TIMBER
only mechanical grading, using camera and laser scanning technology, is able to produce the most accurate and consistently graded roofing battens. Our JB Red roofing battens are put through a state-of-the-art laser grading machine called Goldeneye, which scans the battens in intricate detail, by the millimetre, to deliver a high-level of accuracy, consistency and ultimately, quality assurance.”
Forrest places focus on how the roofing battens should be preservative treated to Usage Class 2 in accordance with BS 8417. “Different manufacturers use their own types of preservative treatment and may offer different guarantees as a result. JB Red roofing battens use a patented next generation technology preservative called MicroPro, which has a unique red pigment and carries a 60-year lifetime guarantee against insect attack and wood rotting fungi (when installed correctly in accordance with the requirements of Usage Class 2).”
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Checking your battens for defects is key. “As a natural material, timber battens will obviously have varied characteristics but BS 5534 is very strict about what is and isn’t allowed and our machine grading process scans JB Red battens by the millimetre to make sure they meet the requirements of the standard.
Merchants are reminded to look out for these factors to ensure the battens they sell are compliant. “Some knots are allowed, depending on their size and position. If a knot appears on both sides of the face, the sum of the knot on both faces must not exceed the width of the batten. A knot appearing on both edges of the batten, which does not appear on the face, is only deemed permissible if the knot on either side is one-fifth of the depth or less.
“BS 5534 also allows for a missing corner on the batten, otherwise known as wane. However, it is only permitted on one axis and should not exceed one-third of the dimension of each of the faces on which it occurs.” “Battens need to be straight, so BS 5534 sets a tolerance on distortion. Bow, spring or twist should each not be greater than 5mm, measured over a length of 1.2m at a reference moisture content of 20%. If your batten is bowed more than this, then do not sell it and check with the manufacturer. Battens cut from sideboards are less likely to distort which is why JB Red roofing battens are only manufactured from kiln dried sideboards.”BMJ
BREXIT AND BARK BEETLE: WHAT THEY MEAN FOR 2020 TIMBER SUPPLY
E ” xcess stock brought in ahead of the
original 1 April Brexit deadline, continuing uncertainty around Brexit and challenges posed by bark beetle attacks throughout central Europe have all contributed to a year of collapsing timber prices. The knock-on effect in 2020 will be a price recovery of sorts and the potential for some timber shortage and supply delays, says Nigel Buckley-Ryan, UK sales director, Södra Wood Ltd.
The challenge
“With the good intention of having landed stock available to customers ahead of the original and ultimately unmet 1 April Brexit deadline, the market was saturated with an excess of landed softwood,” Buckley-Ryan says. One thing is for certain: many timber importers – reluctant to put themselves in another situation whereby they may lose money – are unlikely to prepare for the UK leaving the EU in the same way they did ahead of the 1 April deadline. Brexit may well come with a change to frictionless imports, which could have significant business implications. Not least, construction sector workflow. Merchants are largely reliant on next-day supply on demand, so they will need to be sure that their timber importer has enough landed stockholding, storage resources and the necessary
infrastructure in place to maintain continuous supply and overcome any customs delays. Buckley-Ryan explains that, if we end up without a reciprocal compliance framework in place, any timber landing from Europe will be treated as if it came from outside the EU. “This means that customs clearance could take up to seven, or perhaps even 10 days. Should this happen, EU-sourced timber would have to be stored by importers pending paperwork, which will increase demand for space and appropriate facilities to maintain products in premium condition.
“Fortunately, Södra already has several years’ experience importing from non-EU countries and we are well placed to cope with Brexit
challenges,” he says. “Similarly, operating three British dock storage terminals offers some flexibility to adjust stockholding.” Brexit issues not withstanding, the
persistence of the bark beetle means that the yield of logs being harvested has fallen due to a deterioration of quality. “The market will likely feel the effect of this soon, particularly the market for C24 construction timber, which could be impacted by a tighter supply scenario,” Buckley-Ryan says. Bark beetle is a common and potentially devastating pest which tunnel under bark, cutting off the supply of food and water the tree needs to survive, eventually killing a tree in as little as two to four weeks.
Bark beetle attacks on spruce throughout central Europe proliferated during the summer, with the situation becoming serious in several places in the Czech Republic, Austria and, Germany. Damaged logs need to be harvested as soon as possible, which can have a knock-on effect on production.
“At Södra, we never use any form of
chemical deterrent but instead lay traps and attract bark beetle with endorphins typically released by a tree in distress. This helps us to not only exterminate the bark beetle but learn more about their activity so that we may better plan ahead.” Buckley-Ryan says that both Brexit and the bark beetle may therefore cause timber shortages and supply delays. “This could pose a challenge for some timber and builders’ merchants, especially as demand for construction timber throughout Europe remains high.”
Looking ahead
There’s no doubt that the timber industry is going through a challenging time at the moment, Buckley-Ryan says.
“Continuing demand coupled with a potential shortage of supply pays testament to that, which is why the timber supplier you choose now will pay dividends in the months and years to come. Those suppliers with a proven track-record of sustainable timber supply; end-to-end control of their supply chains; and a commitment to building long-term partnerships with their merchant customers will be the ones that win out. Now, more than ever, merchants who partner with trusted, reliable partners will be best placed to understand and plan for the possible challenges ahead.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2019 29
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