UU.| •691,1 .... So8dr2 I _ Southern Yellow Pine Timbers INCLUDING DEFINITION OF THE “Density Rule ** Authorized Reprint from the Copyrighted Standards of the American Society for Testing Materials APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE Southern Pine Association NEW ORLEANS, LA. JANUARY 1 , 1917 Supersedes all previous issues. UNIVERSITY OF Illinois library AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN. BQQKSTACKS Standard Specifications for Grades of Southern Yellow Pine Lumber, not includ¬ ing Grades of Timbers, are published in a separate book which may be obtained upon application to the SOUTHERN PINE ASSOCIATION New Orleans, La. *>9l.\ 5 * yjh'Z Southern Yellow Pine Timber Grades The Grades of Timbers are as follows: Page Heart Timbers.13 No. 1 Common Timbers.13 Square Edge and Sound Timbers.15 Merchantable Timbers.15 Select Structural Material.17 0Bf I T HAS been recognized for a good many years by both the manufactur¬ ers and consumers of Southern Yellow Pine that a constructive and simple method for classifying various classes of southern yellow pine for structural pur¬ poses would find wide application and fill a long required need. The three botanical species of yellow pine, namely long leaf, short leaf and loblolly, frequently inter¬ grade, so far as their density is concerned, and much misunderstanding has resulted from time to time because of the lack of a practical method for determining wheth¬ er any particular class of yellow pine was adapted for the purpose intended. Real¬ izing this condition, the Southern Pine Association has actively co-operated with the United States Forest Service and the American Society for Testing Materials for the, purpose of finding some such method for distinguishing the various classes of pine for structural purposes. The American Society for Testing Mate¬ rials made a preliminary suggestion for grading the southern pines in its report 3 fit Ur PREFACE^'* for 1909. The rule proposed was based on the number of rings per inch. This rule was widely used, but was found too indefinite for final adoption. As a result of careful study of many trees of all species, a method was devised by the United States Forest Service, which was adopted by the Southern Pine Association in January, 1915, and which was presented in detail to the American Society for Testing Materials at its annual convention and subsequently adopted by the Society as standard in August, 1915. Based on this density rule, a new classification for structural yellow pine timbers has been established which elimi¬ nates the names “long leaf,” “short leaf” and “loblolly” pines. The new rule pro¬ vides two classes: Dense Southern Yel¬ low Pine and Sound Southern Yellow Pine. Dense Southern Yellow Pine in¬ cludes the best pieces of what has hitherto been known as long leaf pine, and ex¬ cludes the occasional pieces of inferior quality, for structural purposes. It also includes those pieces of short leaf pine, Cuban pine and loblolly pines, which, be¬ cause of their density and high percent¬ age of summer wood, are equal in strength to long leaf pine, as shown from numerous 4 tests by the United States Forest Service and many other well known authorities. In the following pages will be found reprinted the designation for Southern Yellow Pine as adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials, August 21, 1915, also the specifications for the various grades of timbers as offered by the manu¬ facturers of Southern Yellow Pine who are Subscribers to the SOUTHERN PINE ASSOCIATION, New Orleans, La., U.S.A. January 1, 1917. Note: This issue of Specifications for Southern Yellow Pine Timbers supersedes all previous issues. 5 DEFINITION FOR SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE (.Authorized reprint from the copy¬ righted Standards of The American Society for Testing Materials, Philadel¬ phia, Pa.) SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE.