SPF testing confirms published design values

'pneltulNnRY rESr onrn analysis of I Spruce-Pine-Fir (South) lumber samples from the western mills indicates no change to SPF's lumber design values is needed.

A report on SPF by the cooperating agencies is being finalized for submission to the American Lumber

Standard Committee board of review at this writing. It is anticipated the board of review will consider the submission at their meeting later this month.

SPF is a U.S. commercial species combination similar to the Canadian SPF combination. The growth range of the species included in the group covers the western lumber producing region through the Great Lakes states and extends into New England. Lumber samples for the testing program in the West were taken from mills producing 2x4 lumber in Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and Sitka spruce.

The testing for the western lumber sample was conducted by Western Wood Products Association in cooperation with other western lumber agencies. Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association had previously conducted testing for the Northeast SPF production region and the Northern Softwood Lumber Bureau completed testing for the Great Lakes area earlier this year.

The published lumber design values are based on the in-grade lumber testing program. The testing plan was approved by the ALSC board of review. The plan required destructive testing of lumber samples in bending of SPF No. 2 2x4.

The preliminary data comparison to the SPF properties established in Building-Products.com the original in-grade testing program indicates no change is required to the currently published design values. The monitoring program affirms current uses and building code recognition. The recognized span data for the species group will also remain the same. Had the data indicated a shift in properties, the test findings would have reviewed by the cooperating agencies' memberships and appropriate actions taken.

The coordinating western lumber agencies, including Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau, Redwood

Inspection Service, Timber Products Inspection, West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, and Western Wood Products Association, have been working together since early 201I on the testing program to monitor western lumber design values.

Hem-fir will be sampled and tested rn 2014. The testing of western species lumber is conducted periodically to monitor for changes and to allow for timely actions to be taken, if needed, to support western lumber products.

By Craig Larsen, Softwood Lumber Export Council