The Northern Ireland Timber Trade Association (NITTA) will continue its drive to put timber at the top of the agenda for builders and specifiers throughout the province this year.
During February NITTA teamed up with Duncan King, a technical application specialist to the international timber industry, to host seminars for environmental health and building control officers. The aim was to explain the ramifications of the new European Directive (Construction Products Directive) and CE marking.
NITTA chairman Geoff Couston said: “This is one of the most significant pieces of legislation to have been introduced to the timber sector in recent years. Basically it means that every purchaser in the chain of supply has a right to request CE certification either in the form of documentation or marking before taking delivery of the product – and each supplier is legally required to provide it.”
In Northern Ireland the legislation will be enforced by environmental health officers, and Mr Couston warned: “Perhaps the most important point is that offenders can be fined or imprisoned.
“We see it as part of our remit to ensure that all relevant parties involved in construction are aware of the new legislation and the implications of non-compliance.”
NITTA is teaming up with the Construction Employers Federation to host an event specifically for their members to assist them in their purchasing policies as regards wood-based panel products.
The association is also working closely with TRADA and wood. for good. TRADA is helping NITTA produce technical literature for specifiers while wood.for good and the Royal Society of Ulster Architects are working with the association to examine the innovation and sustainability of timber as a construction material.
