The IIWC Survey Form for Existing Timber Structures

The collection of general and metric information is significant in the assessment of existing structures for the purpose of inventory of historical constructions, preservation and retrofitting interventions, territorial or building vulnerability evaluation. Adequate knowledge of the structure, to be acquired through documentation, as well as on-site inspection aimed at survey and diagnosis of the structure, is a fundamental prerequisite and indispensable step for understanding the local weaknesses and the structural behavior. It assures the reliability of the results of any structural analysis. In this context, survey forms can facilitate data collection and guide the surveyor to focus on crucial and critical aspects. However, survey forms should be properly designed for the specific intent, being comprehensive, as well as effective and efficient tools. The paper presents and discuss the survey form set up by the Italian ICOMOS Wood Committee for the analysis of existing timber structures, specifically focused on timber trusses.