Timber Strength Class C16: Properties and Uses
Strength class C16 timber carries a characteristic bending strength of 16 newtons per square millimeter. These are the numbers structural design starts from.
Characteristic bending strength: 16 N/mm²
| Strength class | C16 |
| Characteristic bending strength | 16 N/mm² |
| Mean elastic modulus | 8 GPa |
| Characteristic density | 310 kg per cubic meter |
| Typical source | general construction softwood, spruce and pine |
Notes for design and site
C16 is the everyday class of housebuilding in much of Europe: studs, joists, and rafters straight off the merchant rack. The visual knots that grade a board C16 rather than C24 barely matter in short compression members, which is why walls happily take C16 while floors often ask for more.
Related Calculators and Reference
- Property Library: the full materials reference on this site.
- Bill of Quantities Builder: price the timber package properly.
- Eurocodes at the JRC: the design standards behind these classes.