Tuesday-Thursday 16-18 October 2012, 9am to 5pm

The course

This three day course covers the visual assessment of sawn square edged softwood for structural use to the BS4978 grades, General Structural (GS) and Special Structural (SS).

Delegates will be trained in the grading rules, and as part of a series of practical exercise, will grade a range of softwood species and dimensions.  These exercises, along with related tests, will be monitored and form a continual assessment of competence to grade. On successful completion of the assessed work and tests delegates will be awarded a Museum Certificate.

The course will be of value to anyone involved in the inspection, use of supply of structural softwood.  The grading system can be applied to newly sawn timber as well as providing a visual method of grading existing softwood structural members or timbers for re-use.

If you wish to grade under license to CATG you will need to apply to CATG direct, pay the standard registration fee, plus the cost of roller grade mark stamps as needed.  You would then be assessed on your site by a member of the CATG team.  A similar arrangement would apply if registration was with another of the approved certification agencies, for example TRADA.

Day 1 (9.30 am to 5 pm)

  • Introduction to the visual method of grading softwoods to BS4978 and how the course delegates will be assessed for competence to grade
  • Issue of a grading manual
  • Practical demonstration and exercises in the identification and assessment of defects other than knots
  • Assessment of knots using the KAR method, demonstration and practical exercises using short samples
  • The grade rules for GS grade followed by practical work on grading commercial softwood stock.
  • Round up of the day’s work and issue of assessed homework.


Day 2 (9 am to 5 pm)

  • Review of homework
  • Further practical exercises on GS grading
  • Introduction to the grade rules for SS grade followed by assessment of knots, demonstration and practical exercises using short samples
  • Practical work on grading commercial softwood stock to SS
  • Introduction to the Strength Class System and Machine Grading. How the BS 4978 visual grades fit within the system
  • Round up of the day’s work and issue of assessed homework.


Day 3 (9 am to 4 pm)

  • Review of homework
  • Further practical exercise on SS grading
  • Review of the European Standards and how they relate to the grading of softwood in the UK.  The marking of graded material, examples of grade marks and how to understand them and the role of the third party certification scheme operating in the UK. Procedures for applying for a CATG Certificate, and the options open once a delegate has successfully been awarded it.
  • Identifying the main softwoods approved for strength grading using selected samples to demonstrate each wood’s individual features followed by a practical identification exercise
  • Written and practical exam on pre-selected grading stock.
  • Course review and close.

The tutor

David Woodbridge, MA, BA (Hons) FIWSc, is a former Director of the Institute of Wood Science and has many years experience in timber grading, training graders and acting as an assessor on behalf of a UK certification body.

Participant information

Places on the course limited to 8 students.
This is a practical course and stout (waterproof) clothing is advised and hard capped footwear should be worn when the long length grading exercises are taking place.  There is expected to be a certain amount of manual handling to set out the grading exercise.

Fee

£450 per person, to include tuition, teas and coffees. The Museum café will be open or you can bring a packed lunch.

The Museum

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits.  It is also home to the award winning and innovative Downland Gridshell, which houses a conservation workshop and artefact store, and is also used for many practical courses.  The Museum runs a full programme of courses in historic building conservation and traditional rural trades and crafts, along with MSc programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation. Please telephone for further details.

To book, download a form here. Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.

Make a Booking Request

 
This is an initial booking request form, and does not guarantee a place on the course. The Adult Learning Team will check the availability of the course, and reply to you as soon as possible - usually within one working day.