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Cover

CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
2^nd Floor Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St Michael
Barbados
T: 246.622.7670 | F: 246.622.7678
Website: http://www.crosq.org

© CROSQ 2010 - All rights reserved
Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission.

CARICOM REGIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE
Manufacture of wooden craft items

CRCP 7: 2010

CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
2^nd Floor, Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Barbados
T: 246.622.7670 | F: 246.622.7678
Website: http://www.crosq.org

© CROSQ 2010 - All rights reserved. No part of this publication is to be reproduced without the prior written consent of CROSQ.

ISBN 978-976-8234-21-6
ICS 97.195

Committee representation

This CARICOM Regional Code of Practice was prepared under the supervision of the Regional Technical Committee for Wood Products (RTC 18), (hosted by CARICOM Member State, Guyana), which at the time comprised the following members:

Contents

Foreword

This CARICOM Regional Code of Practice is designed to:

1. ensure the quality of wooden craft items;
2. assist in preserving the traditional craft industry while supporting the tourism industry; and
3. assist the viability of the artisans.

This Code of Practice was approved by the Twenty-ninth Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on 8-9 February 2010.

In the development of this Code of Practice, assistance was derived from the following:

1. Jamaican Standard, JS1 Part 1:1992, Specification for the labelling of commodities: General Principles;
2. Jamaican Standard, JS1 Part 11: 1983, Specification for the Labelling of Commodities: Labelling of Furniture;
3. Jamaican Standard, JS 106: 1996, Specification for the minimum requirements for wooden, metal, plastic and upholstered accommodation furniture and craft intended for export and import;
4. CARICOM Regional Standard, CRS 20, Specification for wooden furniture;
5. Caribbean Community Standard for Requirements for Labelling of pre-packaged goods, 1978;
6. OIML R 79: 1997(E) Labelling requirements for pre-packaged products.

1 Scope

This Code of Practice establishes the minimum requirements for the manufacture and production of wooden craft items. The document is more focused on performance than prescriptive requirements for craft items.

The Code of Practice may be applied to all wooden craft items in the manufacturing stage or at the point of sale to retailers and end consumers. It focuses on work made by individual craftspersons by hand. However, to improve efficiency and production, some craftspersons and manufacturers may employ tools, technology and other expertise to their best advantage.

This Code of Practice does not apply to production techniques used solely for high volume output if such techniques:

1. do not add to the overall quality and design; and
2. are not performed with the skill and craftsmanship required.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this Code of Practice, the following terms and definitions shall apply.

3.1
adhesive

chemical material used to hold pieces together

NOTE Types of adhesives by main chemical constituents are: phenolic, amino-plastic gap-filling or close-contact of at least the moisture resistant type, polyvinyl acetate, urea formaldehyde and urethane.

3.2
boxed heart

heart enclosed within the four surfaces of a hewn or sawn timber through its entire length and reasonably well centred at both ends

3.3
check

fissure or crack along the grain of timber but which does not pass through one face to the opposite or an adjacent one

3.4
craftsmanship

technical skills involved in carving, shaping, joinery, sculpting, painting and finishing techniques and their execution

3.5
craftsperson

person, individual, partnership corporation, society or association who employs artistic skills to create and make items from materials of wood and other complementary materials

3.6
defect

any irregularity occurring in or on the timber resulting in the reduction of its quality

3.7
glue spot

glue that remains in the grain of the surface of wood due to improper clean-up practices

3.8
glue squeeze out

excess glue from the joints after wood parts are assembled

3.9
grain

general direction or arrangement of the fibres in the wood

3.10
hardwood

timber of broad-leafed tree species

NOTE The fine structure (fibres and vessels) of hardwood is different to that of softwoods (tracheids).

