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WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

HE American Lumber Standards Committee met in San Francisco, Nov. 12, to discuss what has been happening in lumber grading over the past year and to look at the future.

The representation of members and guests was probably as high as anyone has seen since the adoption ofPS 20-70. Even though not many changes are taking place, the interest in proper grading of lumber still exists.

Herb McKean, who has been a long time member of the Board of Review, outlined its function.

The board's responsibility is to make certain that the standards adopted by the American Lumber Standards Committee are met. The standard being Product Standard 20-70, American Softwood Lumber. The fact that we still are using virtually the same standard today as was promulgated in 1970 speaks well for the industry. Other industries are changing frequently.

Each agency is checked periodically with the sample consisting of 50/o of each agency's members.ranging from small to large. These samples are selected and checked twice per year. Below grade material is held for the agency to see so that corrective measures can be taken with the mill and grader to bring the grading up to the ALSC standard.

In addition to the ALS graders making checks, each agency is required to check their graders at least once a month and file a report on them. Some operations are checked more than once a month. Quality control is necessary to make certain the standard works for the benefit of the industry.

Fraudulent and deceptively similar grade stamping as well as mill stamps were discussed at length. The feeling by some agencies was that as much as 100/o of all lumber produced was not graded to ALS Standards and carried a stamp that was either fraudulent or similar to a certified agency stamp or a mill stamp. This practice is not prevalent in the West, but it could be. Seemingly, most of the problems are in the South.

Since we have little of it in the West doesn't mean the wholesalers and retailers should become complacent. It can happen here and has.

ALSC publishes a facsimile sheet showing all agencies certified by them. LASC usually takes the sheet and reproduces it to give to each building department and job superintendent as various jobs are visisted. Having a familiarity with the certified agencies stamps can be most helpful to lumber yard personnel, construction site people and particularly building departments whose job it is to approve all the material used.

The facsimile sheets should be available through your association or through the American Lumber Standards Committee office in reasonable quantities. The phone number is (301) 972-1700.

To insure getting properly graded material by a certified agency, all your purchase orders should request that all lumber shipped on the P.O. will be grade stamped by an ALSC certified agency.

It's important to recognize that the

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Lumberiack Enters No. Nevada

Payless Cashways has expanded into new territory Northern Nevadawith two new Lumberjack stores in Sparks, Nv.

The first store opened Nov. l5 on a 4.9 acre site with a 47,500 sq. ft. main store and a 20,600 sq. ft. lumber area. It employs 70 people and anchors the new $50 million Baring Village shopping center.

The second Sparks outlet, a 48,000 sq. ft. Lumberjack at So. Virginia St. and Zolezzi Lane, is set to open around the first of the year.

Payless Cashways, based in Kansas City, Mo., owns 190 stores in 23 states, including two Lumberjacks in Las Vegas, Nv.

Al Meier's Center Expands

Al Meier's Building Centers doubled the size of its Federal Way, Wa., retail space and increased its yard space by 50% in an expansion finished late in November. A grand opening sale under the direction of manager Tim Borg followed.

Expansion of at least one additional Al Meier's in the Pierce County, Wa., area is planned.