit for structural purposes under UK Building Regulations. “This could mean ultimately they, and not the overseas supplier, may carry legal responsibility for any structural failure of the product,” the TTF says.
Timber producers will see the biggest changes, with amended stamps and new setting data for strength grading machines. The UK Timber Grading Committee has produced calculation software for machines, which will be distributed by certification bodies.
EN 14081 will run in parallel with existing arrangements for the coming year, although the UK Timber Grading Committee has suggested UK and overseas producers may want to change over on January 1, 2007 because of the different machine grading settings. BS 4978 and 5756 will remain as the visual strength grading standards for softwood and hardwood, with minor amendments to marking.
