BRITISH STANDARD BS EN

380:1993

Timber structures —
Test methods —
General principles for
static load testing

The European Standard EN 380:1993 has the status of a

British Standard

UDC 694.04:624:011:1:624.04
BS EN 380:1993

Cooperating organizations

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), under whose supervision

this European Standard was prepared, comprises the national standards
organizations of the following countries.

Austria Oesterreichisches Normungsinstitut

Belgium Institut belge de normalisation
Denmark Dansk Standardiseringsraad
Finland Suomen Standardisoimisliito, r.y.
France Association française de normalisation
Germany Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.
Greece Hellenic Organization for Standardization
Iceland Technological Institute of Iceland
Ireland National Standards Authority of Ireland
Italy Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
Luxembourg Inspection du Travail et des Mines
Netherlands Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut
Norway Norges Standardiseringsforbund
Portugal Instituto Portuguès da Qualidade
Spain Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación
Sweden Standardiseringskommissionen i Sverige
Switzerland Association suisse de normalisation
United Kingdom British Standards Institution

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of Technical
Committee B/518, was
published under the
authority of the Standards
Board and comes
into effect on Amendments issued since publication
15 November 1993

© BSI 12-1999 Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference B/518/1
Draft for comment 90/15570 DC

ISBN 0 580 22318 3

 BS EN 380:1993

Contents

Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
Text of EN 380 3
National annex NA (informative) Committees responsible Inside back cover

© BSI 12-1999 i
BS EN 380:1993

National foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of Technical
Committee B/518, Structural timber. It is the English language version of
EN 380:1993 Timber structures — Test methods — General principles for static
load testing published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).
No existing British Standard is superseded.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 12-1999
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 380
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 1993
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

UDC 694.04:624:011:1:624.04

Descriptors: Timber construction, mechanical tests, static loads, breaking loads

English version

Timber structures — Test methods — General principles

for static load testing

Structures en bois — Méthodes d’essais — Holzbauwerke — Prüfverfahren — Allgemeine

Principes généraux d’essais par chargement Grundsätze für die Prüfung unter statischen
statique Belastungen

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1993-07-15. CEN members

are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a
national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any
CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French,
German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

© 1993 Copyright reserved to CEN members

Ref. No. EN 380:1993 E
EN 380:1993

Foreword Contents
This European Standard was prepared by Page
CEN/TC 124 “Timber structures”. It was approved Foreword 2
for the CEN final voting by the TC on 9th
1 Scope 3
December 1991.
2 Normative references 3
This standard is one of a series of standards for test
methods for building materials and components. It 3 Definitions 3
was prepared by a working group under the 4 Symbols 3
convenorship of NSAI. 5 General requirements 3
NOTE It is considered desirable to maintain the same clause
numbers consistently throughout this series of standards.
6 Test methods for static loading 3
Consequently, some clauses are void in this edition of this 6.1 Principle 3
standard, but it is envisaged that future editions may need to
include a text in these clauses. 6.2 Number of tests 3
This European Standard shall be given the status of 6.3 Apparatus 3
a national standard, either by publication of an 6.4 Preparation 3
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by
6.5 Procedures 4
January 1994, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by January 1994. 6.6 Results 5
The standard was approved and in accordance with 6.7 Test report 5
the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the Figure 1 — Schematic loading procedures 4
following countries are bound to implement this Table 1 — Basic loading procedure 4
European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom.
No existing European Standard is superseded.

2 © BSI 12-1999
 EN 380:1993

1 Scope 5 General requirements

This standard specifies the general principles to be
adopted for static load testing of timber structures.
It is intended for use where it is necessary to verify
by test that a structure complies with stated
criteria. Relevant parts may be used for proof
loading or for the testing of structures in service.
This standard is not intended to be used for testing
of individual pieces of timber, individual joints or
structural scaled models.
2 Normative references
None.
Materials and workmanship in the structure shall
be, as far as practicable, of the minimum quality
and dimensions allowed by the relevant
specification. The manufacture and assembly of the
timber structure shall be representative of the
production process likely to be used. The moisture
and temperature conditions at the time of test shall
be representative of the likely in-service conditions.
Deviations may, however, be required for structures
composed of materials with different
time-dependent properties to obtain the same
failure mode as in practice.

