PEFC: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE
THROUGH CERTIFIED TIMBER
CLADDING & DECKING
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As building designers and material specifiers search
for ways to deliver sustainable, low-carbon and
energy efficient buildings, timber is being adopted
more and more. Not only as a structural solution, but
also as a way to deliver a high-performance building
envelope, via timber cladding products.
Timber is also being used to transform building
exteriors and provide attractive and sustainable
landscape design. The decking sector has
always seen the successful use of a wide range
of hardwoods but now softwood species are
increasingly being sourced from PEFC-certified
forests.
When specifying certified cladding and decking
products you can be confident that the material
you choose is a simple and straightforward way to
achieve fantastic thermal and acoustic performance.
Timber provides a natural, attractive and
environmentally friendly addition to any building.
Timber cladding is commonly seen across a wide
range of building types in the UK from supermarkets
to schools and offers a unique combination of
practical, aesthetic and environmental benefits. Not
only is timber cladding versatile, durable and weather
resistant, it is an attractive, renewable alternative to
brick and render finishes and is readily available as a
PEFC-certified product.
Architects and building designers are seeking to
achieve the highest levels of sustainability during every
aspect of construction and maintenance – in particular
an energy efficient outer skin.
Many reasons exist for choosing timber as a cladding
material with wood having major environmental
benefits over other materials. As a lightweight ‘dry’
system, timber cladding is easier and quicker to install,
easy to access for maintenance and repair of damaged
boards and with many variations of texture, colour
and finish, is an attractive option for designers. As a
prefabricated product, cladding panels are created in
a precision factory-controlled environment complete
with insulation and breather membrane fitted, offering
outstanding thermal and sound insulation properties.
Using PEFC-certified timber for your cladding
options means you are using a precision-designed,
cost-effective and sustainable system. PEFC-
certified species for cladding, which are readily
available include: Western Red Cedar, Oak and
Sweet Chestnut.
PEFC & TIMBER CLADDING
WHY TIMBER CLADDING? Durable & Low Carbon Material
Lightweight Material & Easy to Install
Low Maintenance
Naturally High Thermal Insulation
Design Appeal.
Sweet Chestnut
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Thermally-treated redwood cladding and
decking was installed at Mercia Marina in
Derbyshire, to create a stunning finish in
keeping with the natural surroundings of the
building. The marina is a haven for biodiversity
and Europe’s largest inland marina.
PEFC-certified redwood Thermo-D
cladding was installed at The Boardwalk – the
marina’s retail accommodation – and blends in
aesthetically with the thermally-treated redwood
decking selected for the marina.
In addition to being chosen for its aesthetic
properties, high-quality, thermally-treated
redwood was specified as no chemicals were
used in its manufacture. This enhanced the
building’s environmental credentials. UV-treated
Thermo D cladding was bespoke to the project
so that when finished, it revealed the grain.
Further benefits of the cladding and decking
include its ability to maintain the same size
and shape and its durability, stability and
strength. The PEFC-certified timber has a
decreased risk of mould and improved thermal
and hygiene qualities. Additionally, the timber
offers improved wood preservation and weather
resistance and can be painted, stained and fire
treated to Class 0.
Robert Neff, partner and general manager
at Mercia Marina, said: “To suit the location,
we very much wanted a wood cladding that
would maintain its natural wood colour and be
robust. The building is now a landmark in South
Derbyshire and looks fantastic.”
“Timber cladding and decking is increasingly
being specified by local authorities, architects
and developers,” said Phil Barman of Howarth
Timber. “Largely in part for its environmental
credentials, but also for its ease of working,
natural beauty, performance and competitive
price. Timber is a building material that has
an unrivalled pedigree for use in construction,
which is why timber is an ideal choice for use
as external cladding and decking.”
CASE STUDY: MERCIA MARINA
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A familiar feature of the DIY and residential markets,
timber decking is suitable for a huge range of
commercial applications. Timber provides a hard wearing
solution for many outdoor surfaces expecting high visitor
traffic – leisure, retail or education facilities. Also ideal for
ramps, public access areas, stairs and balconies – a well-
designed installation can bring a cost-effective, practical
and sustainable solution to any space.
Timber decking boards are straightforward to
install and if suitably-specified quality materials are
fitted correctly, they require minimum long-term
maintenance. Boards are available in a range of sizes
from 75mm to 150mm wide and come in a variety of
profiles and textures with slip-resistant surfaces.
Softwood is commonly used for decking as it is cost-
effective and easier to work with than hardwoods.
However, hardwoods are often naturally more
durable, being higher in density than softwood, have
better impact and abrasion resistant properties and
are used across many commercial projects where
heavy use is expected. Although some species can
be improved with industrially-applied preservative
protection, consideration should always be given to
the durability class properties of any timber chosen
to achieve specific project aims.
Commonly seen PEFC-certified species for
decking include: Redwood and PEFC-certified
hardwoods such as Balau, Kempas, Keruing
and Lyptus.
PEFC & TIMBER DECKING
WHY TIMBER DECKING? Reliable & Stable Surfacing
Easy to Install & Low Maintenance
Sustainable & Low Carbon Product
Suitable for Any Building Type,
Multiple Levels and Sloping Sites.
