Gal ifornia fire marshal mandates new exterior wood product rules

Nr* . PRoDUCT REGrsrRATroN

I \ requirements are now in effect for exterior wood siding and decking products used in California's Wildland Urban Interface (WUD areas. Gone is the State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) generic recognition of many solid wood siding and decking products used in WUI areas made possible by the American Wood Council (AWC) and western lumber industry sponsored fire testing.

In its place, are new OSFM product registration requirements, which recognize AWC as the listing manufacturer for the compliant generic wood products. Each manufacturer must now register their products in OSFM's Building Material Listing program and have the required third-pany certifica- tion in order to use the AWC registration for product recognition.

Beginning in 2008, California implemented a new compliance program to meet the Wildland Urban Interface fire performance requirements of Chapter 7A of the California Building Code. Testing procedures were also put into place for exterior building products to determine compliance. The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is responsible for enforcing these provisions in State Responsibility Areas. Many local jurisdictions followed suit while others implemented more stringent requirements.

In response to the new WUI regulations, western lumber agencies and producers formed a task group under

BML Listings of Generic Wood Products

Generic Wood Product Category

Wood Decking, 5/4x6

Tongued & Grooved, Shiplap, Channel Shiplap, V Shiplap, Log Cabin, 1x6, horizontal and vertical applications

Tongued & Grooved, Shiplap, V Shiplap (Edge V One Side), 1x4, , horizontal and vertical applications

Rabbeted Bevel, 1x6

Board and Batten, 1x8 boards, 1.25" thick battens

Board on Board, '1x8, %" plylvood inserts the American Wood Council to conduct fire tests on exterior wood siding and decking products to determine compliant products.

To facilitate the transition to the new requirements, OSFM developed a WUI Product Handbook that provides a list of compliant products. OSFM envisioned this handbook as a listing of products by individual manufacturer, but agreed to a wood industry request for a "generic" listing of compliant wood products under "Various Manufacturers." The listings served as a convenient tool for builders and designers to determine which exterior wood siding and decking products could be used in Wildland Urban Interface areas. However, inclusion of the generic listings of wood products in the WUI Product Handbook was only intended as a transition step.

In 201 1, OSFM announced they were planning to move all products in the WUI Product Handbook, including generic wood products, to their Building Materials Listing Program (BML). Unlike the WUI Product Handbook, which only requires selfcertification to qualify as a compliant product, BML requires third-party certification and the application of the OSFM logo on certified products. Given the substantial change in the method of enforcement, OSFM agreed to meet with AWC representatives to discuss implementation details.

In October 2011, AWC met with senior state fire marshal representatives and reviewed the BML listing requirements. The meeting resulted in an agreement, which allowed AWC, while not a manufacturer. to carrv

BML listings without the need for a third-party certifier. Manufacturers of compliant wood products are then able to copy one or more of the AWC listings (see chart on previous page) as their own, provided they have an agreement with a Cal Fire approved third- party certifier. Western Wood Products Association and others have registered with Cal Fire and become approved certifiers. Interested manufacturers can contact WWPA or an OSFM approved third-party inspection agency for more information.

The WUI Product Handbook will be continued with two key changes. First, a BML listing will be a prerequisite to be included in the WUI Handbook, and each WUI Handbook listing would carry a reference to its BML twin. Second, generic wood products previously listed under "Various Manufacturers" will be replaced by a list of manufacturers that will include AWC and other manufacturers that have applied to copy the respective listing in BML.

Western Wood Confab

Western lumber producers return to Portland, Or., this spring for Western Wood Products Association's annual meeting. WWPA's annual meeting will be held March 11-12 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Portland.

Attendees will have two opportunities to network, first at the Sunday evening welcoming reception. The second opportunity to meet industry peers will be at the chairman's reception Monday evening. Both receptions feature WWPA's Exchange Show, where service affiliates exhibit industry leading services and products.

Monday's morning sessions kick off with WWPA's lumber forecast breakfast, followed by business meetings and an industry luncheon. The afternoon features guest speakers on topics of key interest to western lumber producers. The day will close with the chairman's reception, which offers many opportunities to network with other industry professionals.

Registration is $300 for WWPA members, $350 for \IVWPA associates, and $425 for all others. For those who would like to just network with industry professionals, WWPA is offering a special registration for the welcoming and chairman's receptions only for $100 each event.

Western Woods

By Bob Berg, RlSl