Roofing Battens
The John Brash Way – Service – Quality – and the Leaders in Innovation for over 100 years
John Brash & Co Ltd is the UK's leading supplier of quality graded timber battens to the construction industry. It has always advocated the need for quality battens and was the first company to introduce a marking system clearly identifying supplier, species, size, treatment and grade.
The benefits of having a sawmill on site
John Brash has its own, custom-built sawmill on site, to ensure that clients
receive 100% satisfaction, both in terms of quality and service. By having our
facility on site, we are able to exercise complete control over the entire production
process to ensure that all timber meets the stringent quality standards that we
set ourselves.
Another main advantage of maintaining complete control of our production processes
is that John Brash has the ability to produce a range of special sizes and accessories
to meet client specifications.
Pioneering standards for roof battens
The use of graded battens, pioneered by John Brash, was given new prominence by the updating of BS5534, the Code of Practice on slating and tiling, in June 2003.
BS5534 Part 1: 2003, which came into force at the end of June 2003, requires
the use of graded battens and stipulates the marking of individual battens with
the name of supplier, size, grading and species.
Recently NHBC standards have changed in line with BS5534:2003. These were published
in April 2004 and effective from July 2004.
John Brash presently grades in all respects to wane, fissures and splits, rate
of growth, rate of decay and insect attack and resin pockets. We do recommend
that a final grade for knots takes place on site.
The most significant change from BS5534 Part 1:1997 is that single-lap tiling
on 600mm rafter centres must now use 25x50 roofing battens (NOT 25x38 as before).
This ensures that the batten is more robust and less inclined to bounce, thereby
reducing the risk of an accident on site.
BS5534 Part 1:2003 no longer distinguishes by size to the use of imported (previously
'Type A') and homegrown (previously 'Type B') timber but John Brash is committed
to the continued use of superior imported timber for the manufacture of its battens
- imported Whitewood (WPCA) and Redwood (PNSY). These timber species are 17% stronger
in bending and stiffness than the predominant home grown timber species British
Spruce (WPCS). Imported timber benefits from slow growth, close tight annual growth
rings, and a lengthy growth cycle. The result is an inherently strong and quality
final product.
