1 BS5534 factory Graded : these meet all aspects of BS5534 and have been pre-graded and marked in accordance with BS5534. It is ideal to ensure these are manufactured with UKAS accredited third party quality assurance and process controls to ensure both procedures and the product is compliant.ONLY THESE BATTENS CAN BE USED FOR ROOFING.

2 Green Treated : manufactured from Side Boards. These are battens that were traditionally used for roofing.

3 Green Treated : manufactured from centre cut material/ small logs. These are economy low grade battens.

4 Home Grown : due to poor yield (usually rate of growth and knot size) these are not typically recommended for roofing.

What are the different types of batten in the market?

Guide to BS5534 Roofing Battens - October 2014

John Brash & Co. Limited., The Old Shipyard, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 1NG

Tel: 01427 613858 Fax: 01427 810218 Email: info@johnbrash.co.uk www.johnbrash.co.uk

Requirements for roofing battens have changed!ONLY BATTENS THAT HAVE BEEN PRE OR FACTORY GRADED TO BS5534 CAN BE CALLED ROOFING BATTENS. ON SITE GRADING IS NO LONGER AN ACCEPTED PRACTICE.

There are no changes to the requirements for battens within the new British Standard BS5534:2014 code of practice for slating and tiling, including shingles. There is now a requirement that when roofing to meet BS5534 the details must be complied with.

To meet the requirements set of in BS5534:2014 on site grading is impractical. Besides being time consuming and requiring training or a competent person to grade, the identification requirements must be met for both accompanying documentation and on the individual batten. All battens must meet BS5534 at the time of delivery.

This has been the case since 2011 with NHBC warranted sites. Likewise the Competent Roofer scheme allows the builder to self certify to building regulations (works must be carried out to BS5534 and compliant products used).

There are many other uses for battens that are not connected with roofing and it is important that the end use is identified so the correct product is sold.

Both 2 & 3 have been referred to as ‘Type A’, green treated or imported batten. Non British Standard battens have many uses including dry lining, garden trellis and various other construction uses. They should NOT be used on any roofing application.

www.johnbrash.co.uk

Sales Contacts:

Regional Chris Shoesmith (South) - 07860 922536Steve McConnell (North) - 07739 541570 Grant O’Donnell (Scotland) - 07718 042254

National Christian Brash - 07802 209085 Sales Office - 01427 675555Susie Cambridge, Carol Gleadle, Rachael Mellors

Sales Guide - Roofing Battens

Do • Check if the batten is graded. If it’s being used for roofing – it MUST be factory graded

Don’t • Sell 19x38 for roofing. It is NOT a recognised size. • Take the manufacturer’s word. Is there a third party accreditation? • Take chances. Recommend fully graded batten for all roofing work.

Recommended Minimum Timber batten Sizes (Roofing and Vertical Work)

Notes: Tolerances on basic sizes: width +/-3mm; depth -0, +3mm; based on measurement at a reference moisture content of 20%. Battens for spans greater than those given in Table 1 for other slates, tiles and shingles such as timber shingles and shakes or metal tiles, or other proprietary roofing products should be in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

Up to 600mm Span

Depth (mm) Depth (mm)

Up to 450mm Span

Width (mm)

50

38

38

38

25

25

25

25

50

50

38

50

25

25

25

25

Width (mm)

Basic Minimum Size of BattensApplication

Slates (Double-Lap)

Natural: sized or random

Fibre-cement or concrete

Clay and Concrete Tiles

Double-lap

Single-lap

Packaging & Delivery:John Brash use small mini packs of approximately 1.5 – 2m³. All packs are packed to length.

Full Loads = 18-20 John Brash PacksHalf Loads = 10 John Brash Packs

25x38: 10 pieces per bundle, 56 bundles per pack. 3.0m & longer25x50: 10 pieces per bundle, 44 bundles per pack. 3.6m & longer

Sales information: JB-RED is approved by NHBC to be used as Roofing Battens on new homes. Our process uses a system of scanners and lasers to grade the battens and is third party accredited. NHBC will now ONLY accept batten graded to BS5534. This is also reinforced by the HSE who will likewise ONLY accept graded battens as a safe working practice for rafters at 600mm centres; see HSG 33.

Packaging & Delivery:John Brash use small mini packs of approximately 1-1.5m3. All packs are packaged to length.

Full Loads = 26-30 John Brash PacksHalf Loads = 12-15 John Brash Packs

25x38: 10 pieces per bundle, 40 bundles per pack. 3.0m & longer25x50: 10 pieces per bundle, 30 bundles per pack. 3.6m & longer

Sales information:

JB-RED is approved by both NHBC and Barratt PLC to be use as Roofing Battens on new homes. Our process uses a system of scanners and lasers to grade the battens and is third party accredited. NHBC will now ONLY accept batten graded to BS 5534. This is also reinforced by the HSE who will likewise ONLY accept graded battens as a safe working practice for rafters at 600mm centres; see HSG 33.

How to Recognise BS5534 Battens

BS5534 requires that battens shall be graded and marked. Although BS5534 doesn’t state where and how a roofing batten should be graded it is not practical to grade on site. Not only will the documentation not meet BS5534 but every batten will require marking by the grader. It is John Brash’s opinion that only a high speed modern scanning line can give the consistent results that ensure a compliant product. Each batten shall be marked with :

• Supplier • Origin (typically Timber Species code)

• “Graded BS5534” • Size The associated documentation should include all of the above as well as type and method of preservative.

Product Datasheets available online at: www.johnbrash.co.uk/roofing-battens/jb-red/