ohr notes 1

---

Contact us if you would like a pdf copy of this note
#ohrtransform 

Using responsibly sourced timber ensures that it is from logging practices that do not harm the environment, are socially beneficial and economically viable. Clients can procure the use of responsibly sourced timber by asking the designers to specify certified timber.

What is timber certification

Timber certification is a process that results in a written statement (a certificate) attesting the origin of wood raw material and its status following validation by an independent third party. It involves forest management and chain of custody* certification. 

* Chain of custody is a process that tracks certified material from the forest to the end-user, enabling companies to make accurate claims on the content of certified material.

It is an essential market-linked tool to encourage sustainable forest management, which considers the forests' economic, environmental and social dimensions and gives the buyers confidence that the timber products purchased or used have been responsibly sourced[i].

What are the common certifications

Following are two common international certifications:

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) www.fsc.org

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) www.pefc.org

Malaysia also has its own scheme called Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS); which is endorsed by PEFC www.mtcc.com.my

Can certified timber be sourced in Malaysia

Yes!

How designers should specify the requirements for the use of certified timber in projects

Here is a sample specification:

All new timber must be sourced from sustainable sources (unless structural considerations prohibit this) and be accredited by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) or other equivalent internationally recognised accreditations. Chain of custody certificates should be supplied. Do not use endangered species of timber.

[i] Source: www.mtcc.com.my

First published in December 2014 l Rev 01 l July 2021 l © ohr 2014 - 2021 

Disclaimer

ohr notes are designed and intended for built environment stakeholders who are not structural engineers, as general information in summary form on engineering topics, current at the time of publication, for general information purposes only. The material may not be applicable in all situations. The contents do not constitute professional advice, are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek professional advice in relation to any particular matters you or your project may have.