What is wood?

The tough, fibrous cellular substance that makes up

most of the stems and branches of trees beneath
the bark.

What is lumber? Wood that has been processed into uniform and
useful sizes, including beams and planks or boards.

What is the difference between lumber and timber? Lumber is processed wood used for construction
framing and finishing, while timber is wood that is
cut to specific lengths.

What are the lengths of timber? 8ft, 12ft, 14ft, 16ft, and 20ft.

What is rough lumber? Lumber that is sawn, edged, and trimmed, but not
surfaced.

What is dressed lumber? Lumber that is surfaced with a planer machine to

attain a smooth surface and uniform size.

What is wood grain? The direction, size, arrangement, and appearance

of the fibers in a piece of dressed wood.

What is hardwood? Wood from dicot trees, usually found in

broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests.

What is softwood? Wood from conifers, which generally have lower

densities and are often light in color. Softwoods
usually grow quicker than hardwoods and are
cheaper, softer, and easier to work.

What are some examples of softwood? Pine, fir, spruce, larch, and cedar.

What are some common uses of hardwood? Furniture, antiques, sculptures, finishes, wall
finishes, balusters, stair railing, stairs steps and
raiser, roof framing, and wall framing.

What are some common uses of softwood? Barn yard, fence, formworks, industrial uses like
wood box, and particle board.

What is quartersaw? To saw logs approximately at right angles to the

annual rings.
What is plainsaw?
What is wood seasoning or wood drying?
What is kiln dried?
What is air dried?
What is oven dry?
What are wood preservative products?
Where is treated wood most commonly used?
What is the difference between nominal size and
actual size?
What are joists and planks?
What are beams and stringers?
What is the purpose of fire-resistive standards?
To saw a square into boards evenly spaced parallel
cuts. Also called bastard-saw.
The process of drying lumber to reduce its moisture
content and improve its serviceability.
Lumber that has been dried under controlled
conditions of heat, air circulation, and humidity.
Lumber that has been seasoned by exposure to the
atmosphere.
A point at which no moisture can be extracted when
exposed to kiln temperature of 214°F (101°-105°C).
Products that control wood degradation problems
due to fungal rot or decay, sap stain, molds, or
wood-destroying insects.
Outdoors.
Nominal size is a board's size before it has been
planed smooth (surfaced) on all four sides, while
actual measurements are the final size of the
lumber. S4S stands for 'surfaced on 4 sides',
meaning that the material is finished on all four
sides.
Structural lumber of rectangular cross-section, from
2” to 4” thick & more than 4” wide. The narrow face
is joists, and the wide face is planks/decking.
Structural lumber of rectangular cross-section, at
least 5” thick & width more than of 2” greater than
the thickness.
To classify materials and systems according to their
fire-resistive ratings.
What are the requirements for walls and partitions
to have a one-hour fire-resistive rating?
What are the requirements for floors to have a
one-hour fire-resistive rating?
What are the protections for metal structural
members that shall have a one-hour fire-resistive
rating?
What are the requirements for wood columns to
have a one-hour fire-resistive rating?
What are the requirements for wood beams to have
a one-hour fire-resistive rating?
What are the requirements for partitions, walls, and
floors to have a two-hour fire-resistive rating?
What are the protections for metal structural
members that shall have a two-hour fire-resistive
rating?
What is the thickness of solid masonry required for
a three-hour fire-resistive rating?
What is the thickness of hollow unit masonry
required for a three-hour fire-resistive rating?
Solid masonry (10 cm thick), hollow unit masonry
(15 cm thick), solid concrete (10 cm thick), stud
walls covered on each side with 1.9 cm lath and
plaster, 1.6 cm of vermiculite gypsum board, or 2.5
cm of gypsum board, and 5 cm nominal thickness
tongue and groove wood or two layers of 1.9 cm
tongue and groove wood separated by sheet metal
or asbestos paper and treated on each side with a
fire-retardant coating having a flame-spread rating
of 50 or less.
Masonry or concrete (10 cm thick), wood joists
having two layers of flooring above and a plaster or
gypsum board ceiling (1.9 cm in thickness)
separated by sheet metal or asbestos building
paper, and 6.3 cm net thickness tongue and
grooved wood floors covered with 1.9 cm wood
flooring laid at right angles thereto. The supporting
beams for such floors shall be not less than 15 cm
in minimum dimension.
2.5 cm of concrete, 3.8 cm of masonry, and metal
lath and 2.5 cm of plaster.
20 cm or more in least dimension.
15 cm or more in least dimension.
Solid masonry (15 cm thick), hollow unit masonry
(20 cm thick), and solid concrete (127 cm thick).
3.8 cm of concrete, 5 cm of masonry, and two
layers of metal lath and plaster with 1.9 cm air
space between.
17.8 centimeters (7 inches).
25.4 centimeters (10 inches).
What is the thickness of solid concrete required for 15 centimeters (6 inches).
a three-hour fire-resistive rating?

What is the thickness of concrete required for a 2 inches.

three-hour fire-resistive rating for metal structural
members?

What is the thickness of masonry required for a 7.6 centimeters (3 inches).

three-hour fire-resistive rating for metal structural
members?

What is the thickness of solid masonry walls 20 centimeters (8 inches).

required for a four-hour fire-resistive rating?

What is the thickness of hollow unit masonry 30 centimeters (12 inches).

required for a four-hour fire-resistive rating?

What is the thickness of solid concrete required for 17.8 centimeters (7 inches).
a four-hour fire-resistive rating?

What is the fire-spread rating required for materials 50 or less.

that need to be flame-proofed?

What is the test used to determine the flame-spread The internationally accepted 'Tunnel Test' or other
characteristics of interior wall and ceiling finishes? equivalent test for fire protection.

What is the maximum smoke density allowed for No greater than that obtained from the burning of
interior wall and ceiling finishes? untreated wood under similar conditions when
tested in accordance with the 'Tunnel Test' in the
way intended for use.

What is the requirement for interior finish materials They shall be tested and regulated for purposes of
applied to walls and ceilings? limiting flame-spread.

Who is responsible for promulgating appropriate The Secretary.

standards and regulations related to fire-resistive
protection?

What are the minimum width requirements for Not less than 1.12 meters (3 feet, 8 inches).
stairways serving an occupant load of more than
50?
What is the maximum width reduction allowed for Not more than 9 centimeters (3-1/2 inches).
trim and handrails in stairways?

What is the maximum allowed rise for every step in 19 centimeters (7-1/2 inches).
a stairway?

What is the minimum allowed run for every step in a 25 centimeters (10 inches).
stairway?

What is the maximum allowed variation in the height 5 millimeters (3-1/2 inch).
of risers and the width of treads in any one flight of
stairs?

What is the maximum allowed rise for every step in 20 centimeters (8 inches).
private stairways serving an occupant load of less
than 10?

What is the minimum allowed run for every step in 23 centimeters (9 inches).
private stairways serving an occupant load of less
than 10?

What is the maximum allowed distance between 3.65 meters (12 feet) vertically.
landings in a stairway?

What is the minimum height requirement for Not less than 75 centimeters (2 feet, 6 inches)
handrails in stairways? above the nosing of threads.

What is the maximum height requirement for Not more than 85 centimeters (2 feet, 10 inches)
handrails in stairways? above the nosing of threads.