consultation into the new Code for Construction Product Information, to gather the views before it is formally launched later this year. The Hackitt report confirmed radical change was needed for construction products, particularly in the areas of testing, information and marketing. The TTF and WPA welcome this initiative, particularly as it comes hard on the heels of the government’s announcement of a new Building Products standards regulator.
The CCPI workstream, being administered by the Construction Products Association, has asked the construction products sector to respond to a consultation ‘Construction Product Information Industry Consultation: Better Data, Safer Building’, setting out the need for a sector-wide approach to providing clear, accurate and unambiguous product information.
While the Grenfell tragedy may not have involved timber products, it has impacted the commercial landscape for all building materials and claims for performance right through the supply chain. This links very directly into the first element of the TTF Action Plan for treated wood, namely “treated wood must be accurately and unambiguously specified and be clearly identified at all points of the chain”. This message is proving very timely and gives an added focus and impetus to this initiative.
ABOUT THE WPA BENCHMARK SCHEME Regarding element three of the TTF Plan – “treated wood must be produced by or purchased from a treatment provider whose operation has been assessed and approved under an independent accreditation scheme”, the WPA Benchmark is a quality scheme operated by the WPA for wood protection processes and products. The scheme for wood impregnated with an industrial preservative has been operating successfully for over 10 years and includes wood treaters in the UK and overseas. Under this scheme, individual treated wood products are certificated by third-party audit as being compliant with national treatment.
For further details, go to the WPA website resources page for Guidance Notes on the scheme via
https://www.thewpa.org.uk/ resource-centre or contact the WPA or TTF for background information.
SHARE IN THE WPA’S PASSION FOR TREATED WOOD WPA is delighted that major timber trade associations are collaborating closely to help the UK market for treated wood grow. We are happy to talk with any other organisation who shares our passion for wood protection technology and the industry’s mission to realise the full potential of wood as a sustainable, low environmental impact construction and landscaping material. ■
Use Class 2 , 3 or 4 ?
INTERIOR and EXTERIOR environments are very different and so treated wood performance levels should reflect this.
Preservative treatment provides added durability.
However, it’s a mistake to assume that all treated wood is the same. BS 8417 groups applications for treated wood into Use Classes:
INTERIOR Use Class 2
Above the ground or DPC, covered
Roof battens, framing, joists EXTERIOR
Use Class 3 Above the ground (uncoated)
Deck boards, cladding (inc. battens), fence rails
EXTERIOR Use Class 4
Ground or fresh water contact (and exterior structural support)
Fence posts, playground equipment, deck posts, joists, beams
To get the best from your timber, make sure it’s preservative pressure treated to the correct Use Class.
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contact@thewpa.org.uk www.thewpa.org.uk
www.ttjonline.com | May/June 2021 | TTJ
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