3 Definitions 6 Test methods for static loading

For the purposes of this standard, the following 6.1 Principle
definitions apply. The principle of these test methods involves
3.1 applying a stated regime of loading to a timber
structure, over a stated period of time, and of
maximum load
observing the corresponding deformations and
load at failure; or load where substantial reporting the test results.
deformation continues without further increase in
6.2 Number of tests
load; or the maximum load achieved up to a
specified deformation or strain Wherever possible several identical structures of
the same design shall be tested to permit the
3.2
assessment of the variability of the test results.
timber structure
NOTE The number of structures to be tested and their method
member or assembly of members forming the whole of selection will depend on the probable variability in
or a part of a load bearing element of construction manufacture, the required level of confidence and the number of
(e.g. a joist or a truss or a floor panel or a wall panel) loading conditions to be applied.
6.3 Apparatus
4 Symbols The accuracy of loading and of deflection and load
F load, in newtons measurement shall be within ± 3 %.
Fmax maximum load, in newtons The test loading shall be both applied and resisted
in a manner approximating to the actual service
Fmax,est estimated maximum load, in newtons
conditions. Eccentricities, other than those
G1 self weight of the structure, in necessary to simulate service conditions, shall be
newtons avoided at points of loading and reaction, and care
G2 applied permanent load, in newtons shall be taken to ensure that no inadvertent
Q characteristic value of variable load, restraints are present.
in newtons 6.4 Preparation
T loading time, in seconds Determine the density and moisture content of the
Tr recovery time, in seconds materials in the structure.
½ factor of less than unity modifying When testing is carried out in a laboratory it shall
Fmax,est be normally maintained at a relative humidity
of (65 ± 5) % and a temperature of (20 ± 2) °C,
unless required otherwise by the normal in-service
condition of the test structure.
Departures from the required values shall be
reported.
When testing is carried out other than in a
laboratory e.g. in situ, the environmental conditions
of temperature and relative humidity existing
during the test shall be reported.

© BSI 12-1999 3
EN 380:1993

6.5 Procedures 6.5.2 Maximum load — procedure 1

6.5.1 Basic loading procedure Procedure 1 consists of the basic loading
The basic loading procedure consists of the steps (0 – 7) concluding by increasing the load up to
procedural steps (0 – 7) described in Table 1. A the maximum load Fmax (step 7 – 8 in Figure 1.)
diagrammatic representation of the loading If considerable deformation occurs during the
procedure is given in Figure 1. application of the load, reduce the rate of loading.
Table 1 — Basic loading procedure 6.5.3 Proof loading — procedure 2
Procedural Loading procedure Time, in Procedure 2 consists of the basic loading
step seconds steps (0 – 7); the load is removed after a prescribed
0 Only G1 acting, and load ½Fmax,est(½ < 1) has been reached and the test
F=0 ended (step 7 – 9 in Figure 1).
0–1 Apply F = G2 NOTE This procedure is intended for proof loading and the case
when the capacity at more than one load combination is tested.
1–2 Maintain F = G2 U 120 The value of ½ depends on the confidence required in estimating
2–3 Apply F = G2 + 0,5 Q U 120 the maximum load capacity.
3–4 Remove 0,5 Q U 120
4–5 Apply F = G2 + Q U 240
5–6 Maintain F = G2 + Q U 1 200
6 – 7a Increase F until ½Fmax,est U 600
is reached
a The maximum loading rate shall not exceed 0,25 Q per 60 s.

Figure 1 — Schematic loading procedures

4 © BSI 12-1999

6.5.4 Long-term deformation — procedure 3
Procedure 3 consists of the basic loading
steps (0 – 7); the load ½Fmax,est is kept constant for a
chosen period of time T. The load is then removed
and the recovery is measured during a chosen period
Tr (steps 7 – 10 – 11 – 12 in Figure 1).
6.5.5 Capacity after long-term loading —
procedure 4
This follows procedure 3 but in this case the
structure is reloaded to failure
(steps 7 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 in Figure 1).
NOTE Procedures 3 and 4 are intended for the study of
deformation at long-term loading and maximum load capacity
after long-term loading.
6.6 Results
The deformation (e.g. deflection) shall be measured
at the number of points prescribed or as necessary to
estimate the performance of the structure. A
minimum requirement is that the deformation is
measured at the point of expected maximum
deformation.
Measurements of load and deformation shall be
recorded, preferably continuously. A minimum
requirement is that load and deformation is
recorded at each load application or removal
(i.e. at the points marked by circles in Figure 1) and,
additionally, at loading increments of
above 0,1 Fmax,est.
During constant load, time and deformation shall
normally be recorded continuously. Where this is
not possible it shall be recorded at least five times
during the period of constant load (three points in
between the starting and final points).
© BSI 12-1999
EN 380:1993
6.7 Test report
The test report shall include the following.
a) Sampling procedure.
b) Quality of materials: species or type, grade,
density and moisture content. Deviations from
specifications.
c) Specifications of design. Deviations from
specification.
d) Conditions of testing, including methods,
distribution of loading and of measuring loads
and deformations. Support conditions.
e) Test results. Maximum load and deformation.
Load/deformation curves; deformation/time
curves.
f) Type and position of fractures.
g) Nature and size of defects in the materials
which contributed to failure.
h) A note of deviations from the general
requirements for structures composed of
materials with different time-dependent
properties.
i) Information as to the environmental conditions
of temperature and relative humidity and
resultant changes in moisture content in the test
structure, if relevant.
5
6 blank
 BS EN 380:1993

National annex NA (informative)

Committees responsible
The United Kingdom participation in the preparation of this European Standard was entrusted by
Technical Committee B/518, Structural timber, to Subcommittee B/518/1, Test methods, upon which the
following bodies were represented:

Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)

Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
Timber Research and Development Association
Wood Panel Products Federation

© BSI 12-1999
BS EN
380:1993
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