3.11
knot

portion of branches embedded in the wood

3.12
joinery

technique by which pieces of wood are connected, attached or joined together

EXAMPLE Dovetails, finger joints, mortice and tenon, miters, dowel joints

3.13
label

any written, printed, or graphic material affixed to, applied to, blown into, formed or moulded into, embossed on or appearing upon a package containing any product for branding, identifying, or giving any information with respect to the product or to the contents of the package

3.14
machine mark

line, mark, swirl, dent, or burn that result on the surface of wood from being machined

3.15
reclaimed wood

wood that has been recycled and reused to build new pieces

3.16
seasoning

process of reducing initial moisture content of timber to the required moisture content

3.17
shake

separation of the wood fibres along the grain

3.18
tear out

chipped surface on wood that results from the grain of the wood being raised and chipped away by a tool

3.19
wooden craft item

item consisting mainly of wood and fundamentally transformed by a craftsperson, resulting in finished work that demonstrates technical fluency, integrity of intent and a spirited sense of personal vision

NOTE The end product should not be dominated or limited by a machine’s capability. However the work is produced, it must speak to the individual craftsperson’s creative spirit.

4 Materials

4.1 Wood

4.1.1

Wooden materials used in the production of craft items should be carefully selected to ensure appropriateness for use. Consideration should be given to:

1. the maturity of the wood;

   NOTE Wood from mature trees is generally more suitable for craftwork.

2. the degree of ease with which the material can be worked such as machined, carved, sanded and or painted;
3. the durability of the material when exposed to normal tropical and equatorial environmental conditions of high relative humidity and higher temperature, both indoor and outdoor as appropriate;
4. the durability of the material when exposed to other environmental conditions of lower levels of relative humidity and lower temperatures, both indoor and outdoor as appropriate; and
5. the dryness of the wood.

   NOTE Dryness of the wood refers to the moisture content achieved.

4.1.2

Wood used in the construction of craft items may be kiln, solar or air-dried. Kiln-drying is recommended for large commercial quantities and for achieving at least 10 % moisture content.

4.1.3

Small quantities of lumber or wood may be air-dried once the correct techniques are applied to ensure air circulation, minimize splits, bow, spring and twist. Consideration should be given to the fact that air-drying of wood will naturally take a longer time than kiln-drying.

NOTE At the end of the drying period the moisture content should be determined (see Annex A).

4.1.4

The wood shall be free from checks and shakes, boxed heart, exposed pith, dead, black or loose knots, knot holes and wane. Wood shall also be free from signs of decay and fungal or insect attack. The wood shall be free from discolouration that detracts from the intent of the craftsperson.

NOTE Knots may be allowed for decorative purposes but should not be used in wood that will be load bearing.

4.2 Adhesives

4.2.1

Glues and pastes shall be durable and non-toxic, and where possible water-based. Only food safe glues shall be used on craft items intended to be used as food preparation or storage surfaces.

4.2.2

Adhesive materials shall be non-toxic. Craftspersons shall carefully select adhesives to ensure they are free from hazards before employing them in their work.

4.2.3

Where possible, adhesives should be purchased as premixed paste or liquid formulations instead of powdered form.

4.2.4

Adhesives shall not stop wood movement. If the strength of the adhesive exceeds the strength of the wood fibres then the wood would fail around the adhesive joint. With this fact in mind, the craft item manufactured or produced shall be designed and produced to accommodate wood movement.

4.3 Finishes or finishing material

4.3.1

Paint and other finishing materials should be non-toxic and approved by the relevant local authorities for use. Craftspersons should consult their local standards, foods or health authority for information on paint, lacquers and varnishes which have been approved as safe for use.

4.3.2

Aerosol sprays produce very fine mists which can be inhaled and so their use should be minimised. The use of liquid formulations should be the preferred type of finish.

4.4 Hardware

Hardware should be corrosion resistant and shall be suitable for the purpose for which they are used. They shall be properly installed where applicable.

5 Health, safety and environmental requirements

5.1 General

5.1.1

The craftsperson shall be responsible for assurance that craft work and their operations meet all local or regional regulations for health, safety and the environment.

