FEATURE TRAINING & SKILLS
Future-proofing Knowledge
David Hopkins, CEO of the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), takes a look at the Code for Construction Product Information and the concept of proving competence when it comes to product knowledge.
N
ot so long ago, the president of the TTF, Charles Hopping
the supply chain, but TTF members adopted an alteration to our Code of
of Hoppings Softwood Products, remarked to our
Conduct that makes due diligence responsibilities clear to both Chinese
annual gathering that the Grenfell disaster had ‘changed
suppliers and UK importers.
everything’ for the construction sector. Some four years
Our campaign on timber treatments, in line with the principles behind
down the line, the construction sector is coalescing around various
the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI), is designed to ensure
actions, set out in three key pieces of information which I would urge
that anyone trading in or selling ‘treated timber’ gives precise information
everyone to read, which emanate from the challenge set out in Dame
as to which level of treatment timber has received. This enables timber and
Judith Hackitt’s original report.
builders’ merchants to check suppliers’ documentation and make sure they
Firstly, published last October, is ‘Setting the Bar’, the latest report of
are getting the material they asked for. It is also intended to make sure that
the Competence Steering Group for Building a Safer Future. The second is
merchants understand why and how timber treatments vary, and which
the Construction Products Association’s ‘Construction Product Information
types of construction and garden timbers need which level of treatment. In
Industry Consultation: Better Data, Safer Building’, setting out the need
this way all our customers will be getting the right timber for the right job
for implementing a pan-sector Code for Construction Product Information.
and can expect it to perform in a designated situation.
These two workstreams go hand in hand. Thirdly, launched only in March,
As our trade starts to get to grips with the CCPI, it will make us all stop
is the Construction Leadership Council’s Skills Plan 2021-2025. Taken
and re-examine how we can prove to our customers in the trade that our
together, these three crystalise the steps that need to be taken to formalise
people know what they are talking about and can offer sound advice. Some
the construction sector’s commitment to safe building products and
companies choose to write their own timber training courses based around
practices of the future.
their business needs. Others send their staff on external courses, the two
In ‘Setting the Bar’ the deliberations and action plans of eleven
most popular being run by the Wood Technology Society (formerly the
Working Groups, covering a vast swathe of the construction industry,
Institute of Wood Science) now under the banner of professional body IOM3.
detail requirements for demonstrating the competence people working
These give a good basic grounding in timber, panel products and certification,
in their individual sectors. Working Group 12, the Construction Products
sufficient for most new entrants to our trade to get to grips with the material
Competence group, will be the next to publish its findings. In the
they are dealing with, and to know when to ask colleagues for advice.
meantime, the Code for Construction Product Information recognises
It is the gaining and formalising of experience above that level
the importance of both the competence of the individuals conveying
which the sector will be focusing on as we move forward. New matrices
information, and also of their ethical behaviour while doing so.
of construction product competence, developed through the various
These strands – competence and ethics – reflect what the TTF has
post-Grenfell Working Groups, will result in new overarching competency
been working on of recent times, in our campaigns on Chinese plywood
standards for construction, which we in the timber trade can then work
and now on timber treatments. In both cases, we were faced with a mis-
with and adapt to the needs of our industry. The TTF is now fully engaged
match in product descriptions and a need to uplift the trade’s knowledge
on producing its own map of the training, skills and education needs of
of how to detect material which didn’t meet its specification. With Chinese
our members, wherever they sit along the wood supply chain, as our
plywood, detailed research revealed huge inconsistencies between the
contribution to a post-Grenfell world.
timber species and glue bonds quoted on Chinese suppliers’ documentation More at www.ttf.co.uk
and the actual products supplied. This has taken time to iron out along
Timber Trader UK Magazine
Spring 2021
20
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