CEN TC 124 - TIMBER STRUCTURES NORMAPME Mirror Committee

 This is the Mirror Committee for TC 124 - TIMBER STRUCTURES. The Mirror Committee is the group of SMEs that support the NORMAPME expert in presenting the views of SMEs during the drafting of standard.

CEN/TC 124 is active within the framework of the Constructions Products Directive (CPD). The elaboration of standards for physical and mechanical properties and test methods for structural timber has initially been supported by the European Commission in under the order voucher BC/CEN/87/10 “Wood”. Standards under this order voucher are now published as voluntary European standards (EN’s). Secondly, the work programme of CEN/TC 124, comprises a list of harmonised standards under the mandate M/112 Structural timber and ancillaries. The harmonised standards will become the basis for the CE-marking of structural timber.

The wood and wood products industry is faced with cyclical demands from other industrial activities, such as construction and furniture industries. These two downstream industries are highly influenced by the evolution of economical activity, income levels and interest rates. On a more long term basis the increased focus in the general public opinion on lower energy consumption, sustainable building materials and low emission production methods is anticipated to be of major interest to CEN/TC 124 and its stakeholders.

The CEN/TC 124, whose work is followed by our expert Mr. Hugues Frere, will elaborate a set of European Standards in the timber construction sector including aspect of load bearing capacity being the primary topic of standards, and including durability and fire safety aspects by referencing to standards made by other TC´s.

The CEN/TC proposes the following objectives and strategic directions for its future work: to draft and provide the harmonized standards needed for the implementation of the Internal Market and in support of the CE-marking in relation to timber products as defined in the scope to draft and provide the necessary standards supporting the European design codes.

Because of the need for European Standards as a vehicle for the implementation of the Building Products Directive, priority is given to the preparation of mandated harmonized standards. Furthermore, in order to avoid duplication of work and avoid the creation of new technical barriers to trade, liaisons with ISO/TC 165 has been established.

A NORMAPME position paper on the request for the extension of the coexistence period of Standard EN 14081-4 (CE Marking for Timber Structure) - available on our web site – propose the following issues to avoid extra costs for SMEs:

Important discussion documents, such as draft standards, can be found under [All documents], the [group forum] is where Mirror Committee members can discuss work in progress.

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This Mirror Committee is managed by Lorenzo Accardo (l.accardo@normapme.com). The NORMAPME expert is Mr Hugues Frere (H.frere@houtinfobois.be) of ETRA, the European Twowheel Retailers' Association.