SPECIFYING WITH CONFIDENCE: Rethinking timber in public play

A practical guide for councils, landscape architects and asset owners

As communities increasingly seek greener, more nature-based public spaces, timber has re-emerged as a defining material in contemporary play design. Yet, despite its aesthetic and environmental appeal, many remain cautious about specifying timber in public play environments.

Concerns around cracking, decay, maintenance and asset lifespan remain at the forefront for council decision makers and asset owners and, in some cases, are valid.

Our free Specifying with Confidence: Rethinking Timber in Public Play white paper examines the evidence behind timber durability claims and what different standards actually measure.

This resource explores:

• The difference between heartwood and sapwood, and why it matters
• How natural durability classifications are determined and why not all ‘Class 1’ ratings describe the same thing
• What questions to ask when evaluating timber performance claims
• How specification decisions influence lifecycle performance and whole-of-life value.

This guide provides key takeaways and questions that should form part of your supplier evaluation to specify with confidence.