2 minute read
tr SO UTH LAN D
By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president
f-\ t\Iay I commented on the inlormation r and education program to be undertaken by the lumber industry, to inform the industry and the consuming public about Voluntary Product Standard 20-70.
To date there is not much that can be said regarding the program since no program can begin until the Board of Review makes a decision regarding the National Grading Rules. The Board of Review for the American Lumber Standards Committee was elected at the meeting in Chicago on April 29. A consumer representative to the National Grading Rules Committee was appointed as well. Some effort was made to get a retail lumberman, or at least someone representing the distributive segment of the industry appointed, but to no avail. So the National Gradine Rules were developed by the inspection bireaus, three representatives of model code groups, one home builder representative, one representative for civil engineers and one for the architects, The consurner representative was finally appointed after it was all over !
One industry personage. has indi cated concern over manufacturing imperfections as allowed under the proposed new grading rules. Liberal interpretation of the rules would allow each piece in a shipment, wherein the rules allow Standard "F" manufacture, to have some of the following: ooVery heavy torn grain, raised grain, very heavy loosened grain, heavy machine bite; machine gouge; heavy machine ofiset; chip marks; knife marks, medium wavy dressing; medium mismatch."
Unfortunately the rule doesn't say occasional pieces, meaning not more than LO/o. It just says manufacture Standard "F" see paragraph 722(I). If these are controllable defects, why should they be allowed to such an extent? These defects definitely hinder the sale of lumber to the consumer. The retailer is aware of this and other problems with lumber grades, but unfortunately, he did not get a chance to express this knowledge to the National
Grading Rules Committee.
Much time and conversation is devoted these days to modularo prefabricated and packaged housing. Some of the conversation tends to eause strong men to tremble, as they think they foresee the end of the retail lumber dealer.
Some time and thought should be given to the possibility that only a small part of the housing and light commercial field will be in oofactory built" housing, leaving the major portion to conventional construction techniques. Furthermore, any factory operation, if profitable, needs a maximum amount of space utilized for manufacturing and a minimum amount for storing material used in the manufacturing process, as well as a minimum amount of space allotted to completed units. Therefore, these manufacturers need suppliers capable of furnishing material to the assembly line daily, twice a week or weekly perhaps, depending on the quantity used and the bulkiness of the material. Studs, joists, rafters, plates, headers, cripples, blocking-all common items for a con. struction project are also common to a o'factory built house."
The retailer can still be the main supplier to the builder, whether on-site or ofi. site. In the vernacular of the day, he can still "do his thing," furnishing lumber and building materials to the construction industry and, through good business methods, do so profitably.
