The specific inclusion of timber within the government’s newly-published draft Code for Sustainable Homes has been welcomed by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) as a huge boost for the timber and joinery industries.
But the Construction Products Association said timber had been given a special status in the code “which cannot be justified”.
The document, which is now the subject of consultation until March, says additional code points can be secured based on the percentage of certified timber and wood products and/or recycled/reused elements used in a development, where subject to full third-party chain of custody.
Measurement will be based on the government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber‘s rankings of certification schemes.
BWF director Richard Lambert said: “In the timber and joinery industry it will give us a huge boost if the code does go through in this form. For housebuilders looking to gain additional points, using certified timber is an easy win.”
Mr Lambert said he believed timber’s special status in the document was a result of NGO pressure on the government to grow the use of certified timber.
