old dimensional lumber 2

[KarlT]

I also posted this in the wood forum....

does anybody know what the nominal dimensions of a 2x14" wood joist would be from 1961 vintage in Canada?

 

[whyun]

1966 Timber Construction Manual (First Edition)lists the 2x14 sawn lumber dimension as 1 5/8" x 13 1/2".

1954 AISC Steel Construction Manual (Fifth Edition) page 345 lists the 2x14 dimension as 1 5/8" x 13 1/2" as well.

 

[RARWOOD]

You could contact the National Lumber Grades Authority of Canada for this information. However I would suspect that the First Edition AITC Manual is correct.

I checked the Douglas Fir Use Book Copyright 1958 which also gave the size of a 2 x 14 as 1 5/8" x 13 1/2".

 

[whyun]

1970 WWPA Grading Rules book indicates 2x14 to be 1 1/2x 13 1/4". Transition from the old lumber sizes to new sizes occurred around late '60s to early '70s.

 

[RARWOOD]

Adding information to whyun's reply; the standardization of dimension lumber sizes was achieved by the development and adoption of the National Grade Rule for Softwood Dimension Lumber. My 1998