“The most important development that TRADA has undertaken for a generation” is how chief executive Andrew Abbott heralded the official launch of the askTRADA website which went live this week.

The website (asktrada.co.uk), which cost “upwards of £500,000” was 12 months in the planning, eight months in development and provides online access to TRADA information “acquired over 70 years of timber research” (TTJ July 20/27, 2002).

“TRADA has a responsibility to help its members gain access to the technical information they need,” said Mr Abbott. “Information retrieval has undergone radical change. People want to be able to get the information they want, when they want it – and the internet is the ideal medium,” he added.

TRADA members will now have round the clock access to timber information. A key feature of the website is the instant link from technical information to the suppliers directory, enabling specifiers to contact suppliers direct.

&#8220People want to be able to get the information they want, when they want it – and the internet is the ideal medium. askTRADA is the most important development that TRADA has undertaken for a generation.”

Andrew Abbott, TRADA chief executive

Other services include: a comprehensive guide to timber species, including advice on what to use where; a software toolbox, with downloadable interactive software enabling complex design tasks to be quickly completed to BS5268 and Eurocode 5; design detail drawings, showing best practice solutions; model specification clauses for all common timber building elements; a technical library, featuring all TRADA’s current publications, plus relevant articles from other publishers; and an email enquiry service from leading experts offering technical support.

TRADA is to stage hands on demonstrations, aimed at architects, engineers, surveyors and other construction industry professionals, at internet café venues around the UK. These roadshows include short seminars on using IT toolboxes or specifying timber cladding. The first two events are at The Internet Exchange, Covent Garden, London on March 25 and The Internet Exchange, 136 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow on March 27.