PIRF: a new floor system to incrcase lumber sales

EALERS across the country will be feeling the impact of a new crawlspace-type floor system now being used by a number of builders in California, where the system has recently been granted approval.

The system, which will increase the amount of wood used in housing, was approved by the California Energy Commission after research by the Western Wood Producs Association. several other industry trade associations and manufacturers showed that the Ferimeter Insulated Raised Floor was at least as energyefficient as the slab floor.

Also called PIRF, the system has insulation installed against the interior of the perimeter foundation stemwall instead of insulating directly under the floor in the traditional way. Also, under-floor ventilation is reduced while a vapor retarder is placed over the ground in accordance with building code requirements.

WWPAs interest in promoting the system lies in the fact that a home built using the PIRF instead of a slab floor uses an estimated additional 2.200 feet of lumber. Lumber industry figures show that California's energy regulations. which made crawlspace homes more expensive to build than those on concrete slabs. were costing the industry nearly 100 million board feet a year.

The PIRF system was approved by the tough California Energy Commission earlier this year. and since then some l0 California builders have begun installing the system in their developments and another 30 are considering it. In addition. a home using a PIRF system will be part of a Street of Dreams project in Blackhawk. nearSan Francisco. Ca.

The significance of the PIRF system to non-California builders and retailers is that. time and again, California has proven to be a trend setter for the building industry. There is no reason to suppose that this case will be any different. Another factor is that the PIRF system is energy efficient. In an era ofincreasing energy consciousness and attendant regulations. that is a consideration of groving importance.

In addition. of course. a crawlspacetype floor has always been the floor of choice for most home owners because of its warmth in winter. its coolness in summer and its overall comfort. It has also been the choice of many builders who view crawlspace-type floon as additional selling points.

Putting it in historical perspective. WWPA s field representative Richard C. Connell notes that raised wood floors were the "only floors to speak of in California until the 1950s and 6Os. That's when homebuilding became so competitive that everyone turned to the cheapest flooring techniques possible. Crawlspaces began to disappear in new homes, especially those built by volume builden. although most custom houses have continued to incorporate raised floon."

Norp. of course. with the PIRF system. builders in California at present. and potentially elsewhere. can offer their customers a feature formerly fiound almost exclusively in cuslom homes.

&ory at a Glance

New crawlspace-type floor sJstem approved in California being used in numerous developments natiornryide adoP tion anticipated... lumber use increases 2,200 ft. per home.

The Wood Products Promotion Council which includes the American Ply\rood Association. American Wood Council. National Forest Products Association. Southern Forest Products Association and Western Wood Products Association. is including PIRF on its agenda for 1987. Florida will be a targeted market for prc motion. The council also will sponsor revision of a residential installation manual for PIRF.

The profits for dealers in this are obvious. Those wishing to knorv more about the PIRF system can obtain information and copies of the PIRF Residential Installation Manual. which includes a list of reading references, from the Southern Forest Products Association. P.O. Box 52468, New Orleans, La. 70152 (504) 44344&.

ESTERN LUMBER sells better when both the seller and the buyer are well versed on what it can do. To provide the information retailers need for both their employees and customers, two seminar programs are available.

One is designed to help retailers know and merchandise their products with increased effectiveness. The other for professional builders and contractors allows the retailer to educate his best customers.

The retailer seminar is for anyone involved in lumber sales, including outside sales people and yard and counter personnel. The information, presented in a time line sequence, begins with a brief history of the lumber and construction industries. how they've grown and changed, the development of standards and how the products that lumber retailers are selling are the result of these histories and evolutions.

Then, narrowing the focus, the instructors follow a tree through the manufacturing process, explaining why lumber is the way it iswhy it comes in 16 ft. lengths, why it is in two ft. multiples and the like. The point is to enable retail employees to answer customer's questions about, for example, roller burn, how it happens and whether or not it affects a board's strength.

Next is a section on what to do with lumber when it comes to a yard. Grade stamps are explained so employees can understand exactly what they have on hand. Information about how to store and handle lumber in a variety of different circumstances is included.

A discussion of structural and nonstructural lumber, MSR lumber, fingerjointed, pressure treated and fire retardant treated lumber follows, all presented so retail employees can answer questions asked by customers ranging from d-i-yers to contractors and architecs. Also included is instruction in the use of span tables.

Continuing the time line sequence, the next section deals with the retailer's role after the lumber is sold - delivering it to the job site and storing it there. The final portion of the retail seminar details the various kinds of marketing support offered including publications as well as an overview of advertisements, additional literature and other seminars.

Retail seminars run for six hours, including an hour for a meal. They cost $25 per person. Everybody attending receives a binder filled with information organized in the same sequence as the seminar.

The professional builders and contractors seminar is an opportunity for retailers to spend a day with their best customers,