Timber Framers Guild Forums Archive Archive -- Timber engineering Spruce and Fir Questions

I thought a timber was a minimum of 5"x5" John.

Right. If both dimensions of the cross section are 5-inches or greater, then the classification of "beam and stringer" and "post and timbers" applies. You can use a "beam and stringer" in compression or tension if you want. Likewise you can use a "post and timber" in bending. The point is that the grader looks at the pieces differently (with respect to defect type, size, and location) and the individual pieces have different design values. A 4x8 falls under the "dimension lumber" classification -- yet another set of design values.

Dick,

Is there a web site where I can check out the dimensioned lumber values or do you have the name of the full publication so that I can purchase it ?

Ken Hume http://www.clik.to/WorldofWood

The specification of the categories and the design values for both dimension lumber (width < 5") and heavy timber (width >= 5") are in the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction supplement: Design Values for Wood Construction. It is published by the American Wood Council of the AF&PA. http://www.awc.org/ Click on Design Standards.



[This message has been edited by Dick Schmidt (edited 02-28-2002).]

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