Measure and assess the volume and quality of felled timber

This standard covers measuring and assessing the volume and quality of felled timber using the appropriate methods.

Your work must conform to all relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

1. obtain the relevant information to carry out the work activities in accordance with organisational procedures
2. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
3. assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity, checking and confirming the findings of any existing risk assessments
4. confirm that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
5. use available information and equipment to measure and record the volume of felled timber, in line with the specification
6. assess the quality of felled timber and take action to address any issues
7. maintain the security of felled timber held on site
8. complete and store stock control records in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

1. how to identify and access information relevant to the required work
2. how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out
3. the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSW)
4. current legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance, organisational policies, procedures and protocols, business and professional ethics that are relevant to your area of work, and to which you must adhere
5. the selection, use and care of personal protective equipment (PPE)
6. how to use sawlog rulers and metric volume tables
7. the classification and presentation of softwood sawlogs
8. how to use hoppus feet tables when assessing and forecasting felled timber volumes for large broadleaved trees
9. other sources of information, such as harvesters, that can be used to assess the volume of felled timber
10. how to measure, record and calculate the volume of felled timber for stock taking, for ascertaining sale type and payment in relation to the work done
11. how to use computer volume calculation packages
12. the relationships between over bark (O/B) and under bark (U/B) tonnes based on species, size and age of timber, time of year and length of time felled
13. how to identify tree species from felled timber
14. the features of different species of wood and how this affects their quality and potential value
15. the different grades of timber and their relative value
16. the information that can be used to monitor product quality
17. the different ways in which timber is sold, including volume and weight
18. the importance of maintaining the security of felled timber on site and how this can be done
19. the legal and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of documentation

How to measure:
• individual logs and poles
• individual trees
• small roundwood

Volume of felled timber:
• top diameter under bark (U/B) and mid-diameter over bark (O/B) x length (for logs and poles)
• average top diameter x length (for small roundwood estimates)
• average length x height x breadth x c/f for air space (for stacked volume)
• measurement of volume and conversion to cubic metres U/B
• cubic metres O/B – tonnes/m3 conversion factor

Information required to carry out work activities could include:
• drawings
• plans
• schedules
• specifications
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturer’s instructions
• customer requirements
• quality assurance requirements
• industry standards (e.g. British Standards)
• verbal or written instructions
• industry guidance (e.g. Forestry Commission Mensuration Handbook)

Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)