A guide to the use of urban timber FB 50
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
A guide to the use of urban timber (FB 50) was written by Geoff Cooper and published by BRE on 31 July 2012.
Every day across the UK, thousands of tonnes of wood residue are produced through arboricultural work. However, the timber this produces is normally variable and inconsistent, resulting in problems with collection, transportation and selection. As a result, much of it is relegated to the much or firewood bin.
FB 50 is a 64-page illustrated guide to using timber from the UK’s urban timber resource, including street, park and urban woodland trees. It provides guidance on the selection and identification of high-value stems, as well as processing, drying, transport, storage and the logistical problems of dealing with felled material.
The guidance promotes the use of many common and exotic species for high-value solid wood products rather than being processed for firewood, chipped to produce mulch or sent to landfill. It is intended to help local authorities maximise the value of timber produced in towns and cities and to develop the best options for using solid wood produced during normal maintenance.
The contents of the guide are:
- Introduction.
- Material and species availability.
- Assessing stems for timber production.
- Value-added growth feature.
- A sawmill perspective.
- Timber dimensions, measurement and material grading.
- Wood drying.
- Air drying.
- The kiln drying of timber.
- Kiln drying processes.
- Drying schedules.
- Problems associated with wood drying.
- Calculating value.
- Identifying prospective markets.
- Appendix: Species list and wood property information.
- References.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 11 things you didn't know about wood.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Carpentry.
- Cat's paw figure.
- Definition of tree for planning purposes.
- Delivering sustainable low energy housing with softwood timber frame.
- Dunnage.
- End racking.
- Facts about forestry.
- Forest ownership.
- Forests.
- Physical Properties of Wood.
- Rip sawing.
- Ripple figure.
- Spalting.
- The differences between hardwood and softwood.
- Tiger-stripe figure.
- Timber preservation.
- Timber sticker.
- Timber vs wood.
- Timber.
- Tree preservation order.
- Tree rights.
- Types of timber.
- Urban trees.
- Waney edged.
Featured articles and news
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Put digitalisation and sustainability at the core of curricula
Project management educators are urged.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.
APM Programme Management Conference 2024
Strategies for Success.
Residential takes the reins as contract awards even out
Contracts down, but remain above the last quarter of 2023.
Celebrating Eid and the largest mud-brick building.
Barry Kingscote claims prestigious CIOB CMYA Award.
The British Mosque: an architectural and social history
The story of some 1,500 mosques or more in Britain.
Heat pump refrigerants, efficiencies and impacts
R12 to R1270 what are the differences?
Global heat pump market in 2023
Challenging times with positive but modest outlook.
Beyond the infrastructure pipeline
Opportunities and chokepoints.