Visual method (mostly used) using rules specified in national standards (NF B 52-001, BS 5756, and NPR 5493) is available for 36 tropical hardwood species in order to be use in housing. Anyway, experiments can not be done for all tropical hardwood in time of CE marking which will be effective in the EEC market at 1St of September 2009. For a certain amount of other tropical hardwood species of moderate use, simplified rules given in EN 384 have been used to derive strength properties for the other species. They are based on bending tests on smaller sample sizes of small clear specimens and on full size specimen. The relationship has been applied for a lot of species to reach CE marking as well (more than 100 species). However, lumber should be visual graded with a simplified rule in order to eliminate worst piece. Results will be presented to CEN committees in order to get the strength class assignment recognition. (Résumé d'auteur)     «

Visual method (mostly used) using rules specified in national standards (NF B 52-001, BS 5756, and NPR 5493) is available for 36 tropical hardwood species in order to be use in housing. Anyway, experiments can not be done for all tropical hardwood in time of CE marking which will be effective in the EEC market at 1St of September 2009. For a certain amount of other tropical hardwood species of moderate use, simplified rules given in EN 384 have been used to derive strength properties for the oth...     »