M&M Timber has successfully retained, for a fifth consecutive year, the Wood Protection Association (WPA) Benchmark of quality for treated wood.
The WPA Benchmark is a quality assurance scheme providing independent verification that treated wood has been impregnated correctly in accordance with the requirements of BS8417 – the British Standard for preservative impregnated wood.
Under the WPA Benchmark QAS firms with products certificated as ‘fit for purpose’ by the WPA are required to have their treatment plant and process validated by an annual audit. M&M Timber was first awarded the WPA Benchmark Certificate for 15 years desired service life pine products in 2011, and has subsequently added 15 years incised spruce products to the scope of its WPA Certificate.
In its most recent annual audit M&M Timber has raised the quality bar even further to achieve certification of products treated to deliver a 30 years desired service life in BS8417.
Commenting on this achievement, WPA Director Steve Young said: “M&M Timber has always had a reputation for quality and as an early adopter of the WPA Benchmark scheme recognised the benefit that expert third-party verification of quality can bring in building buyer confidence in the ability of treated wood to perform.
“To have 30 year desired service life fencing products certificated by the WPA Benchmark scheme is still very rare and M&M Timbers’ achievement is a clear sign of its ongoing commitment to quality and meeting customer needs. Manufacturers such as M&M Timber are leading the way in the industry by demonstrating that independent verification of the quality and performance of treated products is the only way to preserve confidence in wood as the best material for fencing and outdoor landscaping.”
Fraser Hall, Sales Director at M&M Timber, also commented: “It is excellent that M&M Timber has yet again successfully secured the WPA Benchmark for the Tanalith E wood preservation used on timbers manufactured at our site in Clows Top, Worcestershire. The WPA is working hard to get more timber treaters accredited to ensure that wood preservative treatments are being used effectively.
“As a recently appointed member of the WPA board of directors I look forward to promoting the benefits of the WPA Benchmark quality scheme within the timber industry to make WPA Benchmark Certificated products the natural first choice for buyers seeking long term performance from treated wood.”
Visit www.wood-protection.org for further information.
