Outline of Presentation

1) NLGA Background & Responsibilities

2) Overview of In-grade Testing & Design Value Monitoring in Canada Conducted by NLGA in Canada

a) In-grade Testing b) Design Value Monitoring

i. S-P-F ii. D Fir-L (N) iii. Hem-Fir (N)

c) Other In-grade Projects d) Norway Spruce

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NLGA Background Incorporated in January 1971 to amalgamate all

Canadian lumber grading rules under one rule.

NLGA’s role is to: establish; publish & issue; interpret; and maintain & amend

Lumber Grading Rules & Special Product Standards for all Canadian species of lumber.

And: establish; and

monitor Lumber design values for Canadian species for use in the USA as approved by ALSC and in Canada as assigned by CSA O86.

NLGA Organization Chart BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(11 Agency Representatives)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

NLGA STAFF (2)

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Oversees Special Products Standards Maintenance,

Interpretation & Development

GRADE COMMITTEE

Oversees Visual Grading Rule Maintenance, Interpretation & Development

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

NLGA Lumber Properties Steering Committee (NLPSC)

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

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NLGA Background

NLGA Standards and Rules are developed:

a) by ‘ balanced consensus' committees (includes lumber producers, consumers, users, academia, government & regulatory authorities);

b) following ‘due process'; c) through a ‘transparent and accountable' voting process; d) with a ‘rigorous procedure’ for resolving negatives. Approvals:

a) There is a two-level NLGA approval process:

i) Committee (ie. Standards or Grade Committee)

ii) NLGA Board

b) Followed by CLSAB & ALSC approvals.

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NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber

Special Product Standards – SPS 1 through SPS 6 For FJ, MGL and Face/Edge Glued Lumber

Canadian Lumber Grading Manual

NLGA Publications

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NLGA Background (Con’t)

NLGA Grade Rules & Standards are referenced in the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC);

Design values referenced in the NBCC for Canadian species groups are assigned by CSA O86

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NLGA Background (Con’t)

NLGA Rules & Standards are also: 1) Recognized in the U.S. through the ALSC - whose

authority is granted under the U.S. Voluntary Softwood Standard PS 20; &

2) NLGA lumber design values for the U.S. are published in the ANSI/AWC NDS Supplement – Design Values for Wood Construction (2012 Edition).

1) 2)

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NLGA Background (con’t)

Canadian Wood Council (CWC) provides engineering & technical support to NLGA for design values at CSA O86 and ALSC (www.cwc.ca)

FP Innovations does research, testing & provides some tech support to NLGA (www.fpinnovations.ca)

Outline of Presentation

1) NLGA Background & Responsibilities 2) Overview of In-grade Testing & Design

Value Monitoring in Canada Conducted by NLGA in Canada

a) In-grade Testing b) Design Value Monitoring

i. S-P-F ii. D Fir-L (N) iii. Hem-Fir (N)

c) Other In-grade Projects d) Norway Spruce

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Lumber In- grade Testing

4 Species Groups for Canada;

S- P- F; D Fir- L (N); Hem- Fir (N); & Northern Species.

Current design values (Limit States Design - LSD) and Allowable Stresses:

Were established through In-grade sampling & testing in the early 1980’s; and

Design values were approved and published in the early 1990’s;

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NLGA’s Lumber Design Value Monitoring Commitment

Lumber Design Values

In Sep 1998, the NLGA Board re-affirmed its commitment to the monitoring clause stated in ASTM D1990 ‘Establishing Allowable Properties for Visually-Graded Dimension Lumber from In- grade Tests of Full- Size Specimens’ and proceeded with monitoring of programs on an on-going basis and has conducted monitoring of its major species ever since.

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

NLGA has been conducting monitoring studies since 1999;

The purpose is to verify that there has not been significant change to species group design values due to resource or mill practice change.

In-grade monitoring is now a mandatory requirement under ALSC (ASTM D1990) for major species groups (i.e. S-P-F, D Fir-L (N) & Hem-Fir (N) in Canada and SYP, SPFs, D Fir-L & Hem-Fir in the U.S.)

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

NLGA must conduct a monitoring study as required in ASTM D1990 on each major species group <S-P-F, D Fir-L (N) and Hem-Fir (N)> under its control at least once every five (5) years using a pre-approved sampling and testing plan.

A report with NLGA’s findings and test data must be submitted to ALSC for analysis by the USFPL to determine if the published design values have been maintained.

