On behalf of the Studiengemeinschaft Holzleimbau e. V., Mike Sieder from the Institute of Building Construction and Timber Structures has carried out a thorough revision of the guide ‘Verification of Long-Span Timber Structures’. The second edition, published in June 2026, represents a complete revision of the guide, which was first published in 2006. The revision was supported technically by a project working group comprising Jürgen Hezel (MPA Stuttgart), Simon Schmid (ZÜBLIN Timber GmbH), Harald Schwab (Fraunhofer WKI), Florian Scharmacher (OTH Regensburg, ZM-I Sachverständige PartGmbB) and Tobias Wiegand (Studiengemeinschaft Holzleimbau e. V.).
The revised edition draws in particular on the practical experience of Mike Sieder as a publicly appointed and sworn expert in timber construction, structural systems (statics and design) in timber construction, and as a highly qualified specialist for periodic structural inspections in timber construction. Numerous assessments of existing timber-framed halls and engineering structures have demonstrated which types of damage, structural features and building physics-related conditions are of particular importance for the reliable assessment of existing timber structures.
The new guide brings together this experience with the current technical and normative principles and offers practical guidance for the systematic inspection of long-span timber structures. The focus is on a three-stage approach comprising a site visit, an inspection and a detailed examination, combined with recommendations on inspection intervals and the qualifications required of the persons carrying out the inspections.
The guide is aimed at owners and authorised representatives, clients commissioning assessments and periodic structural inspections, as well as experts and competent or highly competent persons, and is intended in particular to support the structured and professional assessment of existing timber structures.
Many thanks to the Studiengemeinschaft Holzleimbau e. V. for the trust they have placed in us, and to the members of the working committee supporting the project for their constructive and technically valuable collaboration in the complete revision of the guidelines.
The guide is available to download as a PDF: www.studiengemeinschaft-holzleimbau.de