Chartered structural engineer Dr John Bellamy says that in order for timber to compete against alternative materials, the industry must ensure that its codes of conduct are enforced
Once again your pages carry reports that significant quantities of wet timber are being imported into the UK for structural use.
Most structural engineers in the UK have been brought up to believe that timber rots, twists, splits and burns, and that it is a poor quality material suitable only for short span rafters and for domestic floor joists. Parts of the timber supply industry seem to be doing everything they can to keep this negative image alive.
In recent years in the UK the trade has supplied wet timber for window frames – result: at least 50% of householders now have plastic windows – and had bad use of timber frame highlighted in a TV programme – result: the use of timber frame more than halved over night. Now the major housebuilders have found out that if they install I-joists instead of sawn timber they avoid a whole lot of problems.
If I was starting my professional life again, I would look for a product to sell against one made from timber. Not only would the timber industry be unable to mount an effective defence of its product, a section of the industry would be sure to provide copious evidence to damage the reputation of its material.
Wet timber for structural use inside a building is illegal, permitting it to be used damages the reputation of timber and the commercial prospects of honourable firms selling it. Timber traders who sell wet timber as being graded, or ungraded timber for structural use, should be identified and pursued through the courts.
The requirement that structural timber must be dry has been in place since 1996. In the past six years I cannot remember a single report in the TTJ of anybody being taken to court for selling wet timber.
If the TTF and the BWF are serious about Codes of Conduct they need to be proactive in enforcing their rules and policing the timber world generally. The money being spent on promotion will be wasted if the enthusiasm for timber turns into despair after some cowboy supplies material that shrinks, twists and splits.
If laws are not enforced then the only losers are the law abiding. If the trade cannot defend itself by enforcing good practice the winners will be the people who have invented replacements for objects traditionally made from timber.
