FEATURE WOOD CHOICE
Marketing Treated Timber The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and Wood Protection Association (WPA) are combining forces for an awareness campaign this spring, to promote the sale of correctly-treated timber.
M
erchants are always looking for ways to gain business
Elements of the campaign include an online training module, free
advantage. Making sure you have the right level of
to merchants, builders, landscapers, and even specifiers and consumers
timber treatment on wood for different purposes can
to use, prepared by the WPA. There is a free A5 sized leaflet which
mark out your knowledge as being superior to that of
opens out to a poster that merchants can use in-branch to show
your competitors. And as most builders will tell, a knowledgeable
customers which type of treated timber is suitable for which purpose.
merchant is one they’re more likely to re-visit regularly for supplies.
It is available from both organisations. The TTF will be making
In an age where it is all to easy for complaints about product quality to make their way onto social media and ruin an otherwise
information available further along the supply chain during the spring and summer through builders and contractors.
good reputation, it pays to ensure that all your merchant branch
On the supply side, the TTF’s Code of Conduct has been adapted to
staff dealing with timber products are well informed about timber
ensure that, from the beginning of April 2021, suppliers of treated timber
preservative treatments. “We’re talking here about the types of pre-use
will ‘clearly and unambiguously’ identify the treated timber being sold as
timber treatment which are factory-applied under quality-controlled
fit for its intended purpose. At a minimum, TTF members are to identify,
conditions, leading to the best outcomes when customers use the
at all stages of the supply process to merchants (on stock movement
timber in their projects,” says Gordon Ewbank, CEO of the Wood
records, sales records and orders), whether the timber is treated to Use
Protection Association (WPA). “These are the only types of treatment
Class 2 for internal dry environment use only: for Use Class 3 applications
which can live up to the desired service life for the timber product.
– timber used above ground externally but not in contact with the
Timber treated by a firm accredited under the WPA’s Benchmark
ground, or Use Class 4, for any outdoor timber element e.g. decking
scheme, for example, indicates that it has been
joists and posts, which is either in temporary or
assessed through a third-party independent
permanent contact with the ground or provides
auditing process.”
external structural support. UC4 applies even
This spring, the WPA and TTF are running a
if, for example, a decking membrane is installed
joint campaign to increase awareness amongst
beneath it. TTF members are also to ensure
merchants and amongst the fencing and
that customers ordering treated timber have
landscaping sector of the three key levels of
sufficient information and, where necessary,
timber treatment, where they can be used, and
training, in order to be able to sell, use or install
why they matter, then rolling this information
treated timbers correctly. These new actions
out further along the supply chain. The
were agreed at the TTF’s AGM in November 2020.
campaign is also being supported by the Timber
“Merchants who join with TTF and WPA
Decking & Cladding Association. “Merchants
in promoting correctly-treated timber this
who want to be at the forefront of the added
spring and summer will be able to catch the
value opportunity that preservative treated
wave, business-wise,” adds TTF’s Nick Boulton.
timber represents need to make sure their
“Take the opportunity to demonstrate your
staff are up to speed,” says Nick Boulton, TTF’s
timber treatment knowledge and reap the
Head of Technical & Trade. “The campaign will
reputational business benefits of doing so.”
be rolling out further along the supply chain More at www.ttf.co.uk
through spring and summer and beyond.”
Timber Construction Magazine
Spring 2021
12
www.timbermedia.co.uk
@Timber_Media
