Based on SPIB Grading Rules

Visually Graded Dimension Lumber: 2" to 4" thick, 2" and wider
See Table 1 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
*Dense Select Structural
Select Structural
*Select Structural Non-Dense
High quality, limited in characteristics that affect strength or stiffness. Recommended for uses where high strength, stiffness and good appearance are desired.
*No.1 Dense
No.1
*No. 1 Non-Dense
Recommended for construction where high strength, stiffness and good appearance are desired.
*No.2 Dense
No.2
*No.2 Non-Dense
Recommended for most general construction uses where moderately high design values are required. Allows well-spaced knots of any quality.
No.3Recommended for general construction purposes where appearance is not a controlling factor. Many pieces included in this grade would qualify as No.2 except for a single limiting characteristic.
StudSuitable for stud uses including use in load-bearing walls. Composite of No.3 strength and No.1 nailing edge characteristics for a better nailing surface.
*Construction (2" to 4" wide only)Recommended for general framing purposes. Good appearance, but graded primarily for strength and serviceability.
*Standard (2" to 4" wide only)Recommended for same purposes as Construction grade. Characteristics are limited to provide good strength and excellent serviceability.
*Utility (2" to 4" wide only)Recommended where a combination of economical construction and good strength is desired. Used for such purposes as studding, blocking, plates, bracing and rafters. Design values only apply to utility lumber that is 4” wide.
Economy (Design values are not assigned)Usable lengths suitable for bracing, blocking, bulkheading and other general utility purposes where strength and appearance are not a consideration.
Prime Dimension: 2" to 4" thick, 2" to 12" wide
See Table 1 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
No.1 PrimeRecommended where appearance and strength are a consideration. Grade based on No.1 Dimension Lumber except wane and other characteristics that affect appearance are limited.
No.2 PrimeRecommended where appearance and strength are a consideration. Grade based on No.2 Dimension Lumber except wane and other characteristics that affect appearance are limited.
*Timbers: 5" x 5" and larger
See Table 3 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Dense Select Structural Select StructuralRecommended where high strength, stiffness and good appearance are desired.
No.1 Dense
No.1
Recommended for general construction uses. Similar in appearance to No.1 Dimension Lumber.
No.2 Dense
No.2
Recommended for general construction uses. Similar in appearance to No.2 Dimension Lumber.
No.3
(Design values are not assigned)
Non-stress rated, but economical for general utility purposes such as bracing, blocking, bulkheading, etc.
*Mechanically Graded Lumber - Machine Stress Rated (MSR) Lumber: 4" and less in thickness, 2" and wider
See Table 2 or SPIB Grading Rules for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
750f - 1.4E thru 3000f - 2.4EMachine Stress Rated (MSR) lumber is evaluated by mechanical stress rating equipment. MSR lumber is distinguished from visually stress graded lumber in that each piece is non-destructively tested. MSR lumber is also required to meet certain visual grading requirements. The grade mark can include "1W" or "2W" if visually graded to the wane requirements for No.1 or No.2 dimension lumber, respectively.
*Mechanically Graded Lumber - Machine Evaluated Lumber (MEL): 4" and less in thickness, 2" and wider
See Table 2 or SPIB Grading Rules for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
M-5 thru M-42Well-manufactured material evaluated by calibrated mechanical grading equipment which measures certain properties and sorts the lumber into various strength classifications. Machine Evaluated Lumber is also required to meet certain visual requirements. The grade mark can include "1W" or "2W" if visually graded to the wane requirements for No.1 or No.2 dimension lumber, respectively.
*E-rated Structural Laminations: 4" and less in thickness, 2" and wider
Design Values by qualification
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
E-gradesSuitable for use as individual laminations for structural glued laminated timbers. This lumber has been non-destructively evaluated by an American Lumber Standard Committee approved machine.
*Glued Lumber: 4" and less in thickness, widths vary by product
See Table 1 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
See Dimension Lumber GradesEnd-glued, face-glued, and edge-glued Southern Pine in glued assemblies, including stress-rated grades of finger-jointed 2" Dimension Lumber.
*Scaffold Plank: 2" and 3" thick, 8" and wider
See Table 4 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Dense Industrial 72 Scaffold Plank
Dense Industrial 65 Scaffold Plank
All Scaffold Plank design values are calculated using ASTM Standards D245 and D2555. These values are modified using procedures shown in "Calculating Apparent Reliability of Wood Scaffold Planks," as published by the Journal on Structural Safety, 2 (1984) 47-57, and updated in 1993.
MSR Scaffold Plank: 2400f - 2.0E
MSR Scaffold Plank: 2200f - 1.8E
Dressed to standard dry size prior to machine stress rating, and visually graded to assure that characteristics affecting strength are no more serious than the limiting characteristics for each grade. MSR Scaffold Plank is available 2"-thick only.
