John Brash Timber Importers: Technical Specification BS5534: 2003

Technical Specification BS5534: 2003

The new standard BS5534: 2003 replaces the standard BS5534-1:1997
There are few recommended species that are suitable to be manufactured into roofing battens. These are:

European Redwood (PNSY)
European Whitewood (WPCA)

Table of Sizes

TABLE 1: Minimum timber batten sizes (roofing and vertical work)
Application	Basic minimum size of batten^a,b,c
	Up to 450mm span^d		Up to 600mm span^d
	Width (mm)	Depth (mm)	Width (mm)	Depth (mm)
Slates (double lap)
Natural: sized or random	50	25	50	25
Fibre-cement or concrete	38	25	50	25
Clay and concrete tiles
Double lap	38	25	38	25
Single lap	38	25	50	25
^a Tolerances on the basic sizes of timber batten should be: width ą3mm depth -0/+3mm, based on measurement at a reference moisture content of 20% (See Annex C). ^b These minimum sizes do not apply to battens used to support ridges, hips and valleys. ^c Batten sizes for other slates, tiles and shingles such as timber shingles and shakes and metal tiles, or other proprietary roofing products, should be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. ^d Span is defined as the distance between centres of supports, or the clear distance between the faces of supports plus half the bearing length at each end support, whichever is the lesser. The end bearing length should not be less than 17.5mm

Table 1 from BS 5534: 2003 is reproduced with permission of BSI under license number 2003DH0247. British Standards can be obtained from BSI Customer Services, 389 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4AL. Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9001. email: cservices@bsi-global.com.

Each individual batten must be marked identifying the species, size, grade and name of supplier, as pioneered by John Brash who installed such a marking system in the late 1990s.
Battens must also be graded for knots, wane, rate of growth, fissures and splits, insect attack, rot & decay and slope of grain. (See the resource centre for grading details)