5.1.2

All wood items made for contact with food, such as cutting boards, utensils and bowls, must have a non-toxic finish that is safe for food (see NOTES 1 and 2 below).

NOTE 1 Some oil finishes (meant for furniture and general woodwork, but not items for food use) contain heavy-metal chemical driers which are toxic, making them unfit for food use. Other oils, like most vegetable oils, while non-toxic when first applied as a finish, will go rancid over time, and are therefore a poor choice for finishing items for food use.

NOTE 2 Some finishes that are labelled non-toxic, are not actually non-toxic until they have reached their fully cured state (when all solvents contained in the finish are no longer present and the finish has fully hardened). The best choices are finishes containing ingredients that have been approved by local authorities. In the case of finishes (including mineral oil and bees wax based finishes) that will be used on surfaces for contact with food, approval should be sought from the local food inspection authority.

5.1.3

Reclaimed wood shall not be used to produce craft items for food use, unless the history of the wood is clearly known.

EXAMPLE Beams from an old house may have been sprayed with poison for termites or a fence post that may have been treated with creosote should not be used to make salad bowls or utensils.

5.1.4

Painted toys and all products intended for children shall be painted with non-toxic paints.

NOTE Some acrylic paints contain heavy-metal pigments like cadmium and cobalt, while some sign paints contain lead, and are not intended for use on products such as toys for children (see 5.1.2, NOTE 2).

5.2 Environmental

Products shall not be certified to this standard unless the craftsperson meets at least one of the following requirements:

1. implements an environmental policy and objectives in the manufacturing operations; and or
2. actively participates in environmental programmes such as planting of trees and waste reduction.

5.3 Personnel

All employees shall wear appropriate protective gear such as safety boots, gloves, goggles and masks to protect them from harmful materials.

5.4 Factory or working area

5.4.1

The facility and or work area shall be clean and have provision for the removal of dust and chips, well lighted and ventilated. The working area should be adequate for the type and volume of work.

5.4.2

The lacquering, painting and sanding area shall be free from dust and dirt and shall be well ventilated.

5.4.3

When the workspace is located in or near a dwelling area, additional precautions should be taken to ensure:

1. appropriate ventilation design and installation; and
2. non-exposure of children, pregnant mothers or other persons to fumes, dust and toxic materials.

5.5 Storage

Materials are to be carefully and suitably stored so as to prevent evaporation, spillage and misuse. Where necessary, containers should be labelled and stored by date. Food containers shall not be used for storage. If a storage container other than original packaging must be used, the container shall be labelled clearly and thoroughly with all of the information from the original packaging.

NOTE Use of food containers for storage shall never be used for storage as this increases the risk of fatal mistakes.

5.6 Machining, chipping and carving

The machining, chipping or carving of the wood shall be done to produce an item with uniform and consistent dimensions based on the design.

6 Craft items

6.1

Finished work should demonstrate technical fluency, integrity of intent and result, and a spirited sense of personal vision. Craftsmanship should be consistent throughout the entire piece.

6.2

All finished items shall be uniform in quality, clean and free from defects that will detract from the aesthetic quality of the craft item. Items shall have a finish appropriate to the intention of the piece. Attention should be given to all inner and outer surface areas of the craft items, including the back and bottom.

6.3

Painting and decoration should fit and enhance the form such that it is integral to the function and expression of the piece.

6.4

Purchased parts shall meet applicable requirements of existing standards regarding corrosion resistance, strength and durability and shall be well integrated within the work.

6.5

To meet the requirements for good workmanship, the following shall be acceptable:

1. complete sanded surfaces;
2. absence of machine or hand tool “tear out” areas (unless intentionally part of the overall concept of the piece, such as rustic pieces or reclaimed wood);
3. properly applied finishes such as brush applied polyurethane, and surfaces that are polished or do not consist of runs or dust; and
4. absence of glue squeeze out, machine marks, poor quality hardware and materials, or overall lack of care (seen or concluded) as an attribute of the craft item.

