Design Value Forum Report Submitted to SPIB and ALSC

The results of a working session of Southern Pine lumber producers, component manufacturers, builders, lumber dealers and technical experts regarding proposed design values for visually graded Southern Pine lumber are now available in a 31-page report. This report was recently submitted to the Board of Governors of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC), and the ALSC Board of Review.  This document can be downloaded from the Proposed Design Values landing page on www.southernpine.com.

The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) facilitated the Southern Pine Design Value Forum, held November 15-16 in Atlanta. “The forum included representatives from a wide cross section of stakeholders.” says Cathy Kaake, SFPA’s senior director of engineered and framing markets. “SPIB and ALSC were asked to give careful and deliberate consideration to this report to ensure that sound science prevails, disruptions in the marketplace are minimized, and confidence in the process is restored,” Cathy added.

The last major change for visually graded dimension lumber occurred in 1991 when design values for Southern Pine and other North American species were published based on In-Grade testing of full-size samples of commercially produced lumber. SPIB is the first rules-writing agency to submit new values. Rules-writing agencies responsible for other species are in different stages for evaluating design values.

Complete information about SPIB’s proposed design values for visually graded dimension lumber is available at www.southernpine.com.

All information related to SPIB’s proposed design values is pending approval by the ALSC Board of Review. Prior to the Board of Review’s next meeting – set for January 5, 2012 in Washington, DC – ALSC is soliciting written comments from all interested parties, to be received no later than December 22, 2011. Direct comments to Tom Searles, ALSC President by fax to 301/540-8004, or by e-mail to alsc@alsc.org.

SFPA does not test lumber or establish design values. SFPA’s primary function is to market lumber products and to help users understand Southern Pine grading rules and design values.