*Stadium Grade: 2" thick, 4" to 12" wide
See Table 1 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
No.1 Dense Stadium Grade
No.1 Stadium Grade
For outdoor seating. Free of pitch pockets, pitch streaks and medium pitch on one wide face, but otherwise conforms to No.1 Dense or No.1 Dimension Lumber.
*Seawall Grades: 2" to 4" thick, 6" to 14" wide
See Table 1 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Any grade of Dimension LumberOne wide face and both adjacent narrow faces must be free of pith and/or heartwood. Application of the product requires pressure treatment by an approved treating process and preservative for
marine usage.
*Marine Grades: 1" to 20" thick, 2" to 20" wide
See Table 1 & 3 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Any grade of Dimension Lumber or TimbersAll four longitudinal faces must be free of pith and/or heartwood. Application of the product requires pressure treatment by an approved treating process and preservative for marine usage.
*Decking, Heavy Roofing and Heavy Shiplap: 2" to 4" thick, 4" and wider
See SPIB Grading Rules for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Dense Standard DeckingA superior decking grade, suitable for plank floor where face serves as finish floor. Has a better appearance than No.1 Dense Dimension Lumber because of additional restrictions on firm red heart, pith, knots and wane.
Dense Select Decking
Select Decking
An excellent decking grade that can be used face side down for roof decking or face side up for floor decking.
Dense Commercial Decking
Commercial Decking
An economical roof decking which conforms to No. 2 Dimension Lumber characteristics.
Boards: 1" to 1-1/2" thick, 2" and wider
See Table 1 for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Industrial 55Graded as per No.1 Dimension Lumber.
Industrial 45Graded as per No.2 Dimension Lumber.
Industrial 26Graded as per No.3 Dimension Lumber.
No.1
(Design values are not assigned)
High quality with good appearance characteristics. Generally sound and tight-knotted. Largest hole permitted is 1/16". Superior product suitable for a wide range of uses including shelving, boxing, crating, and form lumber.
No.2
(Design values are not assigned)
Good-quality sheathing, fencing, shelving and other general purpose uses.
No.3
(Design values are not assigned)
Good, serviceable sheathing; usable for many economical applications without waste.
No.4
(Design values are not assigned)
Admits pieces below a No.3 grade which can be used without waste, or which contain less than 25% waste by cutting.
* Most mills do not manufacture all products and make all grade separations. Those products and grades
not manufactured by most mills are noted with an asterisk.
*Industrial Lumber: 2" and thicker, 2" and wider
See SPIB Special Product Rules for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Industrial 86Appearance is same as B&B Finish for thicknesses of 4" and less
and widths 12" and less. Larger sizes conform to Dense Structural 86 Structural Lumber except for dense grain requirement.
Industrial 72Appearance is same as C Finish for thicknesses of 4" and less and widths 12" and less. Larger sizes conform to Dense Structural 72 Structural Lumber except for dense grain requirement.
Industrial 65Appearance is same as D Finish for thicknesses 4" and less and widths 12" and less. Larger sizes conform to Dense Structural 65 Structural Lumber except for dense grain requirement.
*Structural Lumber: 2" and thicker, 2" and wider
See SPIB Special Product Rules for design values
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
Dense Structural 86
Dense Structural 72
Dense Structural 65
Premier structural grades. Provides good appearance with some of
the highest design values available in any softwood species.
Radius Edge Decking: 1-1/4" thick, 4" to 6" wide
Maximum recommended support spacing is 24" on center (16" on center for Imported Southern Pine)
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
PremiumHigh-quality product, recommended where smallest knots are
desired and appearance is of utmost importance. Excellent for
painting or staining.
StandardSlightly less restrictive than premium grade. A very good product to
use where a more rustic appearance is desired. Excellent for painting
or staining.
Finish: 3/8" to 4" thick, 2" and wider
Design values are not assigned
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
*B&BHighest recognized grade of Finish. Generally clear, although a
limited number of pin knots are permitted. Finest quality for natural
or stain finish.
CExcellent for painting or natural finish where requirements are less exacting. Reasonably clear, but permits limited number of surface checks and small tight knots.
C&BtrCombination for B&B and C grades; satisfies requirements for
high-quality finish.
DEconomical, serviceable grade for natural or painted finish.
Flooring, Drop Siding, Paneling, Ceiling and Partition, OG Batts, Bevel Siding, Miscellaneous Millwork
Design values are not assigned
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
*B&B, C
C&Btr, D
See Finish grades for face side; reverse side wane limitations are lower.
No.1No.1 Drop Siding is graded as No.1 Boards; No.1 Flooring and Paneling not provided under SPIB Grading Rules as a separate grade, but if specified, will be designated and graded as D.
No.2Graded as No.2 Boards. High utility value where appearance is
not a factor.
No.3Suitable for economical use as sheathing or lathing.
Moulding
Design values are not assigned
GradeGrade Characteristics and Typical Uses
B&B, C
C&Btr, D
Recommended for moulding and millwork applications.
* Most mills do not manufacture all products and make all grade separations. Those products and grades not manufactured by most mills are noted with an asterisk.