—This term includes the species of yellow pine growing in the Southern States from Virginia to Texas, that is, the pines hith¬ erto known as long leaf pine (Pinus palus- tris), short leaf pine (Pinus echinata), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), Cuban pine (Pinus heterophylla) and pond pine (Pinus serotina). Under this heading two classes of tim¬ ber are designated: (A) dense Southern yellow pine and (B) sound Southern yel¬ low pine. It is understood that these two terms are descriptive of quality rather than of botanical species. (a) Dense Southern Yellow Pine shall show on either end an average of at least six annual rings per inch and at least one- third summer wood, or else the greater number of the rings shall show at least one-third summer wood, all as measured over the third, fourth, and fifth inches of a radial line from the pith. Wide-ringed material excluded by this rule will be ac- 6 cep table, provided that the amount of summer wood as above measured shall be at least one-half. The contrast in color between summer wood and spring wood shall be sharp and the summer wood shall be dark in color, except in pieces having considerably above the minimum requirement for Rum¬ mer wood. In cases where timbers do not contain the pith, and it is impossible to locate it with any degree of accuracy, the same inspection shall be made over 3" on an approximate radial line beginning at the edge nearest the pith in timbers over 3" in thickness and on the second inch (on the piece) nearest to the pith in timbers 3" or less in thickness. In dimension material containing the pith but not a 5" radial line, which is less than 2x8" in section or less than 8" in width, that does not show over 16 sq. in. on the cross-section, the inspection shall apply to the second inch from the pith. In larger material that does not show a 5" radial line the inspection shall apply to the three inches farthest from the pith. The radial line chosen shall be repre¬ sentative. In case of disagreement be- 7 tween purchaser and seller the average summer wood and number of rings shall be the average of the two radial lines chosen. (b) Sound Southern Yellow Pine shall include pieces of Southern pine without any ring or summer wood requirement. 8 BRANDED TIMBERS Proper service to buyers and users of Yellow Pine timber demand correct grad¬ ing, and the branding or marking of each stick of timber showing its grade. Variation in the individual character of different pieces of timber is responsible for the difference in strength. Structur¬ ally, some are much stronger than others. Owing to the confusion which frequent¬ ly results in the proper classifying of timbers into long leaf, short leaf, lob¬ lolly, etc., a new rule has been devised and adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials and known to the trade as the “Density Rule” which classifies all Southern Pine timbers, irre¬ spective of botanical species, into two classes; namely “Dense Southern Yellow Pine” and “Sound Southern Yellow Pine.” Details and description of these desig¬ nations will be found in these pages. The Southern Pine Association recom¬ mends that all timbers be branded. All manufacturers and dealers are urged to brand their timbers in accordance with the grades and classifications contained in this book. Southern Pine Association. New Orleans, La., January 1, 1917. 9 GENERAL TIMBER SPECIFICATIONS Southern Yellow Pine Timbers are graded in accordance with che several rules herein described. The defects enumerated and admitted in the various grades are described as follows: KNOTS (.Adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials, August 21, 1915.) 1. Knots shall be classified as round and spike in form and for quality as sound, encased, loose and unsound; knots are also classed as to size. 2. Sound Knot.—A sound knot is one which is solid across its face and which is as hard as the wood surrounding it; it may be either red or black, and is so fixed by growth or position that it will retain its place in the piece. 3. Loose Knot.—A loose knot is one not firmly held in place by growth or position. 4. Pith Knot.—A pith knot is a sound knot with a pith hole not more than inch in diameter. 5. Encased Knot.—An encased knot is one whose growth rings are not inter- 10 grown and homogeneous with the growth rings of the piece it. is in. The encase¬ ment may be partial or complete; if inter- grown partially or so fixed by growth or position that it will retain its place in the piece, it shall be considered a sound knot; if completely intergrown on one face, it is a watertight knot. 6. Unsound Knot.—An unsound knot is one not as hard as the wood it is in. 7. Pin Knot.—A pin knot is a sound knot not over ^-inch in diameter. 8. Standard Knot.—A standard knot is a sound knot not over 1 inches in diameter. 9. Large Knot.—A large knot is a sound knot, more than iy inches in diameter. 10. Round Knot.—A round knot is one which is oval or circular in form. 11. Spike Knot.