Building Codes and Home-Sawn Lumber?

[Virginia JenkinsParticipant]

Hello,

 

I bought a piece of timbered land in Virginia, and my plan is to get a bandsaw mill and mill some of the loblolly pine on the property for use in building a shop and a house, but in reading threads on this GREAT website, I now see that in some localities or states (I think NY was one), they won’t let you build a dwelling with lumber that doesn’t have The Man’s® tax stamp grade stamp on it.

 

This would really foul me up if I went and spent $$$ on a saw and the rest of the associated equipment and then found that I couldn’t use the lumber to build a house.

 

Can anyone tell me:

 

1. What such laws are called (for example “Lumber Grade Building Codes”) so that I can try to figure out whether my county or state has such a law? and

 

2. Whether Virginia has such a law?

 

 

Please Help.

 

Thanks !

 

I didn’t find the right solution from the internet.

 

References:

http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=86414.0

 

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[Jamie WilksModerator]

Virginia Jenkins

Below are the code provisions in the Virginia USBC related to your questions:

From the Virginia IRC (Residential Code)

SECTION R602

WOOD WALL FRAMING

R602.1 Identification. Load-bearing dimension lumber for

studs, plates and headers shall be identified by a grade mark

of a lumber grading or inspection agency that has been

approved by an accreditation body that complies with DOC

PS 20. In lieu of a grade mark, a certification of inspection

issued by a lumber grading or inspection agency meeting the

requirements of this section shall be accepted.

SECTION R502

WOOD FLOOR FRAMING

R502.1 Identification. Load-bearing dimension lumber for

joists, beams and girders shall be identified by a grade mark

of a lumber grading or inspection agency that has been

approved by an accreditation body that complies with DOC

PS 20. In lieu of a grade mark, a certificate of inspection

issued by a lumber grading or inspection agency meeting the

requirements of this section shall be accepted.

SECTION R802

WOOD ROOF FRAMING

R802.1 Identification. Load-bearing dimension lumber for

rafters, trusses and ceiling joists shall be identified by a grade

mark of a lumber grading or inspection agency that has been

approved by an accreditation body that complies with DOC

PS 20. In lieu of a grade mark, a certificate of inspection

issued by a lumber grading or inspection agency meeting the

requirements of this section shall be accepted.

 

From the Virginia Construction Code

SECTION 2303

MINIMUM STANDARDS AND QUALITY

2303.1.1 Sawn lumber. Sawn lumber used for load-supporting

purposes, including end-jointed or edge-glued

lumber, machine stress-rated or machine-evaluated lumber,

shall be identified by the grade mark of a lumber grading

or inspection agency that has been approved by an

accreditation body that complies with DOC PS 20 or

equivalent. Grading practices and identification shall comply

with rules published by an agency approved in accordance

with the procedures of DOC PS 20 or equivalent

procedures.

2303.1.1.1 Certificate of inspection. In lieu of a grade

mark on the material, a certificate of inspection as to

species and grade issued by a lumber grading or inspection

agency meeting the requirements of this section is

permitted to be accepted for precut, remanufactured or

rough-sawn lumber and for sizes larger than 3 inches

 

(76 mm) nominal thickness.

Hope this helps.

[Gary M WallaceParticipant]

Some jurisdictions will accept a letter stating species and grade from a certified lumber inspector along with a copy of the inspectors certificate. You would want to check with the building official in your jurisdiction to see if they would allow this. There are several lumber inspectors close to the area that I live, that will that will come to the site/ mill and grade the lumber. That may be an option but, check with your local building department first, to see what they are going to require

Gary M. Wallace
Code Compliance Investigator II, gary.wallace@fairfaxcounty.gov

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