The UK’s Benchmark Quality Approval Scheme covering preservative treatment of wood is undergoing a major revision in a bid to raise standards and aid the specification and purchase of treated wood for the correct end-uses.
News of the changes coming to the Wood Protection Association’s (WPA) Benchmark Quality Approval Scheme was shared at the WPA annual conference in Leeds on May 7, with the WPA and members acknowledging a “need for change”.
Benchmark has covered preservative formulations, treatment processes and products – providing much needed valid independent assessment and verification. But understanding of correct treated wood specification is still perceived as low in the market.
Delegates at the WPA Conference heard that the current scheme has 38 Approved Treaters. No reliable database currently exists to quantify the number of UK timber treatments plants operating, but estimates range from 150-200.
Some members urged that a bigger number of approved treaters was needed to make a bigger impact. Delegates also voiced the need for an easier-to-understand system than the current Hazard Use Classes, with lots of support for something closely mirroring the Nordic Wood Preservation Council’s NTR scheme which involves clear labelling on timber showing consumers whether timber is for above or in-ground use.
Neil Ryan, WPA director for standards, quality and regulatory compliance, unveiled new details of the Benchmark update.
He said the new Benchmark scheme would no longer feature Approved Treaters. Instead, treaters will be able to undergo Benchmark audits to produce Approved Treated Wood Products, with the WPA actively working with Timber Development UK, the Builders Merchants Federation and the Association of Fencing Industries to promote these third-party accredited products.
Sixteen product groups will feature in the new scheme, covering both low and high pressure treated products. Evidence of wood preservative penetration into the wood and retention will be required for WPA Benchmark Approved status.
The WPA has recently trialled a cost and time effective method of sampling treated wood on site which involves drilling to extract a plug of treated wood. This, he said, had achieved good results and was less invasive than crosscutting.
Mr Ryan said Benchmark revision discussions took place earlier in 2026 and the next steps were as follows:
• May – scheme refining and revision
• June – auditor training
• July – Communications with treaters
• September – rollout of new scheme
• October – new Benchmark transition
The Benchmark visual identity will be updated, with recognition that the ultimate desired objective could be to have product labelling on the wood itself.
Mr Ryan said it was imperative that wood product buyers source treated wood with third-party accreditation to help ensure it was fit-for-purpose.
WPA director Steve Young said the WPA was listening to its members and would look to take on board member suggestions.
More details on the WPA conference will follow in TTJ.
