| TABLE OF CONTENTS
Southern
Pine lumber has been used since Colonial times. Favorable growing conditions and wise
forest management assure a continuous supply, and highly efficient manufacturing delivers
quality Southern Pine products.
Markets for Southern Pine products have
changed significantly over the past decade. About half of all Southern Pine lumber
prodOuced is now pressure treated with preservatives to increase its longevity and design
versatility. Another quarter of production is used in trusses and other structural framing
applications.
These changes in the end-use call for
products with a better appearance than is generally required for materials enclosed within
walls, floors, and roofs. Industry has responded with both special grades and added
emphasis on quality control.
Southern Pine
Design Values
This Use Guide includes empirical design
values for Southern Pine dimensions lumber based on results of the North American In-Grade
Testing Program completed in 1991.
As part of this effort, more than 70,000
full-size, In-Grade pieces were tested to the breaking point. What evolved from the
In-Grade Testing Program were new design values for Southern Pine and other North American
species. Since these values are based on actual experience with the performance of
full-size lumber specimens, we call them empirical design values.
The In-Grade test results validate most of
the Southern Pine visual design values used for more than 20 years. One simple fact is
unchanged; Southern Pine remains the strongest structural lumber species for engineered
and framing applications.
The
Designer’s Choice
Today, Southern Pine is the preferred species of designers
and specifiers, not only for its high strength and density, but also for its treatability.
An increasing volume of Southern Pine is used in industrial and commercial construction,
for building and for nonbuilding uses such as piers, wharfs, bridges, crates and pallets.
As in Colonial times, Southern Pine remains a preferred species in world export markets.
Southern Pine Council
The Southern Pine Council is a joint
promotional body coordinated and supported by members of the Southern Forest Products
Association and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association. For more information,
contact either association.
Southern Forest Products
Association
P.O.Box 641700 Kenner, LA 70064-1700
504/443-4464· Fax 504/443-6612
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers
Association
P.O.Box 1788 Forest Park, GA30051
404/361-1445· Fax 404/361-5963
http://www.Southernpine.com
The Southern Pine Council does not test
lumber of establish design values. The purpose of the Use Guide is to collect and organize
data available from other sources for the convenience of builders, engineers, architects
and other professionals. The Southern Pine design values contained herein are taken from
the Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber, 1994 Edition, published by the
Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, and the adjustment factors are taken from the National
Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction, 1991 Edition,
published by the American Forest & Paper Association. Neither the Southern Pine
Council, not its members, warrant that the data from such sources on which the recommended
uses of Southern Pine lumber contained herein are based is correct, and disclaim
responsibility for injury or damage resulting from the use of such design values.
The conditions under which lumber is used in construction
may vary widely, as does the quality of workmanship and construction methods. Neither the
Southern Pine Council, not its members, have knowledge of the quality of the workmanship
or construction methods used on any construction project, and, accordingly, do not warrant
the design or performance of the lumber in completed structures. |
