Partners ln Prokction . . .

For the proper preservolion ef v66dFor the proper servicing of your cuslomers' best interesfsGET WOOD LIFE qnd WOODHEATTH NOW!

DISTRIBUTORS, rc

WAREHOUSES:

STOCKTON FNESNO. SAN JOSE

New1948Standard Gradins Rules

For Southern Pine Lumber

New Orleans, La., July 26-Distribution will be made this u,'eek of the new 1948 Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber, according to A. S. Boisfontaine, secretary-manager of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. These rules which are to become effective on September 1 will take the place of those that have been in effect since 1939. It is indicated that the new rules represent a decided improvement over the old ones and will better serve the needs of retailers and of lumber buyers generally.

"fn the 1948 edition," Mr. Boisfontaine stated, "every effort has been made to simplify the language and clearly state the intent of the rules. Many of the changes that have been made are based on recommendations of both wholesalers and retail distributors. There is now included in the rules for the first time a definition of random lengths, which offers additional protection to lumber buyers. Among the other new provisions are grade and size standards for OG Batts, bed slats and No. 3 lath. In a number of items, the general quality has been improved."

As far as grading classifications are concerned, the most important change in the 1948 rules is in relation to 2', dimension. Four grades of Southern Pine dimension are provided, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. No. 1 and No. 2 are both stress grades, being entitled to stress assignments of 1450F and 1100F respectively. The stress rating for No. l dense and No. l longleaf is 1700F;for No.2 dense and No. 2 longleaf, 1250F. These strsss ratings are primarily of interest to engineers, but it is believed that the development of the higher grades on a basis that enables the assignment of definite working stresses will help the retail distributor in those areas where the FHA span tables or building code requirements cause this to be an important consideration. It is felt that the ne.r,r,' classification on the whole will provide a better quality of Southern Pine dimension.

The ne'iv No. 2 grade has to be medium grain (at least 4 rings to the inch), and requires smaller knots on the edges of the piece. It is a decidely better product than the No. 2 of the past. The new grade of No. 3 dimension is much more restricted than under the 1939 rules, for it not only includes some of the lumber that has heretofore been classified as No. 2, but prohibits much of the low-line quality that was previously allowed in No. 3. This new No. 3 dimension grade does not permit waste, and definitely limits the size of allowable defects. It also allows much less scantness. It is believed that it will be used both in the industrial field and for the framing of small structures. No. 4 provides for waste of not more than one-fourth the length of any piece and has a rather liberal allowance for scantness.

According to the Bureau, the ideas of retail distributors played an important part in the development of the new No. 2 dimension grade. Dealers all over the country reported that dimension cut from fast-growing coarse-grain timber is unsatisfactory and urged that a limitation of at least four rings to the inch be included in this specification. The Bureau states that dimension produced under the new No. 2 grade will not only be less inclined to crook but will be a superior and more merchantable product from every standpoint.

The new rules also include for the first time a grade description for "D" finish, covering the quality that has been generally sold in recent years as "D" finish, or finish droppings. There are new length and bundling provisions for end-matched flooring, which also apply to other endmatched items. The percentages of short lengths that may be included in random length ghipments have been slightly increased.

Mr. Boisfontaine indicated that the initial distribution of the 1948 edition that is being made includes manufacturers, wholesalers. commission men and retail lumber dealers throughout the Southern Pine consuming territory. Extra copies are available from the SPIB at 25c apiece.