1. The Results of the Alaska In‐
Grade Tes5ng Program
A Presenta*on Prepared for the
Annual Forest Products Society Mee*ng, Portland, OR
June 20, 2011
By
Allen M. Brackley, Research Forester
U.S. D. A. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Sta*on
Valerie Barber, Director
University of Alaska Fairbanks Forest Products Program
School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
Forestry Specialist Coopera*ve Extension

2. Acknowledgement of Funding
Funding for this project were made available
from the following sources:
1. Direct grants to the Ketchikan Forest Products
Laboratory made available by late Senator Ted
Stevens
2. Joint Venture Agreements with University of
Alaska, Fairbanks, USDA CSREES (now NIFA)
Wood U*liza*on Research Program
3. Joint Venture Agreements with the U.S. Forest
Service, Sitka Wood U*liza*on Center

3. Background informa*on
Alaska, the last fron*er!
1. Popula*on 2010 – 700,000
2. Demand for Lumber Products – 100 mmbf
annually (68% es*mated as dimension)
3. 97% of demand for dimension lumber is
imported (AMB guess)
4. Exis*ng industry – many small mills all
over Alaska, with few medium sized

4. History of Lumber Grading in Alaska
1. During period 1950 to 2003 most of lumber produced in Alaska
was exported to Japan – Liele interest in North American
Markets, ALS, or US Grading Agencies
2. Forest Products Technology Center (approx 1985) was formed
at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF‐FPTC)
a. UAF‐FPTC advocated grading rules for Alaska species (White
Spruce) as s*mulus for Industrial Development
b. Alaska Science and Technology Founda*on funded a
Grading Project (ASTM D‐143, STM for Small Clear
Specimens of Timber– ASTM D‐245, Standard Prac*ce for
Establishing Structural Grades and Related Allowable
Proper*es for Visually Graded Lumber based)

5. History of Lumber Grading in Alaska (cont’d)
3. UAF‐FPTC project made reference to “Crea*ng an
Alaska Grading Rule”
4. Chronologically, UAF‐FPTC project took place ajer start of
and near comple*on of the ALS/In‐grade Tes*ng Program
5. Final report of UAFFPTC project submieed to ASTF in
1995 and reported in the Forest Products Journal Vol. 45
No. 2 (78‐81) (Syta et al. 1995)
a. Results not geographically representa*ve of the range
b. Suitable only for a local geographically representa*ve
“grading rule”
6. Results of project did not create “Alaska Grading Rule” or
ASTM D‐245 derived strength values applicable
throughout the range of Alaska White Spruce

6. Alaska In‐Grade Tes*ng Program
1. 1998‐1999
a. Ini*al funding
i. Alaska Science and Technology
ii. Special Grants (Stevens Earmarks – Direct, USFS,UAF)
b. Administra*on ‐ Alaska Manufacturing Associa*on
(AMA)
c. Tes*ng ‐ Ketchikan Wood Technology Center
(KWTC)
d. Technical Support (Western Wood Products Assoc.
& Forest Products Laboratory)

7. AK In‐Grade Tes5ng (Cont’d)
2. 1999 – 2001
a. Lab provisioned and equipped in Ketchikan
b. Site leased at abandoned pulp mill – supplied by
Ketchikan Borough
c. Building modifica*on
d. Equipment purchased installed and calibrated
e. Sampling and Tes*ng Design Accepted
f. Ini*al samples obtained

11. Included Alaska Species & Ranges
1. Sitka Spruce (Picea s(chensis (Bong.) Carr.)
2. White Spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss)
3. Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.)
4. Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Borg.)
Carr.)
5. Alaska Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
(D. Don) Spach)
Not included: Black Spruce, Western Red Cedar

12. Sojwood Species that are
na*ve to Alaska ‐I White Spruce
Alaska Yellow Cedar
Sitka Spruce

13. Sojwood Species that are
na*ve to Alaska ‐II
Western Hemlock
Mountain Hemlock

14. Sojwood Species that are
na*ve to Alaska ‐III
These species grow in the State, but were not sampled or tested
Western Red Cedar
Black Spruce

15. Sample Matrix for Each Species to be Tested

16. Late 2004‐2005 Work Completed
Upon approval of American Lumber Standard
Commieee (ALSC), results published:
Western Wood Products Associa*on [WWPA]. 2005a.
Species marks and design values for Alaska species: a
special supplement to the WWPA rules for grading
sojwood lumber. Portland, OR. 4 p.
Western Wood Products Associa*on [WWPA]. 2005b.
Design values and spans for Alaska species lumber.
WWPA Tech Notes 2005‐1, Portland, OR. 6p.

