Notes Prepared For
3rd Meeting of the ACCSQ Product Working Group on Wood-based Products to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on 15 & 16 December 2005.
ISO TC165 Committee Meeting in Rotorua, New Zealand, November 2005.
The ISO TC 165 Committee
The general scope of this committee is the suite of ISO Standards related to timber and wood products. The meeting was attended by representatives from Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and New Zealand.
• It takes a long time to develop an ISO Standard, especially if they have to progress through all the stages of the ISO process, despite the facility of email communication. The full ISO process includes Working Draft (WD), Committee Draft (CD), Draft International Standard (DIS), Final Draft International Standard (FDIS), and published International Standard (IS)
• To shorten the process the working group committee can agree to begin with an existing Standard and treat it as a DIS or a CD.
• Despite the length of time it takes to develop ISO standards, membership of the ISO Technical Committees relating to timber construction conveys two important benefits:
o it enables representatives to exchange views about approaches to problems and learn about new technologies being developed in different parts of the world; and
o it gives representatives the opportunity to influence the contents of standards that are likely to be followed in potential markets.
• Active participation on the committees can be rewarding to those countries that choose to contribute. ASEAN should also keep in mind its potential to influence ISO committees if member countries decide to participate. Australia and New Zealand develop joint timber standards and this translates into a strong lobby in the ISO committees. Work done on joint A/NZ Standards can influence the development of ISO standards and the contrary also applies: work done in the ISO committees will take into account in developing the A/NZ Standards. • A list of ISO timber standards and the relevant ISO websites is attached to the
copies of this paper.
Progress at the Rotorua ISO 165 Meeting
The meeting in Rotorua made good progress on Standards for:
The various working groups discussed such matters as the methods for testing the strength of the glue layers (known as glue lines) including consideration of Japanese and European test methods. These are important tests because the strength of glulam members is dependent on the strength and reliability of the glueline. There was also discussion about the bond performance of adhesives used in timber structures, including resistance to moisture, chemical and fire degradation, all of which can affect the durability, long-term strength, and other properties of the timber components in which the adhesives are used.
fingerjointing (the jointing of boards longitudinally by means of wedge-shaped projections from one board being glued into corresponding recesses in the other).
The working groups’ discussions on the performance of adhesives was also relevant to fingerjointing. As with glulam the strength of the joint in fingerjointing is dependent on the properties of the adhesive and the surface area of the two pieces of timber being joined. Temperature and moisture content of the timber and the atmosphere can affect the strength and durability of the glue line.
strength classes (the classes into which timber is graded according to its strength)
This discussion concerned not only the various ways of measuring the strength of timber (to ascertain how well it will perform under compressive, tension and bending loads, for example) but also ways of measuring the impact resistance of sheet materials such as plywood. The issue of gluelines and their performance is vital to the durability and strength of plywood.
• There was also discussion about the many various metal fastening systems, including nail plates and joist hangers, which have been devised to ensure that the fixings have a strength commensurate with the strength and other properties of the timber or wood products being joined. The success of timber framed and braced buildings in cyclone conditions is due in part to the marriage of
appropriate metal fastenings and timber or wood-based components.
Source: Report on ISO TC165 Committee, November 2005, Rotorua, prepared by G B Walford (a NZ attendee)
Progress on a New Zealand / US proposal for reducing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in the Wood Products Sector.
Background.
• The mandate of the NAMA negotiating group is to “reduce or, as appropriate, eliminate all tariffs and non-tariff barriers”. (Non-tariff barriers are known as NTBs in WTO jargon).
• WTO Members were invited to submit lists of NTBs that were facing their exporters in different markets. New Zealand and the US both recognised timber standards and technical regulations as the source of a large number of NTBs affecting the use of timber. A study for APEC had estimated that the opportunity costs of prescriptive fire safety codes, for example, was US$10 billion per annuim.
• Out of these initial notifications discussions began between New Zealand and the US on ways to address these timber NTBs.
Forestry NTB Proposal
In January this year New Zealand and the US submitted a paper to the WTO NAMA (non-agricultural market access) negotiating group entitled, Non-Tariff Barriers: Building Codes and the Wood Products Sector: Some Suggested Negotiating Opportunities.
• The purpose of the paper was to:
o Draw Members’ attention to the way standards and conformity
assessment methods are used in national building codes and how these can result in NTBs;
o Note the costs these NTBs imposed; and o Suggest possible ways of addressing them.
• These NTBs, which can discriminate against the use of timber or types of timber in building construction, were identified as an obstacle to wider wood usage and a hindrance to trade, thus eroding the benefits of tariff elimination.
