UK sawmiller BSW Timber launches C24-graded spruce to address concerns about suitability of home-grown timber for production of higher-strength construction grade; UK building industry has traditionally relied on imports

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , July 11, 2013 (IndustryIntel) – UK sawmilling company BSW Timber has launched home-grown C24 strength-graded lumber to address concerns about the suitability of UK-grown spruce for the production of higher-strength construction-grade timber, according to a report by UK timber industry magazine TTJ.

The UK has traditionally relied on imports for lumber strength-graded to C24, while home-grown lumber mills have only produced construction lumber to the lower C16 grade.

BSW is grading to C24 at its Fort William mill using X-ray technology to detect internal defects as well as knots surface knots. The company says it will expand production to its Dalbeattie and Fort William mills as demand grows from a low base.

The addition of C24 to BSW's easi range follows UK media reports that UK homebuilder Bellway plc was looking into the sourcing of CLS lumber because of concerns about potential performance issues that could be associated with home-grown spruce.

IndustryIntel reported in May that Bellway was understood to have recommended that only CLS from the Nordic countries and central Europe would be specified on orders to suppliers. Bellway said at the time that there had been no change to its sourcing policy.

The primary sources of this article are TTJ, Sidcup, UK, on July 11, 2013 and IndustryIntel archives.

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