Performance classification of wood in construction – drafting a user friendly European standard

IRG/WP 14-20545

E Suttie, C Brischke, L Meyer, J Van Acker, M Kutnik, E Heisel, F Englund, J Jermer, S Thelandersson, M Polášek, D Lorenzo

The performance classification for wood products in construction is an extremely important topic in Europe and beyond – warranty providers and end users demand service life and performance information in the face of competition with other materials. The European project PerformWOOD has formalised and drawn together the on-going research to focus on generation of a material resistance factor for performance classification and alongside WG28 is developing the first moisture dynamic test protocols in the Technical Committee’s history, again based on research work being drawn together. In this paper some of the early concepts around a future user friendly standard to enable wood and enhanced durability wood to be specified by construction professionals on the basis of performance are considered. A draft standard (EN460) for consideration of performance classification of wood in construction is underway and relies on concepts that are being road-tested with industry, construction professionals, researchers and the general public.


Keywords: EN 460, service life prediction, performance classification, standards, moisture risk, exposure dose, material resistance, consequence of failure

Conference: 14-05-11/15 St George, Utah, USA


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