FEATURE TIMBER TREATMENT
Choosing the Correct Option
Image © Burnblock
You rely on your supply chain to deliver ‘fit for purpose’ building products. Fire-retardant timber is a case in point. Documents tick the box. But is that enough? Mark Eggleston, managing director, WJ Group explains why ensure the correct treatment is so important.
T
imber is popular. Ecologically superior and aesthetically pleasing, it offers countless benefits. But when it comes to fire-retardant timber, there’s a knowledge gap that could risk significant errors. Incredibly, no
monitoring system exists for fire-treated timber in the UK. So, how do you know your supplier has got it right? Let me explain where my concern comes from, and how you can handle this to correctly specify fire-retardant timber with your supply chain. Object-based navigation It starts with The Construction Product Regulation (EU no. 305/2011).
Mark Eggleston, managing director, WJ Group
This requires the manufacturer or company placing the product on the market to CE mark it. At WJ Timber Treatments, we fire-treat timber with Burnblock. An eco-friendly Danish product and we adhere to the EU’s
Understand the testing to specify correctly Let me explain the importance of understanding the detail behind
interpretation of the CPR – the timber treater is responsible for CE mark
the Declaration of Performance that’ll accompany your fire-treated
provision (and the traceability this demands). But here’s the anomaly. The UK interprets the CPR differently. They
timber. Unlike many treaters, we provide a species-specific Declaration
state the company placing the treated timber for sale is responsible for CE
of Performance to accompany every fire-treated product. We don’t
marking and documentation. But how does a timber trader truly understand
have to do this, but we think it’s right. Going back to the CPR, it states
the fire-treatment process – and whether it’s fit for your purpose?
products in the ‘reaction to fire’ category must be CE marked (CE
In the UK, the timber treater only needs a Factory Production Control
marking will become UKCA in 2022). To achieve CE marking for timber cladding, for example, BS
document, audited in line with a quality management standard like ISO 9001. This makes no reference to the relevant product harmonised standard. And
EN14915/2013 is the correct harmonised standard to meet. This states
no documented traceability back to BS EN 13501 fire classification report
the AVCP (Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance)
(Euro B or C). As fire treating timber significantly alters the performance of it,
must be Class 1 for reaction to fire products. AVCP1 requires continual
we maintain the EU’s stance and provide full treatment traceability.
auditing by a notified body. WJ uses Finetrol. The notified body then provides a Constancy of Performance,
We don’t have to do this. The UK says we’re not the business placing the product on the market. Nor the manufacturer. But we believe we
renewed after every annual audit. Only then can your supplier issue a
should be doing this. It’s our moral responsibility to provide people like
species-specific Declaration of Performance. It’s complex. And that’s
you with total confidence.
why it’s vital to ask your supplier the right questions.
Timber Trader UK Magazine
Summer 2021
28
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