17. Grade Marks and Species Groups available to AK mill prior to the Project
WWPA Grade Extreme Fiber Stress in Compression
Bending "Fb" when used Tension Parallel Perpendicular to Grain Compression Parallel to
Stamp Grade as Single Member to Grain "Ft" Horizontal Shear "Fv" "Fc┴" Grain "Fc//" Modulus of Elasticity "E"
Design Value (psi)
HEM FIR Select Structural 1,400 925 150 405 1,500 1,600,000
No. 1 & Btr. 1,100 725 150 405 1,350 1,500,000
No. 1 975 625 150 405 1,350 1,500,000
No. 2 850 525 150 405 1,300 1,300,000
No. 3 500 300 150 405 725 1,200,000
Construction 975 600 150 405 1,550 1,300,000
Standard 550 325 150 405 1,300 1,200,000
Utility 250 150 150 405 850 1,100,000
Stud 675 400 150 405 800 1,200,000
SPF??? Select Structural 1,300 575 135 335 1,200 1,300,000
No. 1 875 400 135 335 1,050 1,200,000
No. 2 775 350 135 335 1,000 1,100,000
No. 3 450 200 135 335 575 1,000,000
Construction 875 400 135 335 1,200 1,000,000
Standard 500 225 135 335 1,000 900,000
Utility 225 100 135 335 675 900,000
Stud 600 275 135 335 625 1,000,000
Western Select Structural 1,000 600 155 425 1,000 1,100,000
Cedars No. 1 725 425 155 425 825 1,000,000
No. 2 700 425 155 425 650 1,000,000
No. 3 400 250 155 425 375 900,000
Construction 800 475 155 425 850 900,000
Standard 450 275 155 425 650 800,000
Utility 225 125 155 425 425 800,000
Stud 550 325 155 425 400 900,000
WEST WOODS Select Structural 900 400 135 335 1,050 1,200,000
& WW No. 1 675 300 135 335 950 1,100,000
No. 2 675 300 135 335 900 1,000,000
No. 3 375 175 135 335 525 900,000
Construction 775 350 135 335 1,100 1,000,000
Standard 425 200 135 335 925 900,000
Utility 225 100 135 335 600 800,000
Stud 550 225 135 335 575 900,000

18. Species Groups and Grade Marks now Available to Alaska
Mills!!!!!!
Extreme Fiber Stress in Compression
Bending "Fb" when Tension Parallel Perpendicular to Grain Compression Parallel to Modulus of Elasticity
WWPA Grade Stamp Grade used as Single Member to Grain "Ft" Horizontal Shear "Fv" "Fc┴" Grain "Fc//" "E"
Design Value (psi)
ALASKA
YELLOW CEDAR Select Structural 1,350 800 225 510 1,200 1,500,000
No. 1 900 525 225 510 1,050 1,400,000
No. 2 800 450 225 510 1,000 1,300,000
No. 3 475 250 225 510 575 1,200,000
Construction 925 500 225 510 1,250 1,300,000
Standard 500 275 225 510 1,050 1,100,000
Utility 250 125 225 510 675 1,100,000
Stud 625 350 225 510 625 1,200,000
HEMLOCK
Select Structural 1,300 825 185 440 1,200 1,700,000
No. 1 900 550 185 440 1,100 1,600,000
No. 2 825 475 185 440 1,050 1,500,000
No. 3 475 275 185 440 600 1,400,000
Construction 950 550 185 440 1,250 1,400,000
Standard 525 300 185 440 1,050 1,300,000
Utility 250 150 185 440 700 1,200,000
Stud 650 375 185 440 650 1,400,000
SPRUCE
Select Structural 1,400 900 160 330 1,200 1,600,000
No. 1 950 600 160 330 1,100 1,500,000
No. 2 875 500 160 330 1,050 1,400,000
No. 3 500 300 160 330 600 1,300,000
Construction 1,000 575 160 330 1,250 1,300,000
Standard 550 325 160 330 1,100 1,200,000
Utility 275 150 160 330 700 1,100,000
Stud 675 400 160 330 675 1,300,000

19. Comparison of modulus of elasticity values “E” new Alaska species grades and previously existing WWPA grades. (Source:
WWPA 2008; WWPA 2005b)
WEST ALASKA
WESTERN
ALASKA ALASKA WOOD CEDARS YELLOW
Grade HEM FIR HEMLOCK SPF SPRUCE & WW CEDAR
Design Value (psi)
Select
Structural 1,600,000 1,700,000 1,300,000 1,600,000 1,200,000 1,100,000 1,500,000
No. 1 & Btr. 1,500,000 -- -- -- -- --
No. 1 1,500,000 1,600,000 1,200,000 1,500,000 1,100,000 1,000,000 1,400,000
No. 2 1,300,000 1,500,000 1,100,000 1,400,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,300,000
No. 3 1,200,000 1,400,000 1,000,000 1,300,000 900,000 900,000 1,200,000
Construction 1,300,000 1,400,000 1,000,000 1,300,000 1,000,000 900,000 1,300,000
Standard 1,200,000 1,300,000 900,000 1,200,000 900,000 800,000 1,100,000
Utility 1,100,000 1,200,000 900,000 1,100,000 800,000 800,000 1,100,000
Stud 1,200,000 1,400,000 1,000,000 1,300,000 900,000 900,000 1,200,000

20. Comparison of extreme fiber stress in bending values “Fb” new Alaska species
grades and previously existing WWPA grades. (Source: WWPA 2008; WWPA 2005b)
WESTERN
WEST
CEDARS
HEM WOOD YELLOW
Grade FIR HEMLOCK SPF SPRUCE & WW CEDAR
Design Value (psi)
Select
Structural 1400 1300 1300 1400 900 1,000 1350
No. 1 & Btr. 1100 -- -- -- -- -- --
No. 1 975 900 875 950 675 725 900
No. 2 850 825 775 875 675 700 800
No. 3 500 475 450 500 375 400 475
Construction 975 950 875 1000 775 800 925
Standard 550 525 500 550 425 450 500
Utility 250 250 225 275 225 225 250
Stud 675 650 600 675 550 550 625

21. In summary,
With respect to all material except hemlock and
the compression perpendicular to the grain
values for “Alaska spruce”, the design values
resul5ng from Alaska in‐grade tes5ng were
higher than any previously reported values that
might have been used to grade‐stamp lumber
produced in Alaska.

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25. The End