A practical five-day course designed to provide delegates with the necessary skills and understanding for grading softwood to the visual strength grades set out in BS 4978: 2007 ‘Softwood grades for structural use’. At the end of the course there is a practical examination by BM TRADA Certification with a Certificate of Proficiency awarded to successful candidates.
Companies with certificated graders may apply for licensed membership of the BM TRADA Q-Mark VSG scheme.
Please contact BM TRADA Certification on +44 (0) 1494 569700 for details of the Q-Mark VSG scheme and associated costs.
Who should attend
Anyone involved in the selection and supply of softwood for structural use.
Course content
Uses of strength graded timber
Meanings of the strength classes
Marking systems
Brief explanation of machine strength grading
Introduction to strength reducing defects
Introduction to knot area ratio system (KAR) and method of assessment
GS (General structural) rules and long length grading procedures and practical exercises
SS (Special structural) rules - short and long length grading exercises
For further details or to book a place on this course, please contact Michelle Joseph on +44 (0) 1494 569725 or email A similar public course is also available for Baltic and Russian customers with a full-time interpreter in Saldus, Latvia. Alternatively the course can be provided overseas at client’s premises.
For further details, please contact Phil O'Leary on +44 (0)1494 569632 or email poleary@trada.co.uk