—A spike knot is one sawn in a lengthwise direction; the mean or average width shall be considered in measuring these knots. li WANE 12. Wane is bark, or the lack of wood from any cause, on edges of timbers. SHAKES 13. Shakes are splits or checks in timbers which usually cause a separation of the wood between annual rings. 14. Ring shake: An opening between the annual rings. (See Insert Fig. 1.) 15. Through shake: A shake which extends between two faces of a Limber. (See Insert Fig. 2.) 16. Shakes nol here-in-before described unless known to have extensive penetra¬ tion shall not be considered a defect under this classification. SIZES 17. All rough timber, except No. 1 Common, must be full size when green. One-quarter inch shall be allowed for each side surfaced. LENGTHS 18. Standard lengths are multiples of two feet, eight to twenty feet, inclusive; extra lengths are multiples of two feet, twenty-two feet and longer. When lineal average is specified, standard of lengths shall be multiples of one foot. 12 GRADES OF TIMBERS HEART TIMBERS 19. All timber specifications, except “Merchantable” and “Select Structural Timbers” specifying heart requirements, shall be considered as a special contract, and shall specify whether the heart re¬ quirements refer to surface or girth measurements in each piece. No. 1 COMMON TIMBERS 20. May be either Dense or Sound Pine. 21. Unless otherwise specified, this grade will admit any amount of sap wood. 22. Common Timbers, rough, 4x4 and larger, may be %" scant in either or both of its dimensions, shall be well manufactured and may have 1W wane on one comer one-third the length of the piece, or its equivalent on two or more comers, the wane measured on its face. 23. Timbers 10x10 in size may have 2" wane as above; the larger sizes may have wane as above in proportion to sizes. 13 24. Common Timbers may contain sound knots and pith knots, provided that the diameter of any one knot shall not exceed the following in size: 2" in 4x 4 to 6 x 6 ; 23 / 2 " in 6 x 8 to 8 x 10 ; 3" in 10x10 to 10x12; 3 y 2 " in 12x12 to 12x14; 4” in 14x14 to 14x16; 43^" in 16x16 to 16x18. In sizes not mentioned the diameter of knots admissible will increase or decrease in proportion to the size of the timbers on same basis as above specified. 25. In determining the size of knots, mean or average diameter shall be taken, or the equivalent of the above in grouped knots at any one point. 26. Will admit shakes extending one- sixth the length of the piece, round or ring shakes, unsound knots 13^2 inch or less in diameter, a limited number of pin worm holes, well scattered, sap stain and seasoning checks. Unless otherwise speci¬ fied, this grade will admit any amount of sap stain. 14 SQUARE EDGE AND SOUND TIMBERS 27. May be either Dense or Sound Pine. 28. Unless otherwise specified, this grade will admit any amount of sapwood. 29. Square Edge and Sound Timbers shall be well manufactured and shall be free from defects such as injurious ring or round shakes and through shakes that extend to the surface, unsound and loose knots and knots in groups that will ma¬ terially impair the strength, and shall be free from wane. Seasoning checks and sap stain shall not be considered defects. MERCHANTABLE TIMBERS 30. May be either Dense or Sound Pine. 31. All Merchantable Timbers shall be well manufactured and shall be free from defects such as injurious ring and round shakes and through shakes that extend to the surface, unsound and loose knots, and knots in groups that will materially impair the strength. Season¬ ing checks and sap stain shall not be considered defects. 15 32. Sizes under 9" on the largest di¬ mension, shall show two-thirds or more heart surface on one of the wide faces; sizes 9" and over on the largest dimension shall show two-thirds or more heart on both of the wide faces. When sticks are square the face showing the most heart shall govern the inspection on sizes under 9" and the two faces showing the most heart shall govern the inspection when 9" and over. Heart showing the full length, even if not two-thirds of the area as above, shall meet the requirements of this quality. 33. Wane not exceeding one-eighth of the dimension of the face and one- quarter of the length of the piece on one corner, or the equivalent on two or more comers on not to exceed ten per cent of the pieces, shall be admitted. 16 SELECT STRUCTURAL MATERIAL (A rule incorporating suggestions by the United States Forest Service.) REQUIREMENTS FOR DENSITY AND RATE OF GROWTH 34. Shall contain only sound wood and be well manufactured. Shall conform to the definition of Dense Southern Pine as adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials, August 21st, 1915, shown on page 6. 