Learning for Sustainable Change

Two key organisations central to the UK timber sector are providing new learning options to create the next generation of industry professionals.

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onstruction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is expanding its successful Low Carbon Learning programme with the launch of a second free-to-attend programme focused on the fabric and structure of sustainable buildings.

Fully funded training for up to 500 Scottish construction professionals will be provided by CSIC. Supported by Skills Development Scotland, through more than £175,000 from the National Transition Training Fund, CSIC is offering valuable training for people in the construction sector looking to upskill and reskill, supporting a Scotland-wide transition towards a zero-carbon built environment.

Up to 500 places are available for Low Carbon Learning: Fabric and Structure, which launched with an online webinar on 29 March and will run until July. The course covers four core areas critical to the future of the sector. A fabric-first module will focus on design decisions that can help to reduce energy consumption, while a carbon accounting module will highlight the need for environmental data to be calculated for each project. The role of sustainable insulation materials, including homegrown alternatives, and mass timber solutions will also form a core part of the course.

Training includes both online learning and live demonstrations at CSIC’s Innovation Factory in Hamilton – home to the UK’s only commercial-scale vacuum press for manufacturing cross laminated and glue laminated timber components, and a Pilot Insulation Line for trialling new insulation materials. The launch of the programme follows the success of the first tranche of Low Carbon Learning which was Scotland’s first publicly funded training programme in Passivhaus and EnerPHit, the globally recognised approaches for the design, construction and retrofit of highly energy-efficient buildings.

Caitriona Jordan, head of retrofit programmes at CSIC, said: “Reskilling and upskilling will be a core element of the construction sector’s transition to zero carbon, and we want to help provide the knowledge and experience workers need to help deliver the wide range of new projects and energyefficient retrofits required. This new course focuses on the fabric and structure of buildings, including important training on carbon accounting that, although complex, is only going to become more relevant, as well as highlighting alternative homegrown construction materials. Increased green skills across the sector will help to ensure we have a future-proofed workforce that is well-equipped to reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment.”

Elaine Ellis, Skills Planning Manager – Construction at Skills Development Scotland, added: “The construction sector will play a critical role as we transition to become a net-zero economy. This programme will provide practical tools and knowledge to help the construction sector to upskill and adapt their practices to meet the needs of net-zero. We look forward to working with CSIC as this programme is developed and delivered.”

Roofing designers

The Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) has launched a new training scheme to enable trussed rafter designers to prove their knowledge and experience and put theory into practice. The Designer Development Programme (DDP) has seven levels and is based on the completion of evidence books in which trainee designers must show their experience in five roof design scenarios.

Each set of five books is expected to take around six months to a year to complete, giving the trainees chance to encounter real-life design briefs in realtime. They must show their awareness of commercial and technical aspects of the projects and include knowledge of safety, efficiency, and best practice.

TRA chief executive Nick Boulton said: “The DDP is a great step forward for the TRA and its members. It offers the next generation of trussed rafter and metal web floor designers a structured programme for their development and will provide them with a series of certificates and evidence books to show their progress and experience gained.”

Candidates must have completed introductory systems training and the TRA online Essentials Training, developed with Edinburgh Napier University, to undertake the DDP. Levels one and two are now available with seven trainees having already started the first level.

Leah Walters works at Donaldson Timber in Derbyshire and started off working in the reception there before deciding to re-train as a designer. She took part in the beta testing for the scheme and will soon be submitting her evidence books to her in-house assessor. She said: “It’s great to have been involved in testing the DDP. My assessor, David Murphy, has helped me make sure that I’ve experienced all the necessary types of roof design in my day-today work so that I can include them in my evidence books, and has supported me throughout. It was hard at first because I was new to design, but the books are interactive and link you to helpful notes at the back which play a really big part in your understanding.”

‘Good to Know’ Knowledge Bytes

The Timber Decking & Cladding Association (TDCA) is focusing in 2022 around highlighting the key information that those buying, selling and using timber decking and external timber cladding should be aware of.

Aspecific subject is the size of cladding profiles, specifically tongue and groove (T&G) which is an interlocking system where size matters most. According to BS8605 – External Timber Cladding Part 1: Method of Specifying, for medium movement timbers such as Siberian larch, the profile width for a T&G board is restricted to a maximum of 125mm. Further guidance on tongue dimensions and movement gaps is provided, with bigger gaps and tongues being required for wider boards. At 125mm wide the standard requires a minimum movement gap (mg) of 4mm, tongue width (tw) at least 15mm and thickness (tt) at least 7.5mm. General width to thickness ratio for all profiles is between 4:1 and 6:1.

In summary, cladding boards that are essentially designed for internal use, where the effects of moisture are not so important, should not be used externally.

T&G boards should not be fitted tightly together even though there may be a strong temptation to do so. Allowing for the natural movement of the timber mitigates problems arising; tongues don’t become disengaged, and the cladding stays secured to the wall – so long as the correct fasteners are used, but that is a topic for another day.

Cladding suppliers need to signpost customers to the correct profile for the end use and would be wise to comply with the guidance in BS8605. This standard (which may be updated soon) remains a relevant document and contains guidance on other cladding profile styles including rectangular, shiplap, parallelogram and featheredge.

Regarding decking, our attention is on one of the most common deck issues – early joist failure. When selecting materials the emphasis is often on the deck boards but consideration to the deck substructure – posts, beams, joists, blocking and bracing – is just as important as it forms the foundation to the whole project. Pressure treated softwood is the go-to material for deck substructure components.

To ensure it is fit for purpose it must be preservative pressure treated to a Use Class 4 level of protection, irrespective of whether the material is in ground contact or not. This reclassification to Use Class 4 is a recent change which the industry is gradually adapting to. Availability of UC4 treated joists is increasing especially through companies who are members of the TDCA. An industry campaign highlighting the importance of correctly treated timber is currently being promoted throughout the timber supply chain – learn more at the Wood Protection Association website: www.thewpa.org.uk/make-sure-it-s-4

Getting the fundamentals right at the beginning of any decking or cladding project is key to both customer and seller satisfsaction. Armed with the appropriate products and information helps to ensure problems are kept to a minimum.

For those looking for added assurances of quality, the TDCA operates DeckMark and CladMark quality accreditation schemes which cover products, suppliers and installers. They provide audited verification of compliance with good manufacturing and supply practices and sound installation techniques trusted by the TDCA and the wider industry.

Want to become accredited? Contact the TDA directly at  info@tdca.org.uk. Only quality oriented companies should apply. For summarised guidance, The Timber Cladding Handbook produced in collaboration with the Timber Trade Federation is available for £12 (inc p&p) from the TDCA website  www.tdca.org.uk/publications