Attractive Colours & Textures.
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Ninety4 on the Estuary is the final phase
of Crest Nicholson’s established development
of new homes in Portishead, Bristol. The
contemporary and stylish collection of one and
two-bedroom apartments is located along the
dockside of the Marina.
Each apartment has a private balcony or
terrace, many of which have stunning views of
the Bristol Channel. JB CitiDeck®, supplied
by John Brash, was selected as a suitable
hard landscaping material for the large open
areas of decking, terraces and balconies off the
apartments. The new decking solution had to be
delivered within programmed times, be easy to
clean and maintain, provide a high level of slip
resistance and be aesthetically pleasing.
For cleaning and maintenance reasons, JB
CitiDeck® with the resin anti-slip infill provides
the required slip resistance but with smooth
boards, which are easier to clean and less likely
to collect dirt and debris. JB CitiDeck® has a
less abrasive anti-slip aggregate than a standard
JB Anti-slip Plus board (suitable for rural areas),
presenting less of a trip hazard when changing
surface. This combination of smooth boards and
finer grit, initially developed to meet the inclusivity
targets of the London 2012 venues, makes the
surface much more comfortable for urban use
and wheel chair users.
Dominic Hampton, project manager for Ninety4
on the Estuary, said: “The smooth boards with
a resin infill work really well for this project. We
didn’t want a solution that would get wet and
slippy – and it’s often pretty wet here. Everything
went to plan onsite; each area is different and
the timber boards were also used for the steps
and raised deck areas. The decking looks good
and was also selected for phase two.”
John Brash uses PEFC-certified European
Redwood for its softwood decking.
CASE STUDY: NINETY4 ON THE ESTUARY
A huge choice of
sustainable timber is
available as PEFC-certified.
This enables anybody
specifiying cladding and
decking systems to meet
stringent public and private
sector procurement policies.
Key to this is Chain of
Custody certification.
This is the process of
handling information on
the origin of forest-based
products, which allows
an organisation to make
accurate and verifiable claims on the content of
sustainably certified material.
It proves that each step of the supply chain from the
forest to the end user has been monitored closely
through independent auditing and provides a means
of tracking certified material. This unbroken link is
transparent proof that the timber or forest-based
product used is sourced from a responsibly-
managed, certified forest.
PEFC Chain of Custody certification offers
many important benefits:
Access to markets: provides companies
with access to markets for environmentally
responsible products
A clear and transparent message: the PEFC
logo and label on a product communicates to
customers in a clear, concise and transparent
manner that timber and wood-based products
have been responsibly sourced
Risk management: includes social requirements
to protect the fundamental rights of workers along
the supply chain. PEFC was the first international
Chain of Custody system to do this
Availability and choice: much of the world’s
certified forest area is PEFC-certified –
currently more than 263 million hectares
Compliance with legislation: PEFC’s
Due Diligence System (DDS) excludes
wood from conversions, illegal and other
controversial sources and is fully aligned with
the requirements of the EU Timber Regulation
Business leadership on sustainability:
businesses can gain a competitive advantage
over other suppliers
Traceability: assurances that the certified
material in the final product originates in PEFC-
certified forests managed with due respect for
environmental, economic and social standards.
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PEFC CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION
CERTIFIED LOGS
CERTIFIED FOREST
CERTIFIED SAWMILL
CERTIFIED MANUFACTURER
CERTIFIED MERCHANT
END USER
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ABOUT PEFC
FURTHER READING & INFORMATIONYou can find more information about PEFC-certified timber in two further
publications:
Architects, Designers and PEFC Certified Timber
Construction and PEFC Certified Timber
www.pefc.co.uk/publications
For more information on timber cladding and decking and issues
surrounding durability visit:
Timber Decking & Cladding Association
www.timbercladding.org
BM TRADA
www.bmtrada.com/en-gb/technical-services
PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of
Forest Certification) is an international
non-profit, non-governmental organisation
dedicated to promoting Sustainable
Forest Management through independent
third-party certification. PEFC is a federal
organisation. It works by endorsing national
forest certification systems developed
collaboratively by all interested stakeholders
and tailored to local priorities and conditions.
National forest certification schemes
undergo rigorous third party assessment
against PEFC’s unique Sustainability
Benchmarks.
PEFC has recognised certification systems in more
than 30 countries. Together these account for over
263 million hectares of certified forests, making
PEFC the world’s largest forest and wood product
certification system. It applies the highest ecological,
social and ethical standards to forest management
and is the certification system of choice for family
and community-owned forests.
More than 16,000 companies are involved with PEFC Chain of
Custody certification worldwide. PEFC’s distinctive ‘green trees’
logo transcends language barriers making it a truly global brand.
For further information about the PEFC programme in the UK
visit: www.pefc.co.uk
Photo credits: B
M TR
AD
A, H
owarth Tim
ber, iStockP
hoto, John Brash
PEFC UK LimitedSheffield Technology ParksCooper BuildingsArundel StreetSheffield S1 2NSt 0114 307 2334e [email protected] www.pefc.co.uk