35. Unless otherwise specified, Se¬ lect Structural Material shall show 85 per cent of heart, girth measurement, measured anywhere in the length of the piece. Any greater or less requirement as to heart shall be expressed in terms of per cent of girth measurement. Sap stain is not a defect in this grade. 36. For the purpose of determining whether any given piece meets the re¬ quirements for density and rate of growth, the following rule, suggested by the United States Forest Service, shall be applied. It will be sufficient if either end passes the inspection. 17 (1) Pith Present or Accurately Located (A) Radial line of 5" present. (a) Apply inspection over third, fourth and fifth inches. (See Insert Fig. 3.) (B) Radial line of 5" not present. (a) Apply inspection to the second inch on 2x3, 2x4, 2x6, 3x3, 3x4, 4x4, or any other dimension material that has less than 16 square inches on the cross section. (See Insert Fig. 4.) (b) In the larger material apply inspection to the 3 inches farthest from the pith. (See Insert Fig. 5.) (2) Pith Not Present or Cannot be Ac¬ curately Located. (A) Material over 3" thick apply in¬ spection to three inches nearest the pith. (See Insert Fig. 6.) (B) Dimension material 3" or less in thickness apply inspection to sec¬ ond inch of the piece nearest the pith. (See Insert Fig. 7.) (3) The Radial Line Chosen Shall Show a Representative Number of Annual Rings of Growth and Per Cent of Summer Wood. 18 Restrictions on Knots in Beams 37. Shall not have in Volume 1 sound knots greater in diameter than one-fourth the width of the face on which they ap¬ pear—maximum knot 1 Yi". Shall not have in Volume 2 sound knots greater in diameter than one-half the width of the face on which they appear—maximum knot 3". (See Insert Fig. 8.) 38. The aggregate diameter of all knots within the center half of the length of any face shall not exceed the width of that face. 39. The diameter of a knot on the nar¬ row or horizontal face of a beam is to be taken as its projection on a line perpen¬ dicular to the edge of the timber. On the wide or vertical face, the smallest dimen¬ sion of a knot is to be taken as its diam¬ eter. (See Insert Fig. 9.) Restrictions on Knots in Columns 40. Shall not have sound knots greater in diameter than one-third the least width of the column—maximum knots 4 inches. Restrictions on Shakes and Checks In Beams 41. Round or ring shakes shall not oc¬ cupy, at either end of a timber, more than 19 one-fourth the width of green material, nor more than one-third the width of seasoned material. (See Insert Figs. 1 and 10.) 42. Any combination of checks and shakes which would reduce the strength to a greater extent than the allowable round-shakes will not be permitted. Shakes shall not show on the faces of either green or seasoned timber. (See Insert Fig. 11.) Restrictions on Cross Grain in Beams 43. Shall not have diagonal grain with slope greater than one in twenty in Vol¬ ume 1. (See Insert Fig. 12.) t 20 21 V UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN BOOKSTACKS ABBREVIATIONS OF TIMBER GRADES. For the purpose of branding timbers with the names of the Grades it is recom¬ mended that the following abbreviations be used: SQ EDG-SD—Square Edge and Sound. NO 1 COM —No. 1 Common. MERCH —Merchantable. SEL STRUC —Select Structural. This book will be re-issued occasionally to take care of all changes, cancellations and additions. In order that you may be certain of always having the LATEST SPECIFICA- NOTICE o a o a j-i 3 O >> C +■> H fi -= •+j = 0 on <<5 J O £ z WE WILL PUT THE ABOVE ADDRESS ON OUR MAILING LIST * OIACRAMS ILLUSTRATING RULES OF UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE FOR CRADINC STRENCTH OF SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE TIMBERS MEASUREMENT ONE-THIRD SUMMERWOOD 5 l 'ARF CONTRAST POOR CONTRAST ACCEPTED REJECTED OF SUM PITH PRESENT OR LOCATED WOOD PITH NOT PRESENT REJECTED RING-SHAKES ACCEPTED 8 REJECTED SHAKE SHOWS ON FACE CHECKS FIG. 11 MEASUREMENT ROUND KNOTS OF KNOTS SPIKE KNOTS U5.F0RF5T PR0DUCT5 LABORATORY DIAGONAL GRAIN direct ion or grain shown by split,checks and pitch-streaks. SLOPE GREATER than I IN 20 REJECTED IF IN VOlUME ONE. FIG. 12 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS BOOK CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE Southern Pine Association NEW ORLEANS, LA.