Edition: 15-05-01 ldentical (IDT) with EN 51 8:l5 Su persedes ~ ICS 7.040 Structural timber - Grading = Requirements for visual strength grading standards Bauholz für tragende Zwecke - Sortierung - Anforderungen an Normen über visuelle Sortierung nach der Festigkeit Bois de structure - Classement - Exigences pour les normes de classement visuel de resistance The European Standard EN 518 has the status of an Austrian Standard. The ÖNORM EN 518 consists of this national Cover Page the official English version of EN 518:15. Publisher and printing: Österreichisches Normungsinstitut, 1020 Wien Copyright C3 ON - 2004. All rights reserved; No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or any other data carriers without prior permission from ON! Sale and distribution of national and foreign standards and technical regulations via Österreichisches Normungsinstitut (ON), Heinestraße 38, A-I 020 Wien Tel.: (+43 1) 213 00-805, Fax: (+43 1) 21 3 00-818, E-Mail: salesaon-norm.at, Internet: http://www.on-norm.at Continuation EN 518 Pages 1 to 12 Technical Committee 012 Timber structures
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPEENNE EUROPAISCHE NORM February 15 ICS 7.040 Descriptors: Structural timber, testing, strength classes. English version Structural timber Grading Requirements for visual strength grading standards Bois de structure; classement; exigences pour les normes de classement visuel de resistance Bauholz für tragende Zwecke; Sortierung; Anforderungen an Normen über visuelle Sortierung nach der Festigkeit This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15-02-22. CEN members are bound to comply with the CENICENELEC Interna1 Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standardc may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member. This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the Same status as the official versions. CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. European Committee for Standardization Comite Europeen de Normalisation I Europäisches Komitee für Normung Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, 8-1050 Brussels ~ O 15. GEN - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means Ref. No. EN 518: 15 E reserved worldwide for GEN national members.,
Page 2 EN 518: 15 Page 3 3 4 Normative references 4 4 Requirements Tor Standards on visuai strength grading LLmitaü011~ for streng& reducing characteristics Knots Slope of grain Density and rate of growth Fissures Limitations for geometrical characteristics Wane Distortion Limitations for bidogieol charaderistia Other characteristics Reaction wood Mechanical damage Other criteria Marking Compliance Statement Annex A (informative) Examples of grading standards Annex B (informative) RecommenQa iayout of visiial stmqth grodbg staadards 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 10 11 12
Page 3 EN 518: 15 This European Standard has bem prepared by the Technical Committet CEN/TC 124 "Timber su~ctures" of which the secretariat is held by DS. This European Standard sw be given the stanis of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsemmt, at the latest by August 15, and conflicting national standards shail be withdrawn at the latest by August 15. ' In accordance with the CENKENELEC Interna1 Regulations, the following countrks are bound to irnplement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium. Denrnark. Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, ' Ireland, My, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UNted, L., Kingdom. There are m y different visual strength grading rules for timber in use in Europe. These have come into existence to dlow for: - different species or groups of species; - geographic origin; different dimensional requirements; varying requirements for different uses: the quality of material available; - historic influences or traditions. Because of the diversity of existing grading mies in use in different countries it is currently impossible to lay down a single set of acceptable des for all membcr states. This standard on visual strength grading rules therefore gives basic principles which shall be followed when drawing up requirernents for limits for some of the characteristics. In laying down visual strength grading rules two main facton shall be borne in mind: - they shail clearly separate timber into grades; - the des and the text shall be easily understood and be capable of implementation by gradm in the sawrnills. Examples of grading standards currently in use and which meet these principles are listed in annex A.
Page 4 EN 5l8:l5 Ti& standard identifies the characteristics for which. as a minirnm, limits shall be given in v ia gndiag This standard applies to both sofcwood des and hvdwood mies and Covers visual strength grading of sawn timber of all species likely to be used for load bearing structural purposes. For rnachine grading, see EN 2 Normative references This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions fram other publications. These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publicatiom are Iisted hereafier. For dved references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this European Standard, only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated refercllce~ the latest edition of the publication referred to applies. EN 338 EN 384 EN 51 StrUctural tirnber - Strength classes Structural timber - Determination of characteristic values of mechanid properties and densi ty Structural timber - Grading - Requirements for mrhine strength graded timber and grading machines 3 Definitions For the purposes of this standard the following defintions apply: 3.1 visual strength grading: Process by which a piece of tirnber can be sorted into categories in order to dlocate reliable strength and stiffness values to it, and that can be carried out entirely by visuai inspedion of surface or cross-sectional characteristics or defects, or equipment which does not directly stms the piece, or by combination of both of these methods. 3.2 reaction wood: High demity wood which is formed in the standing tree. In softwood species it U known as compression wood and in hardwood spefies as temion wood. It is contained in only part of the cross-section of a tree and so may form either the whole or only part of the cross-section of a piece of sawn timber, leading to problems of distonion &er drying. I
Page 5 EN 518: 15 4 Requirements for standards On v isd strength gradiiig Strengh grading standanis shall include limits for the characteristics and their mefhods of measurement given in clauses 5 to 8. If the grading is restricted to a special use e.g. flatwise bending or compression, this shall be clearly stated. NOTE: Special purpose grades cannot be assigned to the strength classes given in EN 338. If there are any restrictions or additional criteria with regard to the application of the rules they sm1 be stated in the standard. Such additional criteria shall relate to the strength or constructional use of timber. Where the measurement or estirnation of a particular Parameter needs particular skills, equipment or training, they shall be stated in the standard. Unless othenvise stated 20 % moisture content shall be taken as the reference point for all mcasurements. Limits of reduction in sia shall be stated beyond which reprocessing invalidates the grading. If. when grading, automatic devices are used to estimate the size or shape of the visual characteristics or to estimate the size or geometrical shape of the individual pieces, such automatic devices shall only be used to assess the grade of each piece against the visual grading requirements of the standard. 5 Limitations for strengh reducing characteristics 5.1 Knots Maximum dimensions of knots or hot holes shall be specified in one of the following ways: a) in relation to the width and or thickness of tirnber on the basis of linear values, b) in relation to the cross-sectional area of timber on the basis of cross-sectional vaiues, C) in relation to absolute values for a given range of timber sizes. NOTE: Different limitations on knot sizes can be specified for different portions of the piece e.g. a margin area with different knot limitations from the rest of the piece may be included. In cenain species and sizes knot groupings affect the timber strength and should be taken into account. I