EN 14081-1 Timber Structures - Rectangular Section Strength Grade Structural Timber - Part 1: General Requirements

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of EN 14081-1 standard. This part of the EN 14081 standard specifies requirements for rectangular strength graded structural timber that is visually or machine graded, shaped by sawing, planning or other methods, and has section dimensions in accordance with EN 336.

This European Standard contains provisions for test methods, Evaluation and Verification of Consistency of Performance and marking of structural timber. Additional provisions for type testing (TT) for machine strength rated timber are given in EN 14081-2 and for factory production control (FPC) in EN 14081-3.

This European Standard defines specifications for which limits should be given in visual rating standards. This European Standard covers structural wood that is untreated or has been treated against biological attack.

This European Standard does not cover timber treated with fire retardant products to improve fire performance, wood that has been thermally or chemically modified, and structural finger-jointed wood.

There are basically two strength grading methods: visual grading and machine grading. Machine classification is widely used in many countries. Countries use two basic systems called 'exit control' and 'machine control'. Both systems require a visual override check to provide strength reducing properties that are not automatically detected by the machine.

Output control is suitable for use where grading machines are located in production units that classify limited sizes, types and grades in repetitive production runs. This allows the system to be checked by testing timber samples from the daily output. These tests, along with statistical procedures, are used to monitor and adjust machine settings to maintain the required strength properties for each strength class. With this system, less demanding of machine approval requirements is allowed and machines of the same type are allowed to have inconsistent performance.

Machine control was developed in Europe. Due to the large number of sizes, types and grades used, it was not possible to perform quality control tests on timber samples taken from production. Therefore, machine control relies on rigorous evaluation and control of machines and substantial research efforts to derive machine settings that remain constant for all machines of the same type.

Visual grading is also widely used in many countries. There are many different visual durability rating standards for timber used in Europe.

The requirements for visual strength rating given in this European Standard are therefore basic principles that must be followed when drawing up requirements for limits for certain properties.

EUROLAB, with its more than 25 years of experience, state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, helps you get precise and fast results. Do not hesitate to contact our laboratory for your testing and certification requests.