New Standards Promise Boost in Lumber Markets

The lumber industry is moving at a quickened pace toward development of a nerv system o,f sizes, grades and standards designed to make softwood Iumber easier to specify, purchase and use for light construction purposes.

Final action on the svstem will climax a two-year effort- by a Special Committee on Grade Simolification and Standardization of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association.

One of the few remaining hurdles to industry adoption of the piogram was cleared May 5 when proposed size standards for green and dry lumber were submitted to the American Lumber Standards Committee representing such varied interests as the railroads, builders, architects, engineers, lumber manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

The American Lumber Standards Committee is expected to accept or reject the recommended sizes, on the basis of comments received from members, at a meeting next September.

The new sizes would appiy to boards and dimension. No change would be made in standard widths but two new size standards would be established for thicknesses, one for seasoned lumber (19 per cent moisture content or lower) and the other for unseasoned stock, as follows : mendations which constitute a significant part of the grade standardization program being presented to regional lumber associations and the agencies responsible for development of grading rules.

At that meeting, the committee unanimously approved these names for the proposed new grades:

_ Appearance Grades-I. Supreme,

2. Premium, 3. Special.

Boards Grades-l. Select Standard,

2. Standard, 3. Utility. Dimension Gradesi-l. Select Standard,2. Standard, 3. Utility.

In other actions, the committee :

(1) Recommended preparation of a booklet to explain the proposed new program to lumber dealers, wholesalers, builders and other industry consumer groups. The booklet, "A itandardized System of Lumber Grades and Sizes for Light Constructio,n," was available by July 1 and is slated to be given broad distribution among lumber manufacturers, distributors and users.

(2) Urged constmction in various sections of the country of demonstration houses using new dry lumber sizes-,srt-inch sheathing and lfi-inch dimension-proposed by the program.

(3) Asked industry grading agencies to prepare and exchange drafts of detailed grade requirements and defini- five categories of lumber grades and species. An alphabetical designation (,{, B, C, etc.) would be a part of the grade mark on each piece of dimension lumber, to identify the allowable span permitted for its use as a joist or rafter.

Program Called "Major Step"

Arthur Temple, Jr., President of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association and a dealer in the drive for adoption of the new sizes, grades and standards, described the program as "a major step toward making lumber, already the most versatile constrlrction material available to man, even easier to specify and use."

Mr. Temple explained that the new system will put lumber on "an equal footing with competitive materials that are produced and marketed under uniform standards widely recognized in the design and construction fields." He added:

"The new board thicknesses proposed by this system can be produced, shipped, handled and installed at a more competitive cost than presently possible. In addition, the new board thicknesses will facilitate fastening with automatic nailing equipment and will provide greater strength and nail holding ability than competiti ve sheathing products.

NLMA Committee Finalizes Program

Headed bv Philip E. Frankfort of Southwest -Forest' Industries, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz, NLMA's Special Committ'ee on Grade Simplification and Standardization met in Beverly Hills, California, May 8 to put the finishing touches on grade and size recom- tions within the next 45 days, the ob- ject being to promote uniformity of grade descriptions between regions, based upon comparable levels of qual- ity between species.

(4) Requested NLMA's Technical Advisory Committee to prepare simpli- fied joist and rafter span tables for

"Although this new system is aimed primarily at expanding the use of lumber in its major market-light construction-it also provides a sound, practical answer to repeated requests from building code, FHA and government specifying agencies that our industry take steps to make lumber grades and standards more meaning{ul.

"Adoption of the system by the lumber industry will constitute an immediate and effective step to safeguard and expand the use of lumber in the light construction field."

(Cont'rnued, on Page 26)