12163 TRAInSheetSheetTimberStghSpansA4Build:1 4/11/08 13:58 Page 1

Timber strength
and spans
Timber used for structural applications
must be graded and clearly marked to show
it complies with the correct standards and
strength requirements laid down by
building codes and regulations.
The load a member can carry depends on
several factors, including its span, thickness,
width and species. Usually the deeper/wider
the section, the longer the span.
Different species have different strength
properties – a factor that needs to be
considered when choosing your timber.

How timber
is graded
Strength grading is needed to ensure timber is
strong enough for a particular job, e.g. a floor
joist or a roof truss. It also saves money by
helping to avoid over-specification. Grading
can be carried out visually or by machine.
Visual strength grading uses the grader’s
experience across a number of different factors
to predict the load a piece of timber will be
able to carry in service. Machine strength
grading is best suited to high volumes of
timber where the species and cross section are
not changed very often. When a piece of
timber is cut, for example when it is divided
into smaller pieces, it has to be re-graded.

This information sheet provides general advice only and is not specific to the requirements of a particular building project. It is the builder’s responsibility to check compliance with building
regulations and standards. © TRADA Technology and wood for good.

Produced by TRADA, the Timber Research and Development Association (www.trada.co.uk) in conjunction with
wood for good (www.woodforgood.com)
12163 TRAInSheetSheetTimberStghSpansA4Build:1 4/11/08 13:58 Page 2

Sustainable timber Machine strength

Timber is the most sustainable building product
available. It is naturally renewable - over 97% of
grading
softwood timber used in the UK comes from Machine grading is based on the relationship
Europe, where the forest area is increasing by the between strength and stiffness. The machine
equivalent of 3 football pitches every hour of the grades each piece and stamps it with the
day and night.* For reassurance for softwoods appropriate mark.
and hardwoods look for certification labels like
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC Certification body Company Species or
or logo mark reference species group
(Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification). Always ask your local branch
about their responsible purchasing policies.
* IIED & ECCM, Using Wood to Mitigate Climate Change, 2004
and UNECE-FAO, State of the World’s Forests, 2007.

Visual strength
grading Standard reference Timber condition: DRY Machine graded

Visual strength grading rules define the size, type

and number of strength-reducing characteristics An additional visual assessment takes account of
allowed in each grade (for example, natural strength-reducing characteristics not automatically
features such as knots, wane and slope of grain, sensed by the machine.
plus splits and shakes which may have developed as
a result of drying). The rules governing strength grading and
structural uses of timber are laid down in British
Wane: uneven edge caused by a residue of bark. and European standards:

Shakes: fissure caused by the splitting away of

the wood fibres along the grain.
BSEN 14081-4: 2005 covers strength graded
structural timber, machine grading. It refers to
The grader assesses each piece and stamps it with BS 4978:2001 for softwood visual grading rules.
the appropriate mark. BS 5268 – The structural use of timber and
Certification body Company Species or
BS 5268-2 Code of practice for permissible stress
or logo mark reference species group design, materials and workmanship are the
engineer’s design code for timber and its
structural uses.

The European Standard EN 1995-1-1:2004, or

Eurocode 5: Design of Timber Structures, is
already in use and will replace BS 5268 when the
British Standards Institution (BSI) stops supporting
Standard reference Timber condition: DRY Strength class the British code in around 2010.

What do the strength stamps and grades tell me?

Strength grading is a way of assessing the strength of a piece of timber, which depends on its species as
well as its grade. A low grade timber from a strong species may be equal in strength to a high grade timber
from a weaker species. To make specifying easier, species and grades are grouped into strength classes of
similar strength. Strength classes range from C14 to C50 for softwood and D30 to D70 for hardwoods. The
higher the number, the stronger the timber. The most common grade for softwood carcassing is C16.

This information sheet provides general advice only and is not specific to the requirements of a particular building project.
It is the builder’s responsibility to check compliance with building regulations and standards. © TRADA Technology and wood for good.

Produced by TRADA, the Timber Research and Development Association (www.trada.co.uk) in conjunction with
wood for good (www.woodforgood.com)
12163 TRAInSheetSheetTimberStghSpansA4Build:1 4/11/08 13:58 Page 3

Grades and strength classes

The table below shows how some of the softwood species and grades most commonly used in UK construction
are grouped into strength classes.

