In 2007 the National Research Council published the technical document DT 206/2007 “Instructions for the design,
execution and control of timber structures”, with the purpose to provide a technical support to the operators of the
sector, in line with the most advanced knowledge at that time. Since then, the world of timber engineering has
largely used such document, even though the instructions are not mandatory standard rules, so that they became the
most common tool in Italy for the structural use of timber, opening the markets and favoring competition and new
applications. In latest years new studies, researches and innovative proposals have promoted the development and
the growth of timber constructions also in the civil residential field. The framework of standard rules for
constructions and products, both Europeans and Italians, has evolved too. For these reasons, CNR has considered as
opportune to proceed to the editing of a new version, updated and widen, namely with the acronym DT 206-R1.
The document comes from the spontaneous cooperation of an open group of specialists and operators of the sector,
based on a wide discussion on the common scientific and technical expertise and knowledge. The current version
has already taken into account the results of the public inquiry phase (concluded by now).
The paper presents the main contents of the document, evidencing the innovations. They mainly concerns the
following sections: 4) Materials and products; 5) Complementary materials; 6) Elements, typologies and structural
systems; 7) Design rules and criteria; 8) Connections; 9) Specific rules for structural types and systems; 10) Design
for earthquake resistance. The activity of the committee is still in progress, with the aim of a continuous update.
