hm - Dec12 - cover.indd - National Hardwood Lumber Association

RULES
CORNER
INSPECTION OF SURFACED LUMBER
By Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector
One of the more confusing Rules associated with surfaced lumber
seems to be when it is surfaced to the standard rough thickness such
as 4/4 (1") lumber after kiln drying which allows for 1/16" scant
for shrinkage now being 15/16". If lumber is sold as S2S or Surfaced
Hit or Miss, the key being that it is sold as surfaced and represented
as such on the contract, it is to be inspected from the better face.
One thing that must be considered is the amount of skip and
whether or not it will clean up at the standard surfaced thickness
in this case being 13/16".
Below is the page from the 2011 NHLA Rules Book which explains
this Rule.
“INSPECTION OF SURFACED LUMBER”
Surfaced lumber S2S shall be inspected according to the
established grades under the caption of the respective woods,
with the following exceptions:
The “Clear-Face” Cutting Grade
In those grades determined on a defect basis, the missed portion
of the board shall be sufficiently thick to permit dressing to the
next standard thickness for dressed lumber, except where the
board may have wane or its equivalent, and provided that not
over one-third of the area of the board in the aggregate may
be skipped.
Lumber specified “hit or miss” to a finished thickness more than
1/16" thicker than standard thickness for dressed lumber will
admit unlimited skipped areas, provided that the missed portion
of the required cutting area is sufficiently thick to surface to the
next lower standard thickness for dressed lumber.
The important thing to remember is that surfaced lumber is
inspected from the better face as opposed to the poor face, due
to some defects that have been exposed that were not possible to
see in the rough. Contact Chief Inspector Dana Spessert by email at
d.spessert@nhla.com or by phone at 901-399-7551.
The grade shall be determined from the better face of the piece.
Paragraphs 56, 57, 58, 60 on pages 14–15 apply to both faces in
FAS and to the better face in F1F and Selects. The reverse side of
the cuttings in both FAS and No. 1 Common are not required to
be sound for the standard grades of F1F and Selects.
Slight skips, chipped or torn grain will be admitted on the better
face of the required cuttings, the aggregate area not exceeding 6"
long by the width of the piece in FAS; 12" long by the width of
the piece in F1F and Selects; 18" long by the width of the piece
in No. 1 Common, No. 2A and No. 2B Common and No. 3A
Common and on the reverse side in aggregate area not exceeding
one-third of the surface of the required cuttings.
Surfaced Lumber “Hit or Miss”
Lumber ordered dressed “hit or miss” shall be inspected as
provided for lumber dressed two sides except that, in the cutting
grades, the missed portion in the required cutting area shall
be sufficiently thick to permit dressing to the next standard
thickness for dressed lumber, provided, however, that not
over one-third of the required cutting area of the board in the
aggregate may be skipped.
WWW.NHLA.COM DECEMBER 2012 HARDWOOD MATTERS 9