In the scope of COST IE0601-WoodCulther (http://www.woodculther.org) it was agreed to produce Guidelines for the Assessment of Historic Timber Structures, covering the principles and possible approaches for the safety assessment of old timber structures of historical relevance, that could be used as the basis for possible European Standards, as discussed with CEN/TC346 (Conservation of cultural heritage). This was targeted at all those concerned with the conservation of heritage buildings. It should also help decision-making regarding the need for immediate safety measures. Its aim is to guarantee that inspection and assessment measures provide the necessary data for historical analysis, structural safety assessment and planning of intervention works, while having minimal impact on the building fabric (the original materials, structural systems and techniques).This paper provides information on the criteria to be used in the assessment of load bearing timber structures in heritage buildings. It covers the preliminary assessment (desk survey, preliminary visual survey, measured survey, structural analysis and preliminary report), as well as the detailed survey of timbers (with a special emphasis on visual strength grading on site) and carpentry joints. The subsequent diagnostic report and the detailed design of repairs are outside its scope.

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Historic buildings are complex structures in which all the composing elements work together. Studies of heritage structures after seismic events have shown that timber roof structures strongly influence the seismic response of masonry structures, being able to reduce or enhance the out-of-plane displacement of the structure. Starting from these observations, three different types of roof structures, from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, were introduced in the finite-element simulation software SCIA Engineer. The roof structures were subsequently placed on the same eighteenth-century masonry building with a ground floor and two upper floors, respecting its geometric features. Simulations were performed considering successively rigid, hinged or sliding connections between the roof and the masonry structure. At the same time, the traditionally crafted joints of the roof structures were consecutively modelled as hinged, rigid and semi-rigid (determined using three different methods). Ultimately, the top horizontal displacement, inter-storey drift and damage level of the masonry structure were compared. The main aims of this study were to observe if roof structures have an influence on the seismic behaviour of masonry buildings and to determine if selected parameters suffer any changes depending on the roof structure type, the roof–wall connections and joints’ axial stiffness.

(1) Background: Pinus heldreichii is a long-living tree subalpine species commonly used for climate reconstruction. Nevertheless, its potential for dendroarchaeology and dating of historical timber remains unknown. In Metsovo and in the surrounding area of Pindus National Park (Northern Greece) it is commonly used for the construction of buildings and wooden objects and artifacts. (2) Methods: We examined timber found in historical buildings within the study area and we tried to date it using local reference chronologies of Bosnian and Black pines. (3) Results: Bosnian pine chronologies can be used to date timber from historical buildings, while they can also be used as reference chronologies against Black pines, giving very high cross-dating values. Therefore, and since the macroscopic identification of the two species’ timber is impossible, the analysis of wood anatomy is necessary to distinguish the two species in the case of historical wood. (4) Conclusions: The current paper presents the first application of dendroarchaeology for Bosnian pine and highlights the potential of the species in studying cultural heritage and the human past.

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The paper focuses on the restoration proposal for the 4-storey timber structure of the central building that belongs to Matsopoulos Wheat Mill complex, built in 1884. The study was conducted in the frame of a research program of the School of Architecture of the National Technical University of Athens and the Municipality of Trikala, for the restoration of the industrial complex and the creation of a museum that will host again the original function of this 'machine building', since the timber load bearing structure is an integral part of the main production equipment of the Mill. An excessive survey and assessment of the structure and the original machinery was conducted. The 3D structural model was a valuable tool for both the assessment procedure and the interventions for a huge and complicated timber structure. A new multi-task steel structure was designed, forming corridors for the control of the visitors, and the suspension of information equipment. This structure, reduced also the loads more than 50% and consequently the relevant reinforcements. In parallel, steel elements were placed next to the timber ones in specific places in order to carry the additional loads when needed. The main principles of the restoration proposal were: local, distinguishable and reversible interventions, with minimum impact on the original timber fabric, since this fabric along with the machinery were the main exhibits of the museum. The reinforcing interventions in this case served quite successfully both, museological, museographical, architectural, structural and mechanical requirements.Keywords: Timber wheat mill • Timber industrial building • Structural analysis as assessment tool • Steel reinforcements of timber structures • Industrial museum

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