What is CE marking?
Mandatory for structural timber since 2012. What the marking says, which strength classes exist and where you can find them. Two letters on a stamp, and yet the only guarantee that a beam has been assessed on what it can carry.
The Wood Guide · Reference
ReferenceCE marking on timber
Two letters on a stamp, and yet the only guarantee that a beam has been assessed on what it can carry.
- Mandatory since 2012
- For structural timber
- Strength class C18, C24…
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Two letters on a stamp
And yet the only guarantee that a beam has been assessed on what it can carry.
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What the marking says
That the manufacturer declares the product has been assessed according to the applicable European standards and may be traded throughout the European Economic Area.
Since 1 January 2012, CE marking has been mandatory for structural timber in Europe. That obligation comes from European regulations on construction products, which harmonise national rules so that a beam graded in Austria may also be used in Belgium.
Important to understand: the marking is not a quality label saying this is the finest wood. It says that the properties that matter — strength, stiffness, density — have been determined according to a set method, and that the manufacturer vouches for them. That is exactly what an engineer needs to calculate with it.
For structural timber with a rectangular cross-section, the marking is governed by the European standard for strength grading. From that follows the strength class you see on the stamp: C18, C24 and so on, where a higher number means a higher permissible load.
It says nothing about the durability class, nothing about where the wood comes from, and nothing about how it looks. For those three things you need other information — and you ask your supplier for that separately.
- Mandatory since
- 1 January 2012, for structural timber
- Basis
- European regulations on construction products
- What it declares
- assessed according to set standards
- Strength classes
- including C18, C24, C30
- Higher number
- higher permissible load
- Where to find it
- stamp on the timber or on the label
- Not included
- durability class, origin, appearance
Fair is fair: CE marking is often read as a quality mark, and it is not one. It says nothing about how beautiful the wood is, how long it lasts outdoors or where the tree grew. Timber without CE marking is not automatically poor either — for non-load-bearing uses it is simply not required.
What the regulations look at
Mechanical resistance and stability
Can the product carry the load it is intended for without failing or deflecting unacceptably?
Fire safety
How does the material behave in a fire, and how long does the structure stay standing?
Hygiene, health and the environment
Are substances released that are harmful to occupants or to the surroundings?
Safety in use
Are there risks in normal use — slipping, falling, sharp parts?
Protection against noise
Relevant for floors and walls: how much sound does the structure let through?
Energy saving and insulation
What thermal properties does the product have in the structure?
What the strength class means
| Class | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| C18 | softwood, lower strength class | lighter structures, battens and framing |
| C24 | softwood, the most common class | purlins, beams, timber-frame construction |
| C30 and higher | softwood with higher strength | larger spans |
| D classes | hardwood | structures in oak and other hardwoods |
| GL classes | glued laminated timber | glulam beams and columns |
The letter tells you what kind of wood it is — C for softwood, D for hardwood, GL for glued laminated — and the number stands for the characteristic bending strength in newtons per square millimetre. An engineer calculates with it directly; as the client, you only need to know that the number on your timber must be at least as high as what has been specified.
Where you come across it
On the timber itself
A stamp on the end grain or on one side of the beam, showing among other things the strength class and the grading body.
On the label of a pack
For sheet materials and packed quantities, the information is on the label rather than on each piece.
In the declaration of performance
The manufacturer draws up a document with all declared properties. Your supplier can request it.
With non-load-bearing timber
For garden timber, furniture timber and cladding, the marking is not required. Its absence therefore says nothing there.
With a structure that needs planning permission
Here it is required, because the architect and the engineer calculate with the declared values.
Besides the marking
Ask separately about durability class and origin — they are not on it.
Frequently asked questions about CE marking
Is CE marking mandatory for all timber?
No, only for structural timber and other construction products. For garden timber, furniture timber and cladding it is not required.
Is CE a quality mark?
Not in the usual sense. It declares that the relevant properties have been determined according to set standards — not that the wood is beautiful or durable.
What does C24 mean?
C stands for softwood, 24 for the characteristic bending strength in newtons per square millimetre. It is the most common strength class for structural timber.
Where do I find the marking?
As a stamp on the timber itself, or on the label for packed quantities and sheet materials. The full details are in the manufacturer's declaration of performance.
Does the marking say anything about durability?
No. Durability class — how long the wood resists fungi and insects — is a separate property that you need to ask about separately.
May I use timber without CE marking?
For non-load-bearing uses, yes. For a load-bearing structure you need graded, marked timber, because that is what the engineer calculates with.
More in The Wood Guide
From strength class to durability class: what the figures on timber mean.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons: CE marking on the label of a construction product, with standard and year — Cjp24, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)