Red Cedar Shingle Bureau Announces New Grading Rules

In announcing the new grading rules for Red Cedar shingles which became effective July 1, and will cover shingles manufactured in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, the Red Cedar Shingle Bur,eau, Seattle, Wash., states :

"The principal reason for the change is that when put into effect the Fire Llnderwriters will raise no objection to the use of quality shingles on homes in uncong€sted districts of a city. The new Building Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters will no longer carry a clause prohibiting wood shingles within the city limits and the appendix of the Code will contain a clause providing for the use of quality shingles, which the city is advised it may use if it desires to permit them.

"All this provided we manufacture and promote the use of a first-grade edge grain shingle for roofs and that we certify and identify such shingles by label' The lower grades must also be identified as such and all 6/2" shingles eliminated. This is the basis of the new grades: all No. 1 Grades are edge grain 5/2" and thicker and the other grades are to be marked or branded No. 2 Grade and No. 3 Grade, except that in the case of the No. 2 Grade 16" 5p' Shingle and the No. 2 Grade lg' 5/7' Dimensions, which shingles are to be 16% clear, the grade number will be omitted from the brand and such shingles will be branded "mixed grain." These changes are not so radical as they might seem.

"The No. 1 Grades of 24", 18", and 1B' lengths are the present grades of Royals, Perfections, and XXXXX or Perfects.

"The No. 2 Grades are the No. 2 Royal 16" clear, the No. 2 Perfection 12" clear and the Extra Clear raised to lffi/o clear.

"The No. 3 Grades are the No. 3 Royal 10" clear, a new grade of No. 3 Perfection 8" clear, and the 10/' Clear now raised to practically the 5//' Star-A-Star.

"As a part of the program application was made to the Bureau of Standards of the U. S. Department of Commerce for a commercial standard of quality based on 5/7' edge grain as a minimum, enabling us to certify by label to be issued by the Red Cedar Shingle Bureau that the shingles bearing the label meet all the requirements of the U. S. Commercial Standard. This will meet the demand of the Underwriters and will greatly increase consumer confidence in our product.

"Manufacturers representing over 85% ol the production in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia have signed the acceptance and approval of these grades with the U. S. Department of Commerce.

"In order to simplify manufacturing practice, the U. S. Commercial Standard was established on the square pack, that is to say enough shingles contained in the unit to lay 100 sq. ft at the prescribed weather exposure. To pack No. 1 Grades by the square and other grades by the M would cause confusion, so it was decided to make everything uniform and pack all shingles by the square. This will not only simplify the mangfacturers' and retailers' problems, but will place wood shingles in direct price comparison with other roofings, which are all sold by the square.

"As stocks of shingles on hand at both the retail yards and at the mills are probably the lowest in many years, this is an opportune time to make these necessary changes and we believe they will be welcomed anil promptly adopted by all branches of the Industry."