About Us

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BREITINGER CONSULTING

1. Career Experience

Since beginning my career in the Structures Laboratory of CSIRO Division of Building Research (1980 to 1997), and after that managing the R&D program for Plantation Timber Association of Australia, formerly Pine Australia (1997 to 2004), and now as a testing facility owner/operator, I have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the basis and development of current Australian Standards relating to structural timber products. Keeping abreast of all developments of Australian Standards and Industry Standards relating to solid structural timber products is a critical part of this commercial testing service. Breitinger Consulting Test Reports cover all recognised structural timber compliance procedures.

2. Nata Accreditation

On the 24th January 2008 this testing facility became a NATA Accredited Testing Laboratory for timber bending tests, demonstrating that the testing environment and test methods used comply with relevant Australian Standard test methods described in AS/NZS 4063 are conducted within a quality system, www.nata.asn.au .

NATA web-page extract:

This facility complies with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005
13.19 Timber and timber products

.11 Bending tests

Bending strength and stiffness tests in the range 2 to 100 kN
on unseasoned timber specimens to AS/NZS 4063

Bending strength and stiffness tests in the range 2 to 100 kN
on seasoned timber specimens with moisture content of 10 to 14%
to AS/NZS 4063 (except for Clause 8.1 – conditioning requirements)

Bending strength and stiffness tests in the range 2 to 100 kN
on LVL to AS/NZS 4357.2 (except for Clause 8 -conditioning requirements)

Accreditation No: 15763
(Scope Last Changed 30-MAY-08)

3. Test Equipment

Breitinger Consulting Testing Services uses a Calibre Equipment STFE5 bending test machine, up-graded to a 100kN maximum load capacity, with a maximum clear test span of 6.0m and load span of 2.0m. This testing machine is able to destructively test both softwood and hardwood cross-section/grade combinations, up to 300mm in depth.

All test details and test records are monitored and logged directly onto a computer through purpose-designed data-logging software. This automatic test data acquisition reduces data translation errors bestowing a higher level of confidence in the test data included in the test report. Individual stick test data is summarised and appended to each batch test report.

Currently Breitinger Consulting Testing Services can perform four-point bending, centre-point bending, double and single span beam shear, and short compression tests to AS/NZS4063-1992 requirements. Adjustable lateral restraints can be positioned prior to test for beams prone to buckling or distortion under load.

4. Compliance Testing

Soon every timber processor will need to demonstrate that their structural products are “fit for purpose” by complying with recognised structural timber verification procedures. Be a step ahead of the game and secure your company’s future now, with NATA-certified test data and on-going monitoring procedures for its structural products.