NORTHWEST LOG RULES ADVISORY GROUP
OFFICIAL LOG SCALING & GRADING
RULES
HISTORY OF CHANGES
Effective
Date Change
revised consolidated Rule Book.
Adopted the changed Ponderosa and Sugar Pine rules.
on page 4 to read “Segment Scaling and Grading of Long
Logs – All Species” and added “Upon Special Request,
odd length logs 41 feet and longer may be segment
scaled.”
Revised the Scribner volume table. The factors for
computing volumes were made part of the Official Log
Scaling & Grading Rules.
“Check Scales” were added to Rule Book.
“Rescale” was added to Rule Book.
A new version of the Rule Book was printed, dated
Spruce”, changed “4 annual rings” to “6 annual rings.”
Ponderosa Pine and Sugar Pine from 17’ to 16’.
Page 1 of 4
appropriate to do so, length deductions for defect are to
be made in multiples of one foot.”
from 14” to 12” and changed the slope of grain table
accordingly for Sitka Spruce, Fast Growth
Hemlock and
Added the words “(Except Hardwoods)” to the definition
of “Short Log” at the top of page 13.
01/01/78 Changed the Douglas Fir Special Cull to Special Cull All Species, deleted reference to “good No. 2 Sawmill”, limited knot size to 2-1/2”, adjusted gross to be 100% usable white speck and/or better veneer, changed deduction specifications.
Changed Special Mill, par. 3, by deleting “scattered
knots” and stipulating a limit of one knot and/or indicator
per foot of log length. Indicators less than ½ no longer
count.
Changed No.3 Douglas Fir Peeler Logs, par. 3 by deleting “scattered knot indicators” and stipulating a limit of one knot indicator per foot of log length. Indicators less than ½” no longer count.
01/01/79 Adopted, under Special Scales, the Cubic Foot Log Scaling Rule. Uses Scribner length and diameter measurements, plus large end diameter and estimate of content of log not suitable for chips expressed as a percentage of gross cubic. Cubic volume calculated using formula for frustum of a cone, adding 0.7 inch to all diameters, and 0.67 foot to lengths 16’ and shorter, 1.00 foot to lengths 17’ and longer.
01/01/80 Changed the Short Log rule to provide for scaling
merchantable pieces having a scaling length less than 8’ , by Special Request.
01/01/82 As a standard rule, scale all logs in multiples of one foot; no trim required, 12” allowed, addition trim of 2” allowed for each 10’ (or fraction thereof) by which length exceeds 40’; two foot multiples per pre-01/01/82 rules available upon Special Request.
Change “Industrial and Better” to “Standard and Better”
in Western White Pine rule. No. 3 Sawmill.
Changed Fast Growth Douglas Fir and Fast Growth Sitka
Spruce rule to be applied only upon Special Request.
Page 2 of 4
A new version of the Rule Book was printed, dated
01/01/82.
01/01/83 Add the following to the “Note” in Utility (Pulp) rule: A log, or part of a log, shall be considered barkable if it will not fall apart when subjected to the barking process and is 90% barkable.
01/01/84 Wormy Cedar logs will be shown separately on the certificate, upon Special Request.
01/01/87 Adopted the Peelable Cull - All Species rule.
01/01/90 Adopted the Wormy Red Cedar rule.
01/01/92 Short Log rule revised “Any Sawmill Grade log (including Special Mill) above Cull Grade (except Hardwoods) that is below the minimum specified length for each grade, shall be graded accordingly with a Short Log designation to a minimum of eight feet. Logs shorter than eight feet may be scaled under Special Services.”
Adopted Hemlock Peeler Bocks.
01/01/95 Added recovery language to Western Red Cedar No. 2 sawmill.
Monterey and Bishop Pine were added to Western White Pine grading rules.
Language added to Red Alder rule “Must be cut from green timber”.
Language added to Douglas Fir No. 1 and No. 2 peeler grades “May include logs with not more than two (2) knots”.
Recovery requirements and a minimum diameter of 5” were added to No. 4 Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar, Western White Pine, Cottonwood, Red Alder, and No. 6 sawmill Ponderosa & Sugar Pine.
The utility grade was established as a general rule.
01/07/96 Defect and Quality control codes were adopted.
01/01/98 “Excluding Core Volume” was added to the recovery of all peeler grades.
“Suitable for rotary cutting” was defined.
Wormy Cedar Cull lumber recovery requirements were established.
Page 3 of 4
“Sapwood area” was defined for Wormy Cedar.
01/01/99 Red Alder No. 5 sawmill grade was added.
01/01/00 “Must be cut from green timber” was removed from the Red Alder grade.
01/01/01 The minimum trim was changed to 8”.
07/01/01 "When grading fast growth Douglas Fir logs, scalers
will pay special attention to knot spacing, knot whorls, and large knot
collars. These conditions could cause excessive grain distortion which may
preclude the log from producing the
required recovery, even though the knot size does not exceed the maximum."
Was added to the note section on page 8 of the rule book.
01/01/03 Eastside scaling and grading rules were formally adopted.
07/01/03 “Spruce and Hemlock with associated species” were added to Douglas Fir under the Note section on page 8 of the rulebook.
A standard grade was established to identify logs with metal or any foreign material.
01/01/05 The term “Old Growth” was removed from the rule book.
03/16/06 “Check Scale” definition is added to the rulebook
10/02/08 Region 1 defined as North of the Salmon River in Idaho
Page 4 of 4