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The International Residential Code (IRC) stipulates that lumber bearing a grade stamp (or lumber inspected by an authorized official) is required in specified structural applications. Most sawmill businesses in ºÚÁÏÉçappdon't operate at an economy of scale which justifies the cost of membership with an accredited lumber grading agency, preventing the use of most locally produced lumber in homebuilding where the IRC is implemented. The ºÚÁÏÉçappLumber Grading Program's purpose is to allow in limited circumstances the use of structural lumber that is not grade-stamped in residential home construction.

Dimension lumber is an industry product category of sawn lumber within a specific size range and application: nominal 2" - 4" thickness, by 2" and greater width, and which is used for framing. It's often called "framing lumber."

 

No. The program applies to dimension lumber for light-frame wood home construction.

In 2005, the American Lumber Standard Committee published design values for 3 species groups, comprising a total of 5 ºÚÁÏÉçappsoftwood tree species. These 5 species underwent a mechanical properties testing program conducted by the Ketchikan Wood Technology center in conjunction with the Western Wood Products Association.

The ºÚÁÏÉçapplumber grading system applies exclusively to these 5 species for which we have documented strength property data, which allows for integration into building code requirements.. These species are: white spruce, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, mountain hemlock and ºÚÁÏÉçappyellow cedar.

The certificate is obtained by completing the one-day ºÚÁÏÉçappLumber Grading Program certification training and passing the proficiency test. The certificate is valid for 5 years and can be renewed by re-taking the training.

The ºÚÁÏÉçappLumber Grading Program certification training will be provided on at least an annual basis in the following regions: Interior, Southeast, and Southcentral. Additional dates and locations can be accommodated. Fill out the to let us know where you'd like a lumber grading training to be offered

Here's a list of previous training locations.

There is no cost to enroll in the course. Registration is required to attend.

As a provision of AS 41.17.630, local building code officials retain authority to allow, reject, or require modifications to the use of structural lumber graded under the ºÚÁÏÉçappLumber Grading Program.

Municipal building departments are encouraged to contact the ºÚÁÏÉçappLumber Grading Program for detailed information about how the program works and how it compares to the existing grademark standards.