TYPICAL QUALITY GRADE MARKS

UNDER AMERICAN LUMBER STANDARD COMMITTEE (ALSC)

All untreated and treated timber and lumber products that require a grade shall be made from untreated wood that has been graded in accordance with Specification 4162-4164 requirements and in accordance with the Grading Rules as described herein. Each piece shall bear a legible grade mark from an accredited agency and contain the information as shown on this Appendix.

APPROVED GRADESTAMPS CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEB AT:

http://www.alsc.org/greenbook%20collection/LumberProgram_facsimile.pdf

The Board of Review of the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) has certified the following rules for grading:

Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber; published by the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB), 4709 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, FL 32504; phone 850-434-2611; fax 850-433-5594

Standard Grading Rules for West Coast Lumber; published by the West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB), Box 23145, Portland, OR 97281-3145; phone 503-639-0651; fax 503-684-8928

Western Lumber Grading Rules; published by the Western Wood Products Association (WWPA), 522 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204-2122; phone 503-224-3930; fax 503-224-3934

With few exceptions (See Note A), ALL approved grade stamps include the following five elements:

Visually Graded Lumber:

a.   Trademark – indicates identity of agency quality supervision

b.   Mill Identification – product manufacturer name, brand or assigned mill number

c. Grade Designation – grade name (number or abbreviation)

d. Species Identification – name or abbreviation of individual species or species combination

e. Condition of Seasoningª - moisture content classification at time of surfacing

1 S-Dry – 19% maximum moisture content

2 MC15 – 15% maximum moisture content

3 KD – kiln-dried to moisture content indicated in grading rules

4 S-Gm – over 19% moisture content (unseasoned)

      ª HT – designation for Heat-Treated – while not a seasoning designation, the abbreviation HT may be found in conjunction with the above seasoning abbreviations (See notes below). The HT definition can be found in the grading rules.

Grade Stamp Layout – The placement of the required elements within a grade stamp may vary, depending on the preferences of the specific supervising agency. The sample grade stamp facsimiles that accompany the agency listing herein provide a good example of the typical placement of elements preferred by that particular agency. Contact the agency, whose trademark appears on the lumber, for specific information related to the agency’s grade stamping policies.

NOTE A: Grade stamps for timbers are not required to include the condition of seasoning. An approved grade stamp may include only a) trademark, b) mill identification, and c) HT designation. Grade stamps are permitted to include information that is not required, so long as the additional information is not confusing, misleading or deceptive. Contact the agency, whose trademark appears on the lumber, for specific information related to the agency’s grade stamping policy.

American Lumber Standard Committee, Inc.

P.O. Box 210, Germantown, MD 20875-0210

      310-972-1700 (phone)     301-540-8004 (fax)   alsc@alsc.org (e-mail)    www.alsc.org