F.H.A. Requirements on Grqde-Morking of Frqming qnd Boqrd Lumber Now Effective

Federal Housing Administration Washington 25, D.C.

Federal Housing Commissioner Julian H. Zimmerman today reminded the home-building industry that Cladgmarking of board and framing lumber used in housing built under FHA inspection becomes mandatory April 1, as a further step to protect home buyers and to assure quality in homes on which FHA insures mortages.

The Commissioner first announced the grade-marking requirement last November 13, reiterating the announcement at this time to eliminate any confusion among builders and dealers as to the effective date, reports the National Retail Lumber Dealers Assn.

"This means that all framing and sheithing lumber for use in FHA-insured houses must be grade-marked on and after April 1," Mr. Zimmerman said. "Lumber produced in the United States will be grade-marked by associations and independent agencies which have been recognized by the Americau Lumber Standards Committee.

"As far as lumber imported from Canada is concerned, the various Canadian lumber manufacturers' associations have prepared gracle marks which will be acceptecl by FHA effective April 1. Grademarking by these Canadian associations will be in operation by this date on an interim basis." There are nine acceptecl associations in Canada whose grade n'rarkings will be reco"nizecl until September l:

(1) Alberta Forest Proclucts Association, Eclmonton, Alberta.

(2) British Columbia Lumber Manufacturers Association, Vancouver, British Columbia.

(3) Canadian Lumbermen's Association, Ottawa, Ontario (including Spruce Bureau and Pine Ilureau).

(4) Cariboo-PGE Lumber Manufacturers Association, Vatrcouver, British Columbia..

(5) Interior Lumber Manufacturers Associatiotr, Penticton, B. C.

(6) Maritime Lumber Bureau, Amherst, Nova S:cotia.

(7) Northern Interior Lumbermen's Association, Prince Gcorge, British Columbia.

(8) Quebec Lumber Manufacturers Association, Quebec, Quebec.

(9) Saskatchewan Timbel Roard, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The Commissioner explained that a Canadian Lumber Standards Committee of the Canadian Standards Association is being estahlishe<l to fulfill the same purpose for Canadian Lumber exported to the United States for FHA projects as that performecl for U. S. lurnber by the American Lunrber Standards Committee.

"By September 1, the procedure qualifying recognized Canadian associations will have been completed by the Canadian Lunrber Standards Committee," Conrmissioner Zimmernran said. "Grademarl<ing practices in both the United States antl Canada witl be similar."

. LUMBER GRADING AGENCIES

The following associations and inclependent ir-rspection agencies are amorlg those whicl.r have subrnitted their qualifications to, and have beeu recognized by the An-rerican Lumber Standards Committee, \\Iashington, D.C., to grade the species for u'hich listed:

ASSOCIATIONS WHICH PUBLISH GRADING RULES Association Symbol Rules Species

California Redwood Assn. CRA Own Redwood, California

576 Sacramento Street

San Francisco 11. California

West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau WCLTB

1410 S.W. Morrison Street

Portland 5, Oregon

Western Pine Assn.

Yeon Building

Portland 4, Oregon

Douglas Fir, Coast Region Fir, White Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Western Spruce, Sitka Douglas Fir, Rocky Mountain Region Fir, White Larch, Westeln

WPA Sugar)

Own Red Ccdar, Western Own Spruce, Engelmann.

INDEPENDENT INSPECTION AGENCIES Agency Rules

Species

Pine, Western White (includes Irlaho, Lorlgepole , Ponclerosa and Lumber Inspection llureau

Species listed uncfer West Coast 451 "A" Avenue Oswego, Oregon

Bode Inspection Bureau WCLI B

California Lunrber Inspection Service WCLI t]

1190 Lincoln Avenue

San Jose, California WPA CRA

Gen. Testing & Insp. WCLIB

2019 N. Kilpatrick Portland 17, Oregon WP;\ CRA

Species liste<l under West Coast I.umber Inspcction Ilureau

Species listed under Western Pine Association

Rc<lwood, California

Species listed undcl Wcst Coast Lumber Inspcction Ilureau

Species listed urrcler Western Pine Association

Species listed under California Redwood Association on Page 7)

Fuller Explonotion of New Ylf. P. A. Ruling on Froming Grodes

It has come to our attention that the first paragraph in the Western Pine Association story, o,n Page 2 ol the March 15 issue, was not as complete as it should have been. The association has now amplified it to make it clear that FHA approval of equal stresses for Douglas Fir, regardless of origin, applies to Select Structural, Construction and Standard, or their equivalent in the old WPA rules; when used for joists and rafters. It does not apply to special designs or engineered construction. Approval is for an interim period to the end of this year and then is subject to A.S.T.M. approval. It is expected that adequate test data will be made available to A.S.T.M. so that accurate, permanent stress values can be assigned.

So that this explanation will be propcrly embodied in the news story, we reprint the new regulation as follows:

Portland-With its inland Douglas Fir and Larch officially recognized by FHA for strength value equality with Coast-type Fir for joists and rafters, the Western Pine Association at its meeting in San Francisco, March 5, took action to standardize f raming lumber grades. Grading rules and grade irames identi&l with thole of the Wesi Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau were adopted for Dimen- sion lumber, the chauge to go into effect as sooll as gra<lers can be trained in the new system.

FHA approval of equal stresses for Douglas Fir, regardless of origin, applies to Select Structural, Constructior.r ar.rd Standard grades, or their equivalent, in tl.re olcl \\resterr.r Pine rules, when used for joists and rafters, it was explained by W. E. Griffee, secretary-manager of the association. An FHA letter announcing the approval was read to the meeting.

"The action by FHA does not apply to special clesigr.rs or engineered construction," Griffee said. "Approval is for an interim oeriod-to the encl of this vear-and ther.r is subject to A.S'.T.M. ratification. It is eipected that adequate test data will be made available to A.S.T.M. so that accurate, permanent stress values can be assigned within the time allotted."

Western Pine directors approved a comprehensive testitlg program by independent agencies to develop new strength information to supplement stress data already compiled in the industry's long drive for ecluality recognition for all Fir, grade for grade.