• The paper identified six specific issues or areas that were the source of many of these NTBs. These were:
• Technical regulations and standards that create an
inappropriate incentive for use of limited types of products • Differing technical regulations and standards in different
jurisdictions create market segmentation
• Exclusive reliance on nationality or geographic location of conformity assessment bodies rather than technical competence
• Duplicative and /or discriminatory testing requirements
• Overly restrictive limits on use of wood products in building codes
The paper suggested a necessary starting position before these issues could be fully assessed was some sort of comparative assessment of Members’ standards, test methods and conformity assessment methods underlying their respective building codes.
New Zealand and the US developed a pro forma “information table” document that could potentially be completed by each Member to record the information needed for a comparative assessment. In practice it proved to be very difficult for some Members to complete the “information table”. It appears that in many cases it was difficult for the representatives of some countries to obtain the necessary technical input required to complete it.
The Meeting in Rotorua
• The fortuitous timing and location, in New Zealand, of a meeting of the ISO Technical Committee TC 165, provided an opportunity to test some of these ideas on the members of the Committee, the objective of whose work is seen as closely aligned to that of the NAMA negotiating group.
• While the TC 165 Committee was enthusiastic and expressed an interest in further engagement, it did raise questions concerning the sheer size of the task and about potential sources of funding.
The Way Forward
• Thought is being given to a proposal that a working group of technical experts (ideally including TC 165 members) could carry out the comparative analysis of the information the information table was intended to capture. The relevant knowledge already held by the technical experts could enable the group to assist more countries to complete the table
• To overcome any concerns about the size of the task it is contemplated that one option would be to concentrate on one product (e.g. structural plywood) and to compare the Standards used in a limited number of interested countries for this one product
• Working in parallel with the technical working group, and in close
communication with it, would be a team of trade policy officials. The officials’ purpose would be to develop a framework that sets out the longer-term process for resolving structural timber NTBs on a plurilateral and potentially multilateral basis
• The trade policy officials would also consider how best to reflect the results of the international standards work , carried out by experts in the ISO, in the context of the WTO’s system of multilateral trade rules
• A clear commitment of both technical and trade policy resources from
• Following the advice from TC 165 delegates that a further detailed discussion around the technical work programme would be helpful in more closely defining the scope and objectives of the programme, New Zealand and the US plan to initiate an e-dialogue with interested TC 165 delegates over the next few months.
Source: Draft Progress Report: Discussions on NTBs: Communication from New Zealand and the United States.
Annex One
ISO technical committees related to timber
TC 59 Building Construction
Scope:
Standardization in the field of building and civil engineering, of: • general terminology for building and civil engineering;
• organization of information in the processes of design, manufacture and construction;
• general geometric requirements for building, building elements and components including modular coordination and its basic principles, general rules for joints, tolerances and fits;
• general rules for other performance requirements for buildings and building elements including the coordination of these with performance requirements of building components to be used in building and civil engineering;
• geometric and performance requirements for components that are not in the scope of separate ISO technical committees.
Excluded:
• acoustic requirements (ISO / TC 43);
• fire tests on building materials, components and structures (ISO / TC 92); • bases for design of structures (ISO / TC 98);
• calculation of thermal properties (ISO / TC 163).
ISO Technical Programme:
Subcommittees Title Current NZ
participation TC 59/SC 2 Terminology and harmonization of languages
TC 59/SC 3 Functional/user requirements and performance in building construction
TC 59/SC 4 Dimensional tolerances and measurement TC 59/SC 6 Internal subdivision
TC 59/SC 8 Jointing products
TC 59/SC 13 Organization of information about construction works
TC 59/SC 14 Design life NZ members
and detached dwellings
TC 59/SC 16 Accessibility and usability of the built environment TC 59/SC 17 Sustainability in building construction
TC 89 Wood-Based Panels
Scope:
Sta nd a rd iza tio n in the fie ld o f wo o d -b a se d p a ne ls suc h a s fib re b o a rd s, p a rtic le b o a rd s a nd p lywo o d , inc lud ing te rmino lo g y, c la ssific a tio n, d ime nsio ns, te st me tho d s a nd q ua lity re q uire me nts.
ISO Technical Programme:
Subcommittees Title Current NZ participation
TC 89/SC 1 Fibre boards NZ members
TC 89/SC 2 Particle boards NZ members
TC 89/SC 3 Plywood
TC 98 Bases for Design of Structures
Scope:
Sta nd a rd iza tio n o f the b a se s fo r d e sig n o f struc ture s irre sp e c tive o f the ma te ria l o f c o nstruc tio n inc lud ing e sp e c ia lly te rmino lo g y a nd symb o ls, lo a d , fo rc e s a nd o the r a c tio ns a nd limita tio ns o f d e fo rma tio ns. Co nsid e ra tio n a nd c o o rd ina tio n o f b a sic re lia b ility re q uire me nts c o nc e rning the struc ture s a s a who le , inc lud ing
c o nsid e ra tio n o f struc ture s ma d e o f p a rtic ula r ma te ria ls (ste e l, sto ne , c o nc re te , wo o d , e tc .) a s fa r a s is ne c e ssa ry fo r the p re p a ra tio n o f a c o mmo n a p p ro a c h to re lia b ility in lia iso n with the re le va nt te c hnic a l c o mmitte e s.
