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f, PA-The Engineered Wood .CLAssociation's new performance-based standard for Ijoists may promise to make engineered wood easier to buy, specify and use, but the cost, claim leading manufacturers, could be turning the profitable products into slim margin commodities.

"The APA is well intentioned, if misdirected," says Denny Huston, sales and marketing manager-laminated veneer lumber products at APA member Boise Cascade. "A standard like this lowers the quality of the product and creates confusion in the marketplace."

"The problem is that the APA is proposing that all manufacturers publish the exact same design values for I-joists," says Tom Denig, president and c.e.o. of Trus Joist MacMillan. "It doesn't address the real issue, which is proper installation." To deliver its intended, optimum performance for the builder and the homeowner, says Denig, an I-joist framing system needs to be designed and installed properly, which requires education and training, as well as local technical support.

The "I" shape of these products also requires framing details, like web stiffeners and squash blocks, that are different from traditional building practices. "Similarity in manufacturing specifications won't change that," says Bill Walters, engineered wood products manager for Weyerhaeuser.

In fact, a performance standard for these products established by all Ijoist manufacturers has been in place since 1989 (ASTM D5055 which acts to guide in the establishment of design values). In addition, some manufacturers guarantee their products will be free from manufacturing defects, in some cases for the life of the structure.

Critics of the standard contend that if it becomes an industry norm, I-joist makers and their distributors will be forced to compete on price alone, which in the long term could eliminate local field reps and other services. "Without those services, we can't warranty the product," says Dick Yarbrough, division manager with APA member Louisiana-Pacific.

ble for 857o of North American production. "The vision of an I-joist standard is criticized only by those who are choosing to defend their own interests," charges Steve Killgore, general sales manager-engineered wood products for Willamette Industries. "When (they) say we're trying to make I-joists a commodity, they're really saying their marketing strategy will no longer work in a marketplace with a standard."

Killgore counters that a high level of service will continue to be an integral part of the selling process for engineered wood products, since all current manufacturers have some form of technical support, education process and method of job site assistance. Manufacturers and distributors should be able to promote these services to create brand differentiation.

the APA is proposing that all manufacturers publish the exact same design values for l-joists,"

Performance issues and warranty service also become muddied if Ijoists from different manufacturers are "mixed and matched," a supposed benefit of the standard. "I don't believe theAPA currently has the capacity or ability to support the products," says Yarbrough.

As well, given a minimum standard, manufacturers might lose the incentive to research and develop more efficient production materials and methods.

Yet supporters of the standard claim the dissenters arejust looking to protect their turf; the top three I-joist manufacturers combined are responsi-

With existing producers increasing capacity and new manufacturers coming on line, APA sees standardization which reduces confusion and increases ease of use as the surest way to create demand. Opponents, forecasting I-joist demand will increase 140V0 by the year 2000 independent of the standard, argue that the resulting lack of services, innovations and potential installation hassles may actually stagnate expansion. "It would likely slow the growth of an industry that is currently striving to help solve the commodity lumber price and quality issues," TJM's Denig says. "We don't want to go down that road as an industry or as a company."

Time will reveal how well distributors, specifiers, builders and code officials take to the standard, Killgore replies. "Ultimately, the market will speak for itself. A market will demand those productswhich are interchangeable and widely distributed."