SOURCE AND SPECIES GRADING RULES STRENGTH CLASSES

C14 C16 C18 C22 C24 TR26 C27

BRITISH

British Pine BS4978 visual GS SS

BS EN14081 parts 1-4 machine • • • • • •

British Spruce BS4978 visual GS SS

BS EN14081 parts 1-4 machine • • • •

Douglas Fir BS4978 visual GS SS

BS EN14081 parts 1-4 machine • • • •

Larch BS4978 visual GS SS

BS EN14081 parts 1-4 machine • • • • • •

SOURCE AND SPECIES GRADE RULES STRENGTH CLASSES

C14 C16 C18 C22 C24 TR26 C27

EUROPEAN

Redwood/Whitewood BS4978 GS SS

BS EN14081 parts 1-4 machine • • • • • •

Timber marked as DRY is graded at an average A typical supplier’s stamp may look like this:
moisture content of 20% and should be
transported, stored and installed in the building in Licence Machine Species ‘British FSC UK CoC
Supplier number number Spruce’ abbreviation logo number
a manner that does not allow this moisture content
to be exceeded.
Lic No 1691 UK104 B/S TT-CoC-1502
Note: Although moisture content of 20% or less is BS EN 14081 KD C16 BM TRADA FSC “Supplier”
permissible for internal use, further shrinkage is
likely as the timber dries in service. For example,
timber joists used in intermediate floors may dry to Standard Kiln Strength Certification body
number dried class and mark
around 12% moisture content.

The species is shown on the grading stamp by a

code such as WPNN (British Corsican/Scots Pine), The Chain of Custody (COC) number demonstrates
PNSY (European Redwood), or WPCA (European that the timber is from a legal and sustainable
Whitewood). source. North American graded timber is accepted
in Europe under BS EN14081 and may be marked
GS – General structural and SS Special structural are
J&P (joist and plank grade) or NAMSR (North
the visual grades of the timber assigned by the
American machine stress-rated lumber).
grader.

This information sheet provides general advice only and is not specific to the requirements of a particular building project. It is the builder’s responsibility
to check compliance with building regulations and standards. © TRADA Technology and wood for good.

Produced by TRADA, the Timber Research and Development Association (www.trada.co.uk) in conjunction with
wood for good (www.woodforgood.com)
12163 TRAInSheetSheetTimberStghSpansA4Build:1 4/11/08 13:58 Page 4

How do I use span Spans for engineered

tables in relation wood products and
to strength classes? I-joists
Use span tables to determine the size of a timber The introduction of specially engineered timber
member of a particular strength class required for products, such as glulam beams, I-joists and metal
a given span. They should also tell you what the web joists provides solutions across a wide range
maximum spacing should be between each of depths and spans, and shrinkage after
section or timber member. installation is less likely.

The following examples which apply to solid When using these products please refer to the
timber members show how to use span tables for manufacturer’s own literature and span tables.
domestic floor joists at 400mm centres.

Size of joist C16 clear C24 clear

(mm) maximum
span (m)
maximum
span (m) Further information
38 X 97
47 X 97
1.84
2.10
2.03
2.31
and advice
The structural use of timber is a specialist topic.
38 X 220 4.46 4.75 This leaflet only looks at general situations.
47 X 220 4.82 5.07 For further information visit www.trada.co.uk
or www.woodforgood.com or contact your
Changing to 600mm centres will change the span local branch.
distances for the same timber sizes.

Size of joist C16 clear C24 clear

(mm) maximum maximum
span (m) span (m)
38 X 97 1.31 1.66
47 X 97 1.68 1.90 For more information or details of your
nearest Timber Center
38 X 220
47 X 220
3.67
4.20
4.17
4.58
call: 0800 529 529
or visit www.timbercenter.co.uk
So if you wanted to span 4 metres at 600mm
centres, you could use 38 x 220mm C24 instead of
50 x 220 C16, a lighter weight option.

Tip: Span tables showing timber sizes and

strengths can be obtained from www.trada.co.uk.

Choose and Use is a series of information sheets for builders produced

by TRADA, The Timber Research and Development Association.
They offer up-to-date advice on how to select the right timber and timber
products for different applications.
You can often save time and money by choosing the correct timber material or
timber products as well as ensuring you comply with current Building
Regulations and Building Codes. For more information about specific products
visit www.trada.co.uk or contact your local supplier.

This information sheet provides general advice only and is not specific to the requirements of a particular building project.
It is the builder’s responsibility to check compliance with building regulations and standards. © TRADA Technology and wood for good.

Produced by TRADA, the Timber Research and Development Association (www.trada.co.uk) in conjunction with
wood for good (www.woodforgood.com)

a WOLSELEY company
For further information telephone 0800 529 529 or visit our website at www.timbercenter.co.uk
All products featured in this publication are subject to availability and may vary at participating
branches. Prices and information contained in this publication are considered to be correct at the time
of going to print, but Build Center reserve the right to change those prices and information at any
time without notice. Pictures and photographs are used for approximate representation only. E&OE.

Ref: 5378