Sub Committees (SC) / Working Groups (WG): Committee Title
TC 98/SC 1
Terminology and symbols TC 98/SC
2
Reliability of structures TC 98/SC
3
TC 165 Timber Structures
Scope:
Standardisation concerning structural applications of timber, wood -based panels, other wood based products, and related lignocellulosic fibrous materials including:
• requirements for design;
• structural properties, performance, and design values of materials, products, components, and assemblies and;
• test methods and requirements to establish related structural, mechanical and physical properties and performance.
Note :
In cases where topics of TC 165 are also a subject, for non structural purposes, of the Technical Committee of the relevant material or product (e.g. TC 89 or TC 218) a strong liaison with the relevant Technical Committee will be established.
Sub Committees (SC) / Working Groups (WG):
Committee Title Current NZ involvement
TC 165/WG 2 Requirements for structural glued laminated elements
NZ members TC 165/WG 5 Characteristic values for sawn
timber
NZ members TC 165/WG 6 Glued joints for timber structures
TC 165/WG 7 Joints made with mechanical fasteners
TC 165/WG 8 Structural properties of wood-based panels
TC 165/WG 9 Round timber and poles
TC 165/SC 1 Wood materials - Durability and preservation
Annex 2 Websites
The main I SO web page is found at:
http:/ / www.iso.org/ iso/ en/ ISOOnline.frontpage
A list of all I SO committees and what they do is found at:
http:/ / www.iso.org/ iso/ en/ stdsdevelopment/ tc/ tclist/ TechnicalCommitteeList.TechnicalCommitte eList
TC 218 Timber
Scope:
Standardization of round, sawn and processed timber, and timber materials in and for use in all applications, including terminology, specifications and test methods.
Excluded:
• those applications of timber as covered by ISO/ TC 16 "Timber structures". Sub Committees (SC) / Working Groups (WG):
Committee Title Current NZ involvement
TC 218/WG 1 Terminology TC 218/WG 2 Round timber
TC 218/WG 3 Sawn and processed timber TC 218/WG 4 Test methods
Appendix 3
Joint Australia/New Zealand committees and links to ISO
Joint committees relating to timber – links to ISO technical committees
Joint
committee Subject area
No. of NZ members
Related ISO TC
TM-001 Timber Structures 6 TC 165
TM-002 Timber Framing 6
TM-003 Timber Grading 3 TC 218
TM-004 Glued Timber Products 7 TC 165
TM-005
Reconstituted Timber Panel
Products 5 TC 89
TM-006 Timber Preservation 3 TC 165
TM-007
Sawn Milled And Speciality
Timber Products 2
TC 99 and TC 218
Appendix 4
Joint standards managed by committee
Committee Short Title
Product
Designation Short Title
AS 1720.1-1997 Timber structures-Design methd AS 1720.2-1990 Timber properties
AS 1720.4-1990 Timber structures-fire resist TM-001 Timber
Structures
AS/NZS 4063:1992 Timber-ingrade strength/stiff
AS/NZS 1080.1:1997
MoT timber-Moisture content 1080.1
AS/NZS 1080.2.1:1998 MOT Timber-grain slope-scribe AS/NZS 1080.2.2:1998 MOT-Timber-Grain slope-Surface AS/NZS 1080.2.3:1998 MOT-Timber-Grain slope-Splintr AS/NZS 1080.2.4:1998 MOT-Timber-Grain slope-Cmpound AS/NZS 1080.3:2000 MOT TIMBER-DENSITY
AS/NZS 1148:2001
TIMBER-AUS/NZ IMPORTD SPECIES
AS/NZS 1748:1997 Mechan stress-graded timber AS/NZS 2878:2000 TIMBER-CLASS-STRENGTH AS/NZS 4490:1997 Timber-stress graded-structral TM-003 Timber Grading
AS/NZS 4491:1997 Timber Standard-Glossary terms AS/NZS 1328.1:1998 Glued laminated timber-Perform AS/NZS 1328.2:1998 Glued laminated timber-Select
AS/NZS 1491:1996
Finger jointed struct timber 1491
TM-004 Glued Timber Products
AS/NZS 4364:1996
Adhesives for timber structs 4364
AS/NZS 1859.1:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-PARTICLEBRD
AS/NZS 1859.2:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-DRY FIBREBRD
AS/NZS 1859.3:1996 Recon wood panels-Decorative
AS/NZS 1859.4:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-WET FIBREBRD
