TRADA Technology has appointed Dr Keerthi Ranasinghe as Principal Consultant - Eurocodes, to assist timber manufacturers and suppliers to understand the impact Eurocode 5 (EC5) could have on their business.
Dr Ranasinghe, who as Senior Structural Engineer has been running EC5 workshops attended by more than 1000 engineers to date, as well as TRADA in the Regions events for members, said: ‘It is clear from questions raised that some of the key players in the timber supply chain have little idea what EC5 means for them and their customers. Even if they know what needs to be done, they do not necessarily know how to go about doing it.’
While many suppliers have been familiar with the former British design code BS 5268, they may not be aware that the coexistence period with EC5 ended on 31st March last year. BSI no longer supports the British Standard and therefore strongly discourages the industry from “mixing and matching” the old and the new standards.
The appointment of a Eurocodes consultant, said Managing Director Andrew Abbott, ‘reflects TRADA Technology’s business strategy to take the lead in technical issues which have strong commercial ramifications for industry. As Eurocodes consultant Dr Ranasinghe will be accessible to both TRADA members and non-members, he added.
Another driver is the Construction Products Regulation, which is expected to come into force, superseding the Construction Products Directive, in 2013. The major impact this will have on the market is that CE marking will become compulsory for construction products.’ This, Mr Abbott stressed, ‘offers a major opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers. Where it could take months if not years to have new products accepted under BS 5268, EC5 can embrace them if they are CE marked.’
In his new role, Dr Ranasinghe plans to meet with timber companies ‘to help them through the transition, identify customer needs and to explore the opportunities EC5 can offer.’ Email kranasinghe@trada.co.uk for more information.
