FRED C.

Are you ready for Metric?

Bid quotes in metric will be required from all suppliers to federal agencies as ofOct. L, 1992.

Hoping to make U.S. producers more aware of the metric system which is standard in most industrial nations, President Bush charged the Commerce Department to lead the federal government in the switch.

In some cases adopting metric standards will require retooling, but it could increase exports significantly, in the opinion of many economic experts.

Petrified Wood From A Lab

University of Washington researchers can produce in days wood-ceramic compounds similar to petrified wood, which takes millions of yean to create.

While petrified wood is a rock hard material formed as minerals gradually seep into the wood's cells, the pores of the ceramic wood are filled with a silicon solution and the wood is cured in an oven. Less brittle than ceramic, they are said to become 2O% to I2O% sttonger and more mold and insect-resistant than wood.

Possibilities for the composites include structural uses and more durable floors and furniture.

Gode Ghanges Downgrade Wood

The National Association of Home Builders and the National Forest Products Association's American Wood Council are challenging the reasoning of restrictive model building code changes that may add as much as $4 billion to the cost of housing in this country.

Proposed seismic provisions could add 5% to the cost of housing nationally with wind-load provisions increasing housing costs in the southeast from IO- OVo.

NAHB and AWC oppose the proposed provisions which ignore wood's favorable performance under earthquake and wind conditions in addition to reducing the cost competitiveness of wood frame construction.

Panel Exports to Rebound

After a IO% 1991 decline, U.S. structural wood panel exports are forecast to rebound 6% tlisyen,predicted the American Plywood Association.

APA cited declining European economic growth, due in part to the Persian Gulf War, as the primary factor in the fall to 1.42 billion sq. ft. of foreign shipments of U.S. softwood plywood and OSB last year from 1990's record 1.59 billion sq. ft. Exports should near 1.5 billion sq. ft. for 1992.

The United Kingdom remained by far the largest importer of U.S. structural panels (23% of the total), followed by Canada, Mexico, Belgium/ Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and Japan.

While foreign exports are only about 6% of total market demand for U.S. structural panels, they have increased dramatically in recent years. Exports, forexample, rose to 1990's 1.59 billion sq. ft. worth nearly $302 million from 1985's 300 million sq. ft. estimated at $75 million.

Residents Gan't Halt Depot

Independent retailers aren't the only ones upset about the latest Home Depot coming to townso are the residents.

Mission Viejo, Ca., city council members voted 4-1 to approve plans to build a Home Depot despite the objections of angry homeowners who packed City Hall.

Residents said the store would ruin their view, harm property values, light the area too brightly at night, worsen traffic and cause noise. Some homeowners, who paid up to $7,00O extra for a view of the hills, said that when they boughttheirhomes they were promised other houses would be constructed on the l0 acre site.

PAST PRESIDENTS night for San Diego HooHoo Club honored nine long time members with president Dave Espinoza presenting them with plaques. Snark Jeff Loth, Supreme 9 board member Dave Jones and chairman of the board Brenl Crosby were among those aflending the March 19 meeling of the lumbermen's fraternal organization.

PACIFIC FOBEST PRODUCTS, INC.

OFF ROAD RACERS Jerry Higman, Beliable Wholesale, Huntington Beach, Ca., (left) and Dave Buf6, Mesa Forest Products, Cosla Mesa, Ca., won $1368 for their 2nd in class f inish in the SCORE 250, a bone janing 263 mile race loop around San Felipe, Mexico, The prize is their first since beginning racing logether in 1987. The otf road class 10 dune buggy, powered by a well-modified 1 10 hp Volkswagen engine, runs in the 1650 c.c. class. Even with the win, Buf6 noted, "we still haven't broken even," The team plans at least two more major races this year.