​Based in the Vendee region in western France, France Poutres is a family run business, which manufactures and distributes its own all-timber I-joist.

The company is now also supplying JJI-Joists, promoting them as a cost effective alternative for floors, walls and roofs.

Mark Tilston, Business Development Manager for Timber Systems says: “This is a very exciting development for James Jones and France Poutres. In 2012 and continuing in 2013, we saw significant developments in the use of JJIs for roof and floors in France; but more innovatively, the industry in France is also using JJIs externally, to help meet current thermal regulations.”

By using JJIs as external cladding around concrete buildings, specifiers have been able to add extra insulation simply and cost–effectively, so that thermal regulations can be met. Flexibility is the key, and James Jones’ ETA allows the company to produce CE marked JJI-Joists to match the customer’s precise depths for integration into their building systems.

Mark adds: “We have been across to France several times in 2012, to offer support and training to our new partners, but clearly, we’ve also learnt a thing or two from them!”

Joists in France