TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SPF lumber is a distinctly white wood, with very little color variation between springwood and
summerwood. The wood has a bright, clean appearance, ranging in color from white to pale yellow, with
a fine straight grain and smooth texture.

Uses

Kiln dried SPF lumber is used as a structural framing material in all types of residential, commercial,
industrial and agricultural building applications.

Kiln dried SPF lumber is also used extensively in the manufacturing of prefabricated housing, trusses
and other structural components. In addition to producing high quality structural lumber, with a little
preparation, SPF can be made into very appealing, economical solid wood furniture.

Products

Structural lumber, trusses, prefabricated housing, exterior decking, preservative treated poles, railway
ties, outdoor furniture.

Technical Specifications

SPF lumber is seasoned uniformly in dry kilns to a moisture content of 13%-15%. Kiln drying
inhibits natural staining of the wood, improves its strength and stiffness, enhances its
appearance and increases its resistance to decay and attack by insects.

SPF has a high strength-to-weight ratio and is well known for its outstanding working properties. It
takes and holds nails exceptionally well and is easily worked with hand and power tools. It has good
gluing, painting and staining properties.

Density (air dry average): 480 kg/cubic meters

Specific gravity (oven dry average): 0.47
Modulus of elasticity: 12 300 MPa
Modulus of rupture: 81.1 Mpa
WOOD GRADE

A combination of laser grading and manual grading is used to ensure that the grade accuracy is at its
highest possible level. A laser grading optimizer grades lumber. The online laser scans each piece as it
passes to the grading station. This scan checks for wane and straightness and can measure deviations
to an accuracy not possible by human eye. The manual graders then look for other defects that will
affect the grade and intended use. This combination allows our graders to concentrate on fewer defects
and make better grading decisions.
Dimension lumber is manufactured to NLGA standards, meeting both US and Canadian requirements.

CATEGORY FORMER DIMENSION REAL DIMENSION LENGTH GRADE

kiln Dried SPF 2" x 4" 38 mm x 89 mm 8' - 20' J-GRADE
kiln Dried SPF 2" x 6" 38 mm x 140 mm 8' - 24' J-GRADE

• Kiln Dried lumber, Humidity ratio 13%-15%,on the each lumber have the kiln Dried
marks.

Strong Thermal Performance & Significant Energy Savings

In Canada, nearly one third of total energy consumption is used for the heating, cooling, and lighting of
buildings. Canada’s current concerns over energy efficiency in the construction sector underline the
importance of making an effort to reduce this consumption.

Environmental studies at various universities across the globe clearly point to the fact that wood frame
construction is the most energy efficient building system, both in terms of operational energy usage and
the embodied energy that goes into manufacturing building materials.

In colder climates, the electric energy consumption of modern wood frame homes is:

• 9.43% lower than that of light steel house; and

• 10.92% lower than that of concrete houses.

While in more moderate climates, the electric energy consumption of wood frame houses is:

• 8.79% lower than that of light steel house; and

• 7.33% lower than that of concrete homes.

Wood itself is a natural thermal insulator due to the millions of tiny air pockets within its cellular
structure. The thermal insulating ability of softwood is 10 times that of concrete and masonry, and 400
times that of solid steel.

A “Green” Building System

Wood frame buildings are truly “green” buildings as they reduce energy consumption and use wood
materials from renewable, sustainable forestry resources. Furthermore, the production of wood
building materials uses less energy and results in significantly less air, water and solid waste
pollution than steel or concrete building materials. Wood structures present the least potential damage
to the environment. When measured in monetary terms, the environmental impact of wood structures is
less than half of that incurred by concrete structures and nearly one third less than steel structures.
More specifically, their results showed that the production of structural wood materials used in a wood
frame buildings consumes:

• 28% less energy and 39% less water than equivalent materials used in a steel structures; and
• 45% less energy and 46% less water than equivalent materials used in concrete structures.

Strength & Durability

In North America about one million homes (including single and multi-family residences) are built every
year using modern wood frame construction technology. Adaptable to any climate, this system is widely
used in Europe, Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia, such as Japan and Korea. Wood-frame
construction incorporates wall, floor and roof assemblies that are strong, easy to insulate and quick and
efficient to build. Using a combination of materials and modern engineering, wood frame homes are
designed to meet the requirements of the environment for which they are built and can withstand
conditions of high wind, heavy rain and even earthquakes.

When properly built and cared for, these homes can easily have a life-span of 100 years or more.

Design Flexibility & Space Efficiency

Woods immense flexibility makes it the best choice for creating customized structural or decorative
designs. Walls that are up to 20% thinner than standard concrete walls, provide for greater internal floor
space and the ability to embed infrastructure (electrical wiring, plumbing and ventilation ducts) in floor,
ceiling and wall cavities, allowing architects and designers from having to design around these
components.

Making changes is virtually impossible when walls are poured in concrete or when expensive and
time-consuming reworking of the construction material is needed off site. However, wood buildings can
be easily redesigned to suit changing needs, whether it be the addition of a new room or moving a
window or door.

Fire Safety
Both research and experience confirm that fire safety in a house or apartment has little to do with the
combustibility of the structural materials used in its construction. In fact, the occupants’ safety is far
more dependent on their own awareness of fire hazards (open flames etc.), the contents of their home
(furniture etc.) and the fire protection measures designed into the building.

When comparing the fire safety of wood versus concrete or steel, wood is stronger than you might think.
Although wood is a combustible material, a layer of char is created when it burns, and this helps to
protect the wood and maintain the strength and structural integrity of the wood inside. For this reason
a heavy timber will stand longer than a comparable steel beam which will melt from the heat before the
timber burns through.
Wood frame construction is a complete building system in which a combination of materials and design
elements contribute to creating a durable, healthy and safe environment. Fire retardant materials such
as gypsum board line the walls of the interior and ceiling, with additional layers used in higher risk areas
such as the kitchen. Practices such as these ensure the modern wood frame building system meets and
complies with Canadian National Building Codes covering structural and fire safety regulations.

Moisture Control
It is a common misconception that water is woods enemy. In fact, many wood buildings exist in rainy
and humid places – it’s simply a matter of knowing how to manage and design for water in buildings.

Wood and water are typically very compatible – wood can absorb and release large quantities of
moisture without problems, and it’s only when wood gets too wet for too long that problems can arise.

If buildings are properly constructed to shed water, wood performs well as a structural building material
in all types of climates.

Sound Transmission & Privacy

Modern Wood Frame Construction incorporates a variety of materials and design features, which make
it effective in handling sound transmission and privacy issues, even in commercial or multi-family
residential dwellings where sound insulation is particularly important. In high traffic areas, natural
cavities in wall and floor assemblies are filled with sound insulating materials.

In addition, layering materials of varying densities, incorporating new technology such as sound
dispersing metal channels and using design features such as staggered walls studs, all help to
significantly reduce sound transmission and create a peaceful and private environment.

Health & Comfort

Wood generates positive feelings because of its warm and natural attributes, and evidence suggests
that this can contribute to an individual's overall sense of well-being. It also helps make a building more
comfortable by moderating indoor humidity. During times of high humidity, it absorbs moisture; during
dry periods, it releases moisture into the air.

Research has found that interior wood paneling can reduce peak moisture loads in a typical home by
10-25%, making it more comfortable and reducing the need for air conditioning and ventilation. Wood
floors contribute to better air quality as the accumulation of dust and microbes can be reduced through
regular sweeping, mopping and vacuuming.