November 3, 2011 NewsNote

SPIB’s Proposed Design Values Now Online

As a service to the industry, SFPA has posted the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau’s proposed design values for visually graded dimension lumber on its flagship website, SouthernPine.com. New links are posted on the home page, or click here to go directly to the new landing page for all information related to this much-discussed topic.  The design values proposed by SPIB are pending approval by the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) Board of Review. Prior to their next meeting – set for January 5, 2012 in Washington –  ALSC is soliciting written comments from all interested parties, to be submitted 10 days before the meeting. Direct comments to Tom Searles, ALSC President by fax to 301/540-8004, or by e-mail to alsc@alsc.org.

“SFPA is providing this information to all levels of the Southern Pine lumber manufacturing and supply chain, as a service to our members and their customers,” said SFPA President Adrian Blocker. “These proposed design values from SPIB will help the dialog progress to a better understanding of the process, the data and the impacts on our industry,” he added.

Also from this new landing page, visitors can review a collection of news releases with comprehensive background information, plus a collection of updated answers to 30 most frequently asked questions explaining the process and impacts of the SPIB proposal.  A link is provided to the current design values that remain effective until SPIB publishes new design values in its Supplement No.9 to the 2002 Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber sometime next year.

Soon, SFPA plans to make available online sample joist and rafter span tables based on SPIB’s proposed design values.  More detailed staff analyses will be made available to SFPA producer members.

“SFPA has worked cooperatively with SPIB and others to provide the latest facts and data regarding proposed design values in a timely manner,” said Cathy Kaake, SFPA’s senior director of engineered and framing markets. “We will continue to communicate information as it becomes available,” she added.  For more information on SPIB’s proposed design values, contact Cathy at 504/443-4464, ext. 213, or e-mail ckaake@sfpa.org.