AS/NZS 1860.1:2002
PARTICLEBOARD FLOORING - SPECIFICATIONS
AS/NZS 4266.0:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-GEN INTRO
AS/NZS 4266.10:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-WET BENDING
AS/NZS 4266.11:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-MOIST RESIST
AS/NZS 4266.12:2003
x RECON WOOD PANEL-WTR ABSORP
AS/NZS 4266.13:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-SCREWS WD
AS/NZS 4266.14:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-DIMENSN CHGE
AS/NZS 4266.16:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-FORMLDEHYDE TM-005 Reconstituted
Timber Panel Products
AS/NZS 4266.19:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-MELAMINE
AS/NZS 4266.1:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-SAMPLE/CUT
AS/NZS 4266.20:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-TABER ABRAS
AS/NZS 4266.21:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-OVERCURE
AS/NZS 4266.22:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-POROSITY
AS/NZS 4266.23:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-STEAM RESIST
AS/NZS 4266.24:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-CRACK RESIST
AS/NZS 4266.25:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-STAIN RESIST
AS/NZS 4266.26:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-DRY HEAT RESIS
AS/NZS 4266.27:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-IMPACT RESIST
AS/NZS 4266.28:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-PVC FLM STRENG
AS/NZS 4266.29:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-PVC FILM HEAT
AS/NZS 4266.2:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-DIMENSIONS
AS/NZS 4266.30:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-FOIL MOISTURE
AS/NZS 4266.31:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-PAPER ADHESON
AS/NZS 4266.32:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-VENEER STRENG
AS/NZS 4266.33:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-VENEER DURABL
AS/NZS 4266.34:2004
x RECON WOOD PANL-SURFACE ABSORP
AS/NZS 4266.35:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-TEST PIECE
AS/NZS 4266.3:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-MOIST CONTENT
AS/NZS 4266.4:2004
x RECON WOOD PANEL-DENSITY
AS/NZS 4266.5:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-ELASTICITY
AS/NZS 4266.6:2004
RECON WOOD PANL-TENSILE STRENG
AS/NZS 4266.7:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-SURFACE SOUND
AS/NZS 4266.8:2004
RECON WOOD PANEL-SWELLING
AS/NZS 4266.9:2003
x RECON WOOD PANEL-GLUE BOND
TM-006 Timber
Preservation AS/NZS 1604.2:2004
AS/NZS 1604.3:2004
PLYWOOD PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT
AS/NZS 1604.4:2004 LAMINATED VENEER LUMBER
AS/NZS 1604.5:2005
TIMBER PRES CODE-PLANT DESIGN
and Durability
AS/NZS 2843.2:2000
TIMBER PRES CODE-PLANT OPERAT
TM-007 Sawn Milled And Specialty Timber
Products AS/NZS 4787:2001
TIMBER-ASSESS DRYING QUALITY
AS/NZS 2097:1998 Method-Sampling veneer/plywd
AS/NZS 2098.0:1996
Mot-Veneer/plywood-Intro/list 2098.0
AS/NZS 2098.10:1995
MOT veneer/plywood-Dimen-shape 2098.1
AS/NZS 2098.1:1996
MoT-Veneer/plywood-Moisture 2098.1
AS/NZS 2098.2:1996
Mot-Veneer/plywood-Bond qualty 2098.2
AS/NZS 2098.3:1996
MoT-Veneer/plywood-Scarf joint 2098.3
AS/NZS 2098.4:1996
MoT-Veneer/plywood-Dimensions 2098.4
AS/NZS 2098.5:1996
Mot-Veneer/plywood-Gluelines 2098.5
AS/NZS 2098.6:1996
Mot-Veneer/plywood-Peeler chks 2098.6
AS/NZS 2098.7:1996
Mot-Veneer/plywood-Density 2098.7
AS/NZS 2098.8:1996
MoT-Veneer/plywood-Water absrp 2098.8
AS/NZS 2098.9:1995
MOT veneer/plywood-In-grade 2098.9
AS/NZS 2269:2004 x PLYWOOD-STRUCTURAL AS/NZS 2270:1999 Plywood/blockbord interior use
AS/NZS 2271:2004
x PLYWOOD BLOCKBOARD EXTER
AS/NZS 2272:1996 Plywood - Marine 2272 TM-008 Plywood Timber
Products
AS/NZS 4357:1995
