Marley battens have received WPA quality accreditation

When choosing timber products for construction projects, specifiers and contractors need reassurance that the items they select have been properly treated to provide safe and long-lasting performance. That’s why Marley is proud to announce that our JB Red and Type A Brown battens are now quality assured under the Wood Protection Association’s (WPA) Benchmark scheme. This independent verification of quality confirms our battens have been treated to the required standard of durability and performance and Marley has good management systems in place to control quality for treatment, giving peace of mind for specifiers, installers and end-users.

FAQs about Marley’s WPA accreditation

What is the WPA?

The Wood Protection Association (WPA) is a not-for-profit trade association that champions the use of timber as a sustainable building material. As the UK’s leading authority on the use of wood protection technology, it acts as a technical, standards setting and advisory body. It promotes technologies that enhance the performance and value of sustainable softwood products, including industrial preservation, wood modification and factory-applied flame-retardant treatments.

What is the WPA Benchmark scheme?

WPA Benchmark is an independent, third-party quality assurance scheme that verifies treated wood products and treatment plants meet the requirements of BS 8417: Preservation of Wood – Code of Practice, as well as the WPA Code of Practice: Industrial Wood Preservation. The scheme assesses required levels of preservative retention and penetration for relevant Use Classes. Accreditation may apply to individual products, treaters and treatment formulations.

What is BS 8417:2024?

BS 8417:2024 is the code of practice for the preservation of wood. It recommends levels of preservative penetration and retention, and points to the WPA Code of Practice for guidance on how to achieve the required performance benchmarks.

What is the process for achieving WPA Benchmark accreditation?

To achieve WPA Benchmark Approved Treater status, a company needs to demonstrate that it has an effective quality management system and factory production control procedures in place. Emphasis is placed on the accurate specification of treated wood products and the description/labelling of goods, as well as the provision of adequate end-user information and training where appropriate.

Once a manufacturer has achieved Treater status, its products may then be accredited if they demonstrate the penetration and retention requirements set out in BS 8417:2024.

Why is WPA Benchmark accreditation important?

Independent certification means specifiers, installers and end-users have verifiable assurance that timber treatment has been applied correctly, including required preservative penetration and retention as per BS 8417 and the WPA Code of Practice: Industrial Wood Preservation. This accreditation helps to ensure that Marley’s battens are fit for purpose in the Use Class for which they are specified, reducing risk of early decay, failure or non-compliance.

What Marley products have achieved WPA Benchmark accreditation?

Marley’s preservative-treated JB Red battens and Type A Brown battens have both achieved WPA Benchmark quality accreditation as treated wood products. In addition, Marley is also a WPA Benchmark Approved Treater, meaning our treatment operations meet WPA’s audited criteria for factory production control, process capability and consistent compliance with penetration and retention requirements.

How can I tell if a product is WPA Benchmark accredited?

Accredited products carry the WPA Benchmark logo, either on the product documentation or in marketing materials. Marley’s JB Red brochure and webpage show this accreditation. A list of WPA Benchmark approved Treaters, and their certificates, is also available on the WPA website.

Where can I get Marley’s WPA Benchmark certificate?

Marley’s WPA Benchmark certificate can be downloaded from the JB Red Battens product page. It shows Marley’s status as a WPA Benchmark-approved treater, as well as the WPA Benchmark status of both JB Red battens and the Type A Brown battens.

How do I find out more about Marley’s timber battens and WPA accreditation?

Thanks to WPA Benchmark accreditation, specifiers can be assured that Marley’s timber battens and timber treatment processes achieve high levels of quality, compliance and performance. To further understand how the JB Red and Type A Brown battens can enhance your next project please visit the product pages.