Verulam

This paper describes research relating to the serviceability limit state (SLS) performance of timber floors. The findings of full-scale tests are summarised and related to EC5-based design of one-way spanning timber floor constructions. R.J. Bainbridge and C.J. Mettem

Timber is the unique structural material, fully renewable, lightweight, and potentially very efficient. It possesses many environmentally positive attributes, the maximisation of which involves the entire forestry and timber utilisation chain. Further improvements in the use of timber as a renewable resource present a considerable challenge. However, this is a rewarding task, vital to the economies of all the northern European countries, including the UK's. A research and innovation strategy is now firmly established, and this entails collaboration, involving industry, Government, and other partnerships such as those formed within the European Commission Framework Programmes. C.J. Mettem and S.B. Tietz

Timber is not yet used to its best effect in design in this country. This may, in part, be due to a lack of education on its very real benefits among students and also to historic limitations which no longer apply. M.W. Milner and R.J. Bainbridge