CEN TC 124 - TIMBER STRUCTURES

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:

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  • Marking of the batch of products (instead of a piece by piece);
  
  
  • The producer or the intermediaries have to guarantee that the minimum quality of the pieces composing the batch is C 16. It is up to the producer or the intermediary to classify the timber if he receives a demand of higher quality of timber.



As marking of  timber structure is a big  issue for SMEs, we met the European Commission on the 2nd of September to find a solution to maintain economic sustainability of SMEs of the wood sector (http://www.normapme.com/english/newsletter.htm). The agreement that was reached at this meeting still needed to be worded in the draft standard. On the 8th of December, the CEN TC 124 WG 2 met in Paris and despite the strong opposition of certifiers against this agreement, an amendment to be sent for public enquiry was produced in line with the output of the meeting with the European Commission.




For more information please contact Mr Lorenzo Accardo at l.accardo@normapme.com