Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has announced the opening of a public consultation period for two draft standards to shape the future of recycled timber use in Australia. The proposed standards, FWPA Standard G01 for Recycled Structural Timber and FWPA Standard G02 for Recycled Decorative Timber, are designed to establish visual grading criteria for recycled hardwood timber in structural and decorative applications.
In response to feedback from its members, FWPA has committed to a more active role in the development and revision of industry standards. The organisation is now coordinating and facilitating the creation of these standards, highlighting the potential benefits of industry-developed and owned guidelines. These benefits include increased efficiency, better alignment with industry needs, and the ability to address specific member concerns.
FWPA also recognises the broader advantages of maintaining these standards as intellectual property, ensuring they are effectively managed and accessible. This initiative is further supported by FWPA’s WoodSolutions program, which continues to provide valuable resources and education to the timber industry.
FWPA has appointed familiar industry specialist Jacqui Bates, Director of Dynamic Impact Group, as Project Manager to lead the development of these inaugural FWPA standards.
“This landmark project will set new benchmarks for the industry and serve as a valuable resource for all stakeholders,” said Jacqui.“I am eager to contribute to their successful publication later this year.”
Industry Standards Reference Panel
In line with FWPA’s Strategic Plan 2023-2028, a Standards Development Programhas been established with the aim to develop enhanced building standards and codes that support the use of wood products. The program has commenced with formal procedures for comment and publication of standards as well as the formation of an industry Standards Reference Panel (SRP) which will provide guidance, support, and advice to FWPA from a stakeholder perspective when developing industry standards.
FWPA aims to publish a minimum of two industry-owned standards per year through this program.
The inaugural members of the SRP:
- Prof. Keith Crews (Chair: Advanced Timber Hub, University of Queensland – Academia)
- Andrew Dunn (TDA-NSW – Industry Associations)
- Craig Kay (Tilling Timber – Importers)
- Gavin Matthew (EWPAA – Panels)
- Tom Rickerby (Wesbeam – LVL, I-joists)
- Peter Robson (Pentarch – Hardwood)
- Tim Rossiter (MiTek – Frame & Truss, product users)
- Dave Belfield (Wespine – Softwood, treated products)
Public Comment Period
Public consultation is open for the two draft FWPA Standards aimed at enhancing the safety and quality of recycled timber products. The proposed standards — FWPA Standard G01 for Recycled Structural Timber and FWPA Standard G02 for Recycled Decorative Timber — seek to establish clear and consistent guidelines for the industry, promoting the use of recycled timber and supporting environmental sustainability through material reuse.
These standards are designed to offer a unified framework for grading recycled timber, which is expected to reduce variability in product quality and improve communication between suppliers and purchasers. By providing definitive guidelines, the standards aim to increase confidence among consumers and industry stakeholders, ultimately encouraging the broader adoption of recycled timber.
Although these guidelines have served as interim measures, this marks the first time they will undergo a formal review and publication process. The six-week public comment period will run from September 3 to October 15, 2024, inviting feedback from industry professionals and the public.
This initiative reflects FWPA’s commitment to industry ownership and intellectual property, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s efforts to support its members. By developing and maintaining its own standards, FWPA aims to reduce costs for its members, eliminating the need to purchase standards from external organisations.
Boris Iskra, Codes and Standards Manager at FWPA, stated, “We are advancing these draft documents through our newly established procedures and collaborating with our reference panel to publish these standards for industry ownership.”
He added, “Our goal is to have future industry standards incorporated into the Building Code of Australia, where appropriate, and to influence how timber can be utilised in the built environment.”
While FWPA’s new standards will complement existing Australian Standards, the organisation remains committed to contributing to the broader standards landscape. FWPA will continue to participate in the development of Australian Standards and engage with timber and built environment committees.
Through innovation, research, and marketing, FWPA strives to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian forest and wood products industry.
“Our organisation is committed to addressing industry needs concerning the standards development process and is looking forward to this first round of consultation to support our industry effectively.” said FWPA CEO, Andrew Leighton.
The public comment period for these draft standards is now open until Tuesday 15 October, inviting stakeholders to contribute to the finalisation of these important guidelines.
