Join our timber experts for our popular timber webinar series.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

We have webinars with refreshed content and additional deep dives into strength grading, modified woods, plywood and other panel products. Our webinars are pitched at all levels. They will be presented by technical experts but aimed at all levels of knowledge. Learn about how timber and its uses within the Built Environment.

Timber Frame seriestwo webinars

Technical Timber seriesthree webinars

Fundamentals of Timber seriesfour webinars

 

TIMBER FRAME SERIES

 

THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2023 · COMPLETE  

THURSDAY, 16 MARCH 2023 · COMPLETE 

This series will be repeated in the latter half of the year. Sign up for Right On Site: Key Timber Frame Details in September and Moisture management in Timber Frame Design and Construction in October.


TECHNICAL TIMBER SERIES

 

THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM BST

Strength grading of solid timber – overcoming some common misconceptions with Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, BM TRADA

            Purpose of strength grading

            How strength of timber is determined – the three properties of timber called the 'grade determining properties'

            What is strength grading

            Methods of strength grading and which is better

            Types of machines in machine grading

            Strength grades and strength classes

            Dry or wet graded and Service classes

            Marking (stamps)

            Sizes and processing – can one resize structurally graded timber?

            Which timbers can we strength grade and the practicalities

            Factors affecting strength of timber

            Principles of visual strength grading

            Brief look at standards and some end-use strength grading.

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THURSDAY, 11 MAY 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM BST 

Modified woods and panel products with Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, and Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, BM TRADA

            The main benefits of using modified woods

            The range of modified woods sold on the UK market

            Thermally modified woods – Brimstone, Abodo, Thermowood and Lunawood

            Resin-modifed woods – Kebony and Rhinowood

            Chemically-modified woods – Accoya and Tricoya

            Environmental credentials

            Project examples

            Plywood

            Wood particleboards – including chipboard & cement particleboard

            OSB

            Fibreboards – the wet & dry (MDF) process

            The composition of these panels and how they are made

            Advantages of wood-based panels compared to solid wood

            Specification, types, grades and marking of panel products and how they relate to performance characteristics such as appearance, durability, moisture, strength and end-use

            Typical applications and why

            “Exterior grade” plywood

            Marine plywood.

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THURSDAY, 25 MAY 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM BST 

Understanding wood degrading insects and microorganisms with Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, and Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, BM TRADA

            Wood degrading insects

            Wood boring beetles

            Preferred timbers for egg laying

            Optimum conditions for development of the larvae

            Damage caused by degrading insects

            Reinfestations

            Wood degrading fungi

            Types of and requirements for decay

            Early detection and remediation

            Designing to reduce risk from decay.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TIMBER SERIES

 

THURSDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM BST

From trees to timber with Ben Sharples, Commercial Lead – Timber Services, and Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, BM TRADA

            The versatility of wood and its limitations

            Considerations when using timber in a wide range of applications and environments

            Choice of species through to correctly detailing for the end use

            What a tree is and how its growth strategies affect its properties

            Basic cell structure

            Nomenclature and classification

            What is in a name?

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THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT

Quality and properties of timber with Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, and Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, BM TRADA

            Variability of timber

            Appearance – grain, texture, figure

            Density, reaction wood, juvenile wood, heartwood and sapwood

            How these all affect timber properties

            Timber and wood characteristics

            Timber as a structural product

            Toxicity, chemical reaction and corrosive properties in conjunction with other materials

            What is meant by 'Quality of timber'

            Difference between appearance, visual and strength grading

            Features assessed for grading purposes and how to measure them

            General principle of grading rules

            Explanation of commercial grading rules

            Strength grading and strength classes.

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THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT

Moisture in timber with Adam Moring, Timber Technical Consultant, and Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, BM TRADA

            The most important timber issue to understand

            Green timber and seasoned timber

            Understanding the amount of water in timber

            Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) and Fibre Saturation Point (FSP)

            The meaning of 12% moisture content

            Why and how the moisture content of timber changes

            Drying of timber and good methods of storing timber

            Shrinkage and movement: are they the same?

            How much timber shrinks and how this occurs

            Shrinkage and swelling in the different planes of timber

            Movement classifications and determining the amount of shrinkage

            How we can accommodate shrinkage and swelling

            Introduction to Use Classes and in-service moisture contents.

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THURSDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2023 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT

Protecting timber with Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, and Phil O’Leary, Technical Manager, BM TRADA

            Natural durability to fungi, insects and marine borers

            Types of insect and marine borers

            Natural durability classes and service life

            Wood preservation – when to specify and how

            How the length of desired service life is achieved

            The need for coatings

            Weathering of timber

            Types of coatings, including paints, varnishes, stains, floor and deck finishes

            Common faults and how to avoid them.

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