RADIATA PINE : GRADING RULES FOR SAWN LUMBER NZ

Introduction
The description below are summarised from the New Zealand Timber Grading Rules.
For complete description refer to NZ Standards NZS 3631:1998.

No. 1 Clears
Clear on both faces and both edges.

Permitted Defects
•Resin streaks -
Maximum size of 5mm wide by 100mm long
One only allowed in any piece
Sloping grain is acceptable

Not Permitted
• Sapstain
• Knots
• Bark pockets
• Waney edges

No. 2 Clears
Clear on both faces and both edges.
On Clear Faces and Edges.

Permitted Defects
• Resin streaks -
Maximum size of 5mm wide by 100mm long
One only allowed in any piece
Sloping grain is acceptable

Not Permitted
• Sapstain
• Knots
• Bark pockets
• Waney edges

On Reverse Face

Permitted Defects
• Bark or resin pockets – 3mm wide by 50mm long ) combined together
• Intergrown knots – 10mm wide ) 4 defects allowed
• Resin streaks – maximum size 1/10th of width by 1/16th of length
• Wane – up to 5mm wide

Not Permitted
• Sapstain
• Bark encased knots

Superior
This grade is not an official NZ grade but specifically graded to APP Timber’s specification and is a combination of min. 30% #2 Clears and 70% #2 Cuttings.

Permitted & Not Permitted Defects – see detail per grade

Furniture

This grade is not an official NZ grade but specifically graded to APP Timber’s specification.

Permitted Defects
• Unlimited knots with a diameter of maximum 1/3 of the face-width
• Resin pockets up to 6mm wide and up to 50mm
• Occasional dead knots permitted

Not Permitted
• Sapstain or blue-stain
• Large resin streaks
• Large dead knots and/or decaying knots
• Bark pockets
• Undersize or excessive waney edges
• Drying defects such as internal collapse or excessive surface checking
• Pith

Number 1 Cuttings
Each piece must be capable of yielding clear cuttings as follows:

• No cutting to be less than 1.0 m long.
• There must be at least 2.0 m of cuttings in any piece.
• At least 70% of the piece must be recoverable as cuttings.
• Minimum piece length 2.1m

Number 2 Cuttings
Each piece must be capable of yielding clear cuttings as follows:

• No cutting to be less than 0.6m (2 ft) long.
• There must be at least 1.8 m of cuttings in any piece.
• At least 70% of the piece must be recoverable as cuttings.
• Minimum piece length 2.0m

Number 3 Cuttings
Each piece must be capable of yielding clear cuttings as follows:

• No cutting to be less than 0.2m long
• There must be at least 1.5 m of cuttings in any piece
• At least 60% of the piece must be recoverable as cuttings
• Minimum piece length 1.8m

Industrial Grade
• Pieces must be cut square on the ends
• Wane not to exceed 5mm on the edge or 20 mm on the face
• Piece must be strong enough to hold together under rough handling
• Sloping grain must not be bad enough to cause breakage
• Knots, holes resin or bark pockets must not be so large as to cause breakage
• All other defects permitted

Sawing tolerances and trim allowances to be within the following:

Length:
Any piece of lumber shall not be less than the stated length and shall incorporate an over cut allowance of not less than 25 mm.

Width:
The lumber shall equal the nominal (stated ) dimension within the tolerance of MINUS 0.0mm or PLUS 5.00mm

Thickness:
The lumber shall equal the nominal (stated ) dimension within the tolerance of MINUS 0.0mm or PLUS 3.00mm

Pieces must in general be suitable for use to construct pallets, crates or boxes so that minimal losses will be caused through cutting out of defects that are of an extent that render any section unsuitable for that use.