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring (S-P-F)

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

• Monitoring Studies for S-P-F were conducted:

• 1999-2000 (Phases 1 & 2); • 2007 (Pilot Study 1); • 2008 (Pilot Study 2); • 2010-11 (Ramp-up Study); • 2011-2012 (Year 1 - Longitudinal Study); and • 2012-2013 (Year 2 - Longitudinal Study)

• All test results supported the published design values

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring (S-P-F) (Con’t)

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

Date Study Size & Grade Property Result

2013-14 Year 3

(Longitudinal Study)

2x4 / No. 2 / 8’ MOE / MOR • Testing just completed

2015 Year 4

(Longitudinal Study)

2x4 / No. 2 / 8’ MOE / MOR

• Mill survey information for 2014 shipments is being collected

• Sample collection is expected begin in June 2015

2013-14 2013 Study 2x10/No. 2/16’ MOE / MOR

• Confirmed that there was no significant downward shift in the MOE or MOR properties

S-P-F Monitoring Regions

• For S-P-F In-grade: There were 14 sampling regions

• For Monitoring S-P-F: 4 Mega-regions are sampled (II to V)

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring - D Fir-L (N)

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

• Monitoring Studies for D Fir-L (N) were conducted:

• 2002; 2011-12; 2012-13; • All test results supported the published design values

• 2013-14: Testing has just been completed; • For 2015:

• Mill survey information for 2014 shipments is being collected; and

• Sample collection is expected to commence in June 2015

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring – Hem-Fir (N)

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

• A Monitoring Study for Hem-Fir (N) was conducted in 2005; All test results supported the published design values;

• In 2011-12, a Year 1 Hem-Fir (N) study was conducted and the results initiated Verification Phase sampling and testing as required under ASTM D1990;

• In 2013-14, Year 2 of the monitoring study data confirmed Year 1 findings;

• 2x4X8’ No. 2 samples were tested for these studies

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Lumber Design Value Monitoring – Hem-Fir (N)

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

• In 2014, the Hem-Fir (N) Verification Phase sampling and testing study was conducted as required under ASTM D1990;

• 2x4x8” No. 2 and 2x10x16’ No. 2 were sampled and tested for the verification phase. ALSC (US FPL) approved this approach.

• All test results supported the published design values

• U.S. FPL sent NLGA a letter agreeing that “the verification study gave no reason to believe that there has been a significant downward shift in MOE or MOR.”

• Sample collection for the Hem-Fir (N) 2015 monitoring study is expected to commence in June 2015.

D Fir-L (N) & Hem-Fir (N) Monitoring Region

• For D Fir-L (N) & Hem-Fir (N) In-grade: There were 4 sampling regions

• For Monitoring: 1 Mega-region is sampled (BC only)

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Other Design Value Projects

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

Date Project Size & Grade Results

2004 S-P-F MSR Monitoring Study

2x4 2100 Fb-1.8E & 1650 Fb 1.5E

• Supports published MOE, MOR & UTS values for S-P-F MSR lumber

2005 Yellow Cedar/ Sitka Spruce

2x4, 2x6 & 2x8 SS and No. 2

• ALSC and CSA O86 approved new design values for Yellow Cedar & Sitka Spruce

2005 D Fir-L (N) / Hem-Fir (N)

#1&Btr

No. 1&Btr 2x4, 2x8 & 2x10

SS and No. 2

• ALSC approved new design values for No. 1 & Btr D Fir-L (N) & Hem-Fir (N)

2013-2016

Hem-Fir (N) Timber

In-grade

SS and No. 2 6x6 to 12x14

• ALSC approved sampling plan • Testing completed in June 15 • Analysis to begin

Future • Over time other widths, grades & properties of existing species may be tested

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Norway Spruce Test Programs

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

Date Project Size & Grade Property

1999 - 2001

2 UNB - MLB Norway Spruce Exploratory

Studies

2x4, 2x6 & 2x8 SS, No. 1 and No. 2

(8’ to 16’)

MOE, MOR, UCS & UTS

2004 -2007

Establishing Canadian Norway Spruce Design Values

(Includes Que & ON data)

2x4, 2x6 & 2x8 SS and No. 2

(8’ to 16’)

MOE, MOR, UCS & UTS

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Norway Spruce Current Status

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

• Norway Spruce is a non-native species

• Plantation grown

• Maritimes to Quebec (in commercial volumes)

• NSpr was added as a species to NLGA Grade Rule

– Allows Norway Spruce to be used for non-structural purposes only

Norway spruce Growth Region

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

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Norway Spruce Task Group Activities

Lumber Design Values (Con’t)

• An NLPSC NSpr Task Group is currently reviewing several options for developing NSpr design values with the goal of making recommendations to the NLPSC.