Advisory service BM TRADA: technical timber, our experts and services

BM TRADA: technical timber, our experts and services

Ben Sharples gives an overview of expertise provided by the BM TRADA technical timber team.

BM TRADA helps companies that are using timber in building projects – whether at the design stage, during construction, or when retaining timber during historical building restoration.

Its technical timber team offers specialist expert consultancy, advice and training in all aspects of the timber and construction industries, providing value-adding services to construction and engineering clients, product manufacturers and insurers, as well as to the education sector. There is a wealth of knowledge within a team of qualified individuals who, between them, have dozens of years of combined experience in working with timber.

Introducing some of BM TRADA’s timber consultancy experts...

Phil O’Leary

Technical Manager, leading BM TRADA’s technical timber team.

Together with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the visual strength grading of timber, Phil specialises in: • condition surveys, performance assessments and determining the structural strength of timber in many situations • timber quality, performance characteristics, deterioration and preservation • serving as an expert witness in establishing the causes of timber failures • developing and presenting highly regarded topical and bespoke training courses on a range of timber subjects.

Phil also sits on the BSI’s Wood Preservation Committee and the Wood Protection Association’s Technical Committee. See page 26 for Phil’s article on timber fundamentals and how training is used in companies to develop wood knowledge.

Hugh Mansfield-Williams

Wood Technology Technical Manager for the assessment and certification of construction products and systems.

Hugh has particular expertise in: • products for loadbearing timber structures • evaluating product type testing and calculation • routes to approval for construction products so that they can be placed on the market.

Hugh participates in standards development and other technical committees in both the UK and Europe. See page 145 for Hugh’s article on UKCA marking.

Dr Keerthi Ranasinghe

Principal Engineer for Structural Timber at BM TRADA and Warringtonfire.

Keerthi is a technical expert on structural timber, with a wide range of experience in structural investigations. He is a member of BSI committees on structural engineering, and the UK representative on European Working Groups responsible for Eurocode 5.

Keerthi is author of several specialist publications, including: • Eurocode 5 Span Tables • Timber connections: a guide for engineers • TimberSizerPro and TimberConnectionsPro to Eurocode 5 software.

Additionally, he is: • revising editor for the Manual for the Design of Timber Building Structures to Eurocode 5 (2nd ed). • a project team member for the technical editing of the connections chapter of the second generation of Eurocode 5, due for release in 2023.

Keerthi delivers CPD training and workshops on structural timber engineering and on Eurocode 5 at both BM TRADA and the Institution of Structural Engineers UK. See page 34 for an extract from his latest publication, Timber Connections: a guide for engineers.

Robin Lancashire

Senior Timber Frame Consultant in BM TRADA’s technical timber team. Robin has a long and distinguished career in promoting best practice in timber frame construction.

Holding a BSc in Building and with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, Robin was instrumental in developing BM TRADA’s frameCHECK service; his technical expertise has helped countless architects, main contractors, developers, housing associations, building control and warranty providers with impartial advice during design, construction and in use.

When he’s not providing professional advice, Robin: • delivers practical training on timber frame technology • represents BM TRADA on the Structural Timber Association’s Technical Committee • is a regular speaker at industry conferences • contributes to trade journals.

Robin has co-authored several important books, including Timber frame construction (5th ed), the acknowledged technical manual for the timber frame industry. See page 37 for Robin’s article on the importance of cavity barriers in timber frame construction.

Nick Clifford

Senior Technical Timber Consultant in BM TRADA’s technical timber team.

Nick has more than 20 years’ experience in providing clear, concise, high-quality advice on timber-related issues to architects, engineers, contractors, developers, conservation bodies and public clients.

A qualified visual strength grader for timber with expertise in species identification, fungal decay, insect damage and wood preservation, Nick specialises in: • carrying out independent condition surveys and inspections, diagnosing defects and writing expert witness reports • assessing the condition of timber structures, flooring, cladding and decking.

Nick teaches visual strength grading and speaks regularly on timber-related subjects. See page 29 for Nick’s article on visual strength grading.

Lewis Taylor

Senior Timber Frame Consultant in BM TRADA’s technical timber team.

A highly respected expert in the science, technology and regulation of timber frame building, Lewis also consults on thermal performance, thermal bridging, airtightness, low-energy design and acoustic control. Most of his professional work is carried out under BM TRADA’s frameCHECK service and he:

• leads some of the timber industry’s latest research results on timber moisture content • conducts independent quality inspections and condition surveys, evaluates design details, and investigates defects and their remedy • speaks at trade events and delivers CPD.

Lewis is on the Technical Committees for both the Trussed Rafter Association and Robust Details and is co-author of several books, including the technical manual Timber frame construction (5th ed). See page 93 for Lewis’s article on his recent CLT and durability work.

frameCHECK

BM TRADA’s nationwide frameCHECK service offers architects, engineers, contractors and housing associations independent thirdparty advice on the design and build quality of timber-framed buildings.

BM TRADA services

The BM TRADA technical timber team can assist with any project involving any aspect of timber. Some of the types of consultancy we are often involved with include:

• Timber condition and structural surveys • Design detail evaluation • Timber frame inspection and consultancy • Timber joinery inspections • Timber cladding and decking inspections • Timber and insect species identification • Timber coatings inspection, testing and consultancy • Timber expert witness services • Timber training

About the author

Ben Sharples Commercial Lead Timber Services, BM TRADA

Ben works closely with the technical timber team to ensure that we deliver our full potential and provide the excellence within the construction industry that we strive to achieve.

Further information

For technical advice or consultancy services, contact the BM TRADA technical timber team on +44 (0) 1494 569601 or visit www.bmtrada.com/advisory-services