Timber cladding – developing the opportunities for growth

The Timber Decking and Cladding Association (TDCA) has started its campaign to get to grips with the knowledge and information gaps that have constrained timber cladding from realising its full potential. What is behind the initiative?

IN 2002, a Scottish Executive report formally highlighted the benefits of using timber cladding on buildings. Whilst the report recognised that timber was able to compete on its merits with other cladding materials it concluded that, “uncertainties and information gaps” were likely to constrain widespread acceptance. A key recommendation was that a Timber Cladding Association be set up to focus on quality and performance standards and provide detailed technical information.

In the intervening years, new species, modified woods and new wood preservatives have been added to the timber cladding portfolio of options and sustainability has become the key design principal. A resurgence of timber cladding on contemporary buildings continues to be popularised by some of the UK’s leading design practices but widespread acceptance and adoption in mainstream construction has still to be realised.

Time for Action
Research by the Timber Decking Association (TDA) in 2008 identified significant opportunities for both decking and cladding. According to the Association’s Chairman, Alan Mellor: “It was clear that the unique environmental, design and economic benefits of timber were key to developing the potential of both decking and cladding.”

There was however a significant caveat on this assessment. The research concluded that the opportunities in cladding could not be realised unless some very specific needs were addressed first. With existing British Standards offering little relevant guidance, the provision of up-to date generic technical information was seen as a priority, so too was the need to change perceptions about the performance of cladding and reposition modern cladding materials from past associations with temporary installations and buildings.

At the same time, some major manufacturers were beginning to recognise that special pleading for a specific brand or material was no substitute for the generic specification and quality information that most designers were required before making a decision. In 2009, the TDA, responding to strong encouragement from the supply chain expanded to become the Timber Decking & Cladding Association (TDCA).

Alan Mellor says this could not have happened without industry support:
“That’s because many people see decking and cladding as complementary materials and they recognise the success achieved by the TDA’s decking strategy.” He explained that since the TDA started to operate in 1999, the decking market has grown from under £5 million to around £135 million in 2009. Mellor also says that in 2007, the value of timber cladding consumed in the UK was around £30 million but that the Association believes it has the potential to grow at least threefold to £90 million by 2016.

Steve Young, the TDCA’s operations director believes the TDCA will champion all that’s best
about timber cladding. He says: “Our strategy and the generic information necessary to assist designers make informed choices about materials selection, design, sourcing and use.” Young is keen to point out that the Association’s work will focus exclusively on the knowledge and continuous professional development (CPD) needs of architects, designers and contract decision makers. CladMark™ a new quality scheme for cladding materials will provide a gateway to approved commercial sources and brands. “The first stage of the campaign starts next month,” says Steve. “When the new TDCA cladding website and knowledge bank site goes live to provide a single concentrated source of technical guidance, case studies, generic knowledge and commercial cladding information.”

CPD is seen as an important aspect of strategy and designers will be able to access both the TDCA’s own mini modules on specific topics such as modified woods as well as the RIBA accredited Wood For Good Academy and other third party CPD programmes and commercial publications.

A New Code of Practice
BS1186:3 1990 is often cited as the appropriate specification guide for external timber cladding. However, experience shows that its relevance to modern materials and practices is extremely limited and more appropriate to internal cladding rather than the more demanding exterior applications. The TDCA has set the development of an up to date Code of Practice covering all aspects of timber cladding selection, specification and use as a major priority during 2010.

Alan Mellor says that the board of the TDCA see this publication as the single biggest asset to the growth of timber cladding specifications. He says: “This Code should help to eliminate any uncertainty and fill the knowledge gaps about every aspect of material performance and use.”

To create the Code, expertise will be drawn from leading manufacturers and from other trade associations with specialist knowledge like the Wood Protection Association.

Although there were calls for a Timber Cladding Association to be formed back in 2002, nothing was ever going to happen without the support of companies supplying the sector. By the end of 2009 almost every major manufacturer of cladding had endorsed the TDCA’s strategy and agreed to support it. If implementation of the cladding development strategy is anywhere near as successful as that for decking then it will be a major boost for cladding at a time when construction activity and home building is taking off again.

Steve Young, executive director of the TDCA added: “The UK’s timber industry is fast growing. We warmly welcome Accsys as a new member of the team at this exciting time and believe Accsys s wealth of experience and technical knowledge will help us develop the potential of wood as the most natural and sustainable construction material.

As part of the agreement, Accsys will also become a member the Wood Protection Association (WPA) which is currently working in collaboration with the TDCA on a generic technical manual for designers seeking to specify modified wood. The WPA has invited Accsys to join the Modified Wood Manual Technical Committee. This would be particularly appropriate given Accsys s recent development of Medite Tricoya® - an important milestone in the technological advancement of wood composites which marks a major breakthrough for the industry.

Michel Maes, global manager panel products, Accsys Technologies PLC, also said: “Medite Tricoya® is an important milestone in the technological advancement of wood composites, and marks a major breakthrough for the industry. The scope to revolutionise the way in which board panels can be used is enormous and will now open up to create the opportunity for manufacturers to develop products which are stable, durable and environmentally sound. We are delighted to be collaborating with Medite, an industry leader, to work together to introduce the next generation of panel products.”

Justin Peckham, business development manager at Accsys, further explained: Accsys is the only company in the world to produce acetylated wood on a commercial scale. Our latest additions is the Medite Tricoya® MDF panel which we are jointly developing with Coillte Panel Products. This first trial panel marks one of the few true innovations in the wood composites industry in over 30 years and, potentially, the beginning of the next generation of wood based panel products suitable for outdoor use. We look forward to sharing our experience with the TDCA to help them highlight the wide range of applications for wood.