6.6

All wood joints should be tight, well-fitted and securely glued with suitable shrink-resistant glue. All surplus glue shall be removed from external surfaces.

6.7

All external surfaces shall be free from sharp edges, burrs and other hazards. The craft item shall not pose safety hazards to users during transportation, storage or use.

7 Labelling and packaging

7.1 General

7.1.1

All craft items conforming to this Code of Practice shall be labelled in accordance with the requirements of this section.

7.1.2

All labels shall be prominently and conspicuously displayed. All required information shall be legible and unambiguous in letter size of at least 1.5 mm height. The language on the label shall be in the official language(s) of the country in which the craft item is sold.

7.1.3

All labels shall be securely affixed to the craft item by whatever method the craftsperson chooses and shall remain attached to the craft item until completion of the sale to the consumer.

7.2 Detail requirements

7.2.1

The label on each item of craft shall include the following:

1. name and address of the manufacturer or trader;
2. type of dominant material;

   EXAMPLE Wood: such as mahogany, cedar, pine

   NOTE If substitute materials such as resins are used to duplicate original carved wood, it must be properly labelled in a visible place so that it is clear to consumers that they are not buying a wooden object. This is particularly important in the case of cast resin that is painted, which can have the same grain pattern as the wood. Without this information consumers may not be able to determine that it is not actually wood.

3. type of finish; and

   EXAMPLE Lacquer, varnish, paint

   7
4. precautionary note for general usage and care.

   EXAMPLE “Do not scrape, scratch or score”, “Clean with soap, protect from alcohol, direct sunlight”

7.2.2

In addition, artists, craftspersons and or producers and traders of wooden craft items may, where possible, permanently sign or stamp their work to indicate their authenticity. Stamped information should include one or more of the following:

1. the signature and or name of the artist or craftsperson;
2. the name of item;
3. the name of the company;
4. the year of production; and
5. the locality and country of production.

7.2.3

Labelling or stamping should not be done in such a way to detract from the craftspersons artist’s expression and intention of the piece. The size of the label should be appropriate for the piece.

8 Quality assurance

Craftspersons and or producers shall demonstrate compliance with this Code of Practice through the implementation of an appropriate level of quality assurance which includes at a minimum:

1. inspection;
2. quality control; and
3. corrective action and or prevention techniques.

   NOTE This may be evidenced through training of personnel in requirements of the Code of Practice and any records of inspection and or tests carried out.

Annex A
Approximate method for determining moisture content

(informative)

A.1

Cut a section approximately 25 mm in length across the grain from each of several of the wider boards.

NOTE To avoid the effects of earlier end drying, the section should be cut from the centre portion of the boards and should be several inches from any knot or other defect.

A.2

Measure the width of this board section to within 0.5 mm.

A.3

Place the section near an operating radiator, hot air register, or stove for at least one day.

A.4

If no checks appear on the ends and no measurable shrinkage in width occurs, the wood is uniformly dry to a moisture content of about 6 % to 8 %.

CARICOM REGIONAL ORGANISATION FOR STANDARDS AND QUALITY

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) was created as an Inter-Governmental Organisation by the signing of an agreement among fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CROSQ is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality. It is the successor to the Caribbean Common Market Standards Council (CCMSC), and supports the CARICOM mandate in the expansion of intra-regional and extra-regional trade in goods and services.

CROSQ is mandated to represent the interest of the region in international and hemispheric standards work, to promote the harmonization of metrology systems and standards, and to increase the pace of development of regional standards for the sustainable production of goods and services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the enhancement of social and economic development.

CROSQ VISION:

The premier CARICOM organisation for the development and promotion of an Internationally Recognised Regional Quality Infrastructure; and for international and regional harmonized CARICOM Metrology, Standards, Inspection, Testing and Quality Infrastructure

CROSQ MISSION:

The promotion and development of standards and standards related activities to facilitate international competitiveness and the sustainable production of goods and services within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) for the enhancement of social and economic development