4164 Treated Wood Posts

Section 4164. Treated Wood Posts.

4164.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
When dried, either kiln dried or air dried, all posts shall be free from bends in more than one plane and free from short or reverse bends, and a straight line from the centers of the ends of a spot shall not deviate from the longitudinal axis of the post at any point more than 0.5% of the length of the post.

All posts furnished shall meet the requirements for one of the classes listed below, as specified in the contract documents:

Round Wood Posts
Sawed Wood Posts
Wood Sign Posts

Inspection arrangements shall be in accordance with Materials I.M. 462. The cost of inspection shall be included in the unit price bid for the material specified.

4164.02 ROUND WOOD POSTS.
All round wood posts shall be cut from live sound, solid trees. They shall contain no unsound knots. Sound knots will be permitted provided the width of the knot does not exceed 30% of the diameter of the piece at the point where it occurs, or a maximum of 2 1/2 inches (65 mm). Posts shall be free from decayed wood, rot, red heart, ring shake, season checks more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) wide, and splits in the end. When measured over the outer 2 inches (50 mm) of a radial line from the pith, Douglas Fir posts shall show not less than five annual rings per inch (25 mm), and pine posts shall show not less than three annual rings per inch (25 mm) and not less than 30% summerwood. Posts shall not show spiral grain exceeding one quarter turn in 10 feet (3 m). Groups of knots, or any combination of defects which impair the strength more than maximum size knots, will not be permitted.

A. Species.
The species of wood in posts shall be that called for in the contract documents. Unless otherwise specified, fence posts shall be pine, and other round posts shall be either Douglas Fir (coast region) or Southern Pine.

B. Size.
The size of posts will be specified by nominal 1 inch (25 mm) increments of diameter at the top. Posts will be accepted only when the top diameter equals the specified dimension or exceeds it by not more than 1 inch (25 mm). This diameter shall be determined from the circumference, after peeling, divided by 3.14.

C. Length.
Round wood posts will be furnished in the length specified, ą 2%.

D. Straightness.
Posts shall be free from short or reverse bends and bends in more than one plane. A straight line from center of tip to center of butt shall not deviate from the center of the post by more than 2% of the length of the post.

E. Quality of Work.
All posts shall be peeled for their full length, and all bark and inner skin shall be removed. The part of the post which will remain out of the ground shall be shaved clean and free from glazed surface left by dried sap. All knots or projections shall be shaved smooth and flush with the surface of surrounding wood.

4164.03 SAWED WOOD POSTS.
Sawed wood posts shall conform to the shape and nominal dimensions for rough stock and shall meet the applicable requirements of Section 4162. The minimum grade for treated sawed wood guardrail posts, 5 inches by 5 inches (125 mm by 125 mm) and larger shall be No. 1 or better Douglas Fir (coast region) or No. 1 or better Southern Pine in accordance with the minimum strength requirements of AASHTO M 168.

4164.04 WOOD SIGN POSTS.
Wood sign posts shall be either Douglas Fir (coast region) or Southern Pine and shall be graded as provided in ASTM D 245 according to rules approved by the Board of Review of the American Lumber Standards Committee.

Douglas Fir posts shall be of the following grades and nominal size, and shall be free of heart centers:

     4" x 4" (100 mm x 100 mm) - "No. 2" - Structural Light Framing;
     4" x 6" (100 mm x 150 mm) - "Dense No. 2" - Structural Joist and Plank;

Southern Pine posts shall be of the following grades and nominal size:

     4" x 4" (100 mm x 100 mm) - No. 2 Dense;
     4" x 6" (100 mm x 150 mm) - No. 1 Dense;

Nominal 4 inch by 4 inch (100 mm by 100 mm) sign posts in lengths up to 14 feet (4.3 m) may be furnished in species Northern Pine (Norway, Red Pine), Grade No. 1, in accordance with Northeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association Rules.

Posts shall be furnished in the size and length specified and shall conform to the following for the size designated:

A. Posts a nominal 4 inches by 4 inches (100 mm by 100 mm) shall be furnished S4S and shall be sawed square at both ends. Posts shall be bored with 10 holes 7/16 inch (11 mm) in diameter at nominal 6 inch (150 mm) spacing (center to center) with the first hole being 3 inches (75 mm) from one end of the post. The spacing and alignment of holes shall be within nominal 1/16 inch (2 mm) of true center line and distance.

B. Posts a nominal 4 inches by 6 inches (100 mm by 150 mm) shall be furnished S4S and shall be sawed square at both ends. Posts shall be bored through the 6 inches (150 mm) thickness with 15 holes 7/16 inch (11 mm) in diameter at 6 inch (150 mm) spacing (center to center) with the first hole being 3 inches (75 mm) from one end of the post. The spacing and alignment of holes shall be within 1/16 inch (2 mm) of true center line and distance.

4164.05 PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT.
All boring and framing shall be done before treatment. Unless otherwise provided, posts shall be given preservative treatment in accordance with Section 4161.

4164.06 INSPECTION.
Posts shall be inspected before treatment. Inspection and acceptance shall be in accordance with Materials I.M. 462. Wood posts shall be inspected for quality and straightness before acceptance for treatment, and posts which do not meet the requirements shall not be treated. The treating process will be inspected at the treating plant. Posts will be inspected after treatment for straightness, and posts which do not meet the requirements will be rejected. Posts rejected after treatment may be subjected to steam treatment in the treating chamber while loaded in such manner as to remove or minimize the bends and bows and will be inspected for straightness again. Posts so steamed will be accepted if they comply with the requirements for straightness.