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

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A, H

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hoto, John Brash

PEFC UK LimitedSheffield Technology ParksCooper BuildingsArundel StreetSheffield S1 2NSt 0114 307 2334e info@pefc.co.ukw www.pefc.co.uk