FJ MillsSwitch Labels

Western Wood Products Association fingerjointed lumber mills will soon be changing grademarks to meet new requirements established by the American Lumber Standard Committee, Inc. for lumber joined with heatresistant adhesives.

Under the new requirements, fingerjointed lumber joined with qualified heat-resistant adhesives will be marked with the designation HRA (Heat-Resistant Adhesive). The HRA mark, which will be incorporated into the gradestamp, indicates the lumber is suitable for wood frame assemblies where a fire rating is required.

U.S. building codes require fire-rated assemblies in multistory/multifamily structures between living units or common party walls in commercial buildings. Detached single-family houses under current codes do not require one-hour fire-rated assemblies.

Fingerjointed lumber made with adhesives that are not heat resistant will be marked as Non-HRA. WWPA mills are expected to add the new marks to all fingerjointed lumber in the coming months. Fingerjointed lumber without the HRA and Non-HRA marks is assumed to be not suitable for use where a fire rating is required.

The new labeling system was established following fire tests conducted by Forintek Canada and the American Forest & Paper Association's American Wood Council.

ALSC formally approved the HRA and Non-HRA labels Feb. 23.

WWPA, which was instrumental in developing the new labeling system, will develop product support materials to help mills explain the new HRA labels on fingerjointed lumber and the appropriate uses for such products. The materials will be posted at www.wwpa.org.