A guide to the use of urban timber FB 50
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
A guide to the use of urban timber (FB 50) was written by Geoff Cooper and published by BRE on 31 July 2012.
Every day across the UK, thousands of tonnes of wood residue are produced through arboricultural work. However, the timber this produces is normally variable and inconsistent, resulting in problems with collection, transportation and selection. As a result, much of it is relegated to the much or firewood bin.
FB 50 is a 64-page illustrated guide to using timber from the UK’s urban timber resource, including street, park and urban woodland trees. It provides guidance on the selection and identification of high-value stems, as well as processing, drying, transport, storage and the logistical problems of dealing with felled material.
The guidance promotes the use of many common and exotic species for high-value solid wood products rather than being processed for firewood, chipped to produce mulch or sent to landfill. It is intended to help local authorities maximise the value of timber produced in towns and cities and to develop the best options for using solid wood produced during normal maintenance.
The contents of the guide are:
- Introduction.
- Material and species availability.
- Assessing stems for timber production.
- Value-added growth feature.
- A sawmill perspective.
- Timber dimensions, measurement and material grading.
- Wood drying.
- Air drying.
- The kiln drying of timber.
- Kiln drying processes.
- Drying schedules.
- Problems associated with wood drying.
- Calculating value.
- Identifying prospective markets.
- Appendix: Species list and wood property information.
- References.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 11 things you didn't know about wood.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Carpentry.
- Cat's paw figure.
- Definition of tree for planning purposes.
- Delivering sustainable low energy housing with softwood timber frame.
- Dunnage.
- End racking.
- Facts about forestry.
- Forest ownership.
- Forests.
- Physical Properties of Wood.
- Rip sawing.
- Ripple figure.
- Spalting.
- The differences between hardwood and softwood.
- Tiger-stripe figure.
- Timber preservation.
- Timber sticker.
- Timber vs wood.
- Timber.
- Tree preservation order.
- Tree rights.
- Types of timber.
- Urban trees.
- Waney edged.
Featured articles and news
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.