Know yourtreated wood marks

flto enorecr BorH buyer and conI sumer. the industry has developed a system requiring ink-stamped grademarking of each piece of treated lumber under adequate quality control measures. This assures delivery of the grade specified for its intended use. Lumber grading and marking is monitored and inspected by agencies accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee.

A valid agency grademark on lumber indicates the product meets structural and appearance requirements established for that grade.

In addition, all treated lumber should be identified with an inspection agency quality mark (either plastic end lnspection Service: Southem Pine

Quality futilEn PhB lunber Egded in acfutdance wih ilre gndw ru(d€ ot tltlPtuuhem Pine Inspection Burcau (SP{B). SHa, nmbet Pnducls lnspetion, lnc., Bilewable Ref/i/urce Asf,ciates, Inc. (RW and oher organiat*ms' arc accredited to inspect and gde naft Sotldrem Pine lunbet in acnrdarce witt SPIE gndi\g rules.

Inspection Bureau (SPIB)

Insoecf on Service: Timbet

Producb Inspection, Inc. (TP)

Insoection Service: Renewable Resource Associates, Inc. (RM)

Lumber Grade

Mill ldentification Number

Lrmber Spgcies

(optional) Logo denoting a member mill of South€m Forest Products Association {SFPA)

Moisture Content (MC): Kiln-dried

(KD)to a maximum of 1970

Heat Treated

0r selechd Sqjbern Pine pmducb acmrding t0 SPIB cradirg 8uhs, indudingi California_ Lunbel Inspeclion S€flice (C!lS); Nortiestsm Lunbsr Manulacturss Aswiation (i'IELMA); Wos{ Coast Lumber tGi€ctis Blrau (WCUB); ar{ W$tm Wood ProducbAsciation {WWPA}.

Follow the Label

To avoid misuse on the job site, framing crews should follow instructions on required labels affixed to treated wood products, usually a plastic end tag or ink stamp.

Following are terms and abbreviations typically found on these labels.

Above Ground Use applications: Continuously Protected from Liouid Water

General Use Framing Lumber Vertical Use Fence Boards Decking Use Only

Ground Contact Use applications: Ground Contact (Fresh Water) Foundation Use applications: Permanent Wood Foundation (PWF, FDN)

Marine G rade application s : Marine Seawall (This Side Seaward)

ALSC inspection agency mark

Use Category tag or ink stamp) conforming to building code standards. For the quality mark to be valid after treatment, the lumber must adhere to the grade requirements and the moisture content of the grade represented by the mark. It is recommended that the buyer specify pressure treated wood bearing inkstamped quality marks and/or plastic end tags denoting the material was produced under supervision of an accredited inspection agency. Use of such marks provides assurance that preservative retention and penetration complies with manufacturing specifications, that the preservative used is EPA-approved, and the lumber is treated in compliance with federal law. Use of treated wood that does not bear an approved agency quality mark will not meet requirements of the International Code Council.

"Pressure treated wood end tags must display an approved inspection agency quality mark to be code compliant, such as Southern Pine Inspection Bureau or Timber Products Inspection," explained Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets for the Southern Forest Products Association. "Typically, tags will also bear the mark of the AWPA, if the preservative is approved by the American Wood Protection Association, or the ICC Evaluation Service. Builders should know that