Grading structural timber

[woodsy]

A few questions about grading structural timbers and lumber as pertained to the state of Massachusetts or even other New England sates. 

If someone wants to hire me as a portable sawmill service to mill on their site and cut out timbers larger than 5x5 and other structural members like 2x4's, 2x10's, etc for a shed or other structures under 2 stories, how does the grading usually come into play so the timbers can be used for building?

Do most leave the grading process up to the owner, i.e. hiring a traveling nelma grader?

It's stated on the mass gov page that "Producers of native lumber are required to be registered with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) in the Department of Public Safety (DPS)."

Does anyone know if this applies to portable sawmilling?

Suppose I am registered as a producer of native lumber. Does this mean that my structural lumber does not have to be graded by nelma if it is being used for structures under 2 stories? In other words I put my native lumber producers stamp on timbers does this mean the owner does not have to get the lumber graded?

If this is true who is liable if there is wood failure of some sort when the structure is built (assuming that all wood was cut following grading rules and is within those tolerances.)

Lots of questions, I know, but it's slightly confusing trying to sort all this out. Thanks for the input.

[beenthere]

It is good to check out before ending up with a lot of sawing done and no where to use the wood.
Maybe saw the timbers and claim no responsibility for their use as structural material. Leave all that up to the user to make that grade decision, get clearance with building codes, and/or get the timbers graded (before putting them in a structure).

But as to liability, I would expect the one sawing the logs into timbers would need liability protection.

Years back, I was some aware of a sawyer getting nailed in court; he sawed some 2" dimension that was sold and re-sold then eventually purchased and used for scaffold planking. The scaffold failed, causing injury followed by a large insurance claim.  The steel cross member supporting the plank failed.
The insurance co. then looked for someone to blame but the scaffold builder had many disclaimers. So they followed the trail of the plank, as the scaffold co. said that a knot in the plank caused an overload point on their failed cross member. That trail ended up at the sawmill doing the sawing of the plank and they had no defense or disclaimers....ended up paying the bill.   Just one unbelievable scenario, but maybe worth some thought.

[jdtuttle]

This is used in NY for using rough cut lumber/beams.
Jim

CERTIFICATION OF LUMBER USED
FOR LOAD SUPPORTING PURPOSES
Date:         
I,          
         (Name)                  (Title)

Certify that the quality and safe working stresses of lumber being supplied to:                               
   Consumer/Contract Builder
Meets or exceeds No. 2 grade of the species in accordance with the conditions set forth in American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS20-05)
PRODUCING MILL:                      
ADDRESS:                 
         

PROJECT LOCATION:                             

LUMBER SPECIES:                                   

LUMBER DIMENSIONS: (       X        )       (       X      )    (          X        )   (        X   _   )

QUANTITY SUPPLIED:                                                                    

SIGNATURE:                            


PERMIT NUMBER:            

[mad murdock]

A few questions about grading structural timbers and lumber as pertained to the state of Massachusetts or even other New England sates. 


It's stated on the mass gov page that "Producers of native lumber are required to be registered with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) in the Department of Public Safety (DPS)."

Does anyone know if this applies to portable sawmilling?

Suppose I am registered as a producer of native lumber. Does this mean that my structural lumber does not have to be graded by nelma if it is being used for structures under 2 stories? In other words I put my native lumber producers stamp on timbers does this mean the owner does not have to get the lumber graded?

maybe it means you have to be a native american producer? or just cutting trees from off a reservation? ;D ;D

I don't know about New England, but alot of states have included in their building codes that materials have to be "certified" or "engineered", or "graded", there are some exclusions for agricultural structures, and if a person is building it themselves and it is not being done by a contractor.   Where I live, there are a lot of Agricultural, Pole barns build from rough timbers, then after the structure is put up, they get a cement floor, and later on electricity.  One piece at a time, before you know it after a little time, a guy has a whole shop built out of the "ag" building.  Just one way around the "code" warriors.

[Dave Shepard]

Any lumber used in MA from a Native Lumber Producer is limited to No.2 for engineering purposes, even if it is of a higher grade. You should grade the lumber, as the stamp is a paper trail to the person who sawed it. If you need a higher grade product, you will have to have a NELMA grader come in and stamp it.

[laffs]

is there a call for nelma graders out there ? when i got my license i didnt get a stamp. the mills own the stamps. i  feel that if you have a book and go by the rules, it would be up to nelma or someone to prove it isnt the grade you claim to be. you dont have to  join nelma not even the big mills. the big mills join because its a piece of mind to the retailers and brokers that their lumber is nelma certified.

i think if your going to sell lumber especialy structual lumber you should have a book and be familiar with the rules, and if your not sure of a rule you may need to find out about it. even if you are certified your still allowed to be 5% off grade. what would happen if someone used the whole 5% in the same area, and had a failure?

wouldnt it make more sense to have the project engineered for grade and then nelma inspected if there is a failure? whos to say that a customer doesnt use an un graded piece in there project such as a piece of blocking?
i  worked for a company that rebuilt valves on outages . one outage they didnt get something right on a main steam valve the energy plant didnt postpone startup to get it fixed.  someone down the line figured they could force the valve open by introducing water from the other side of the valve. on the other side was super heated steam. what im getting at is people do stupid things.
the energy plant did come after us because of the valve.

Brent

[Mad Professor]

Any lumber used in MA from a Native Lumber Producer is limited to No.2 for engineering purposes, even if it is of a higher grade. You should grade the lumber, as the stamp is a paper trail to the person who sawed it. If you need a higher grade product, you will have to have a NELMA grader come in and stamp it.

Another way for the bassturds in Boston , to rob the citizens.

I'll just WAY overbuild .

[laffs]

mmmmmmmm   maine used to be part of ma now their all coming up here and buying it back one acre at a time

[Mad Professor]

mmmmmmmm   maine used to be part of ma now their all coming up here and buying it back one acre at a time

Don't blame me, I'm on the same 40 acres I was born on, as far as you can get from Basstun. We have people from the south (Ct, Ny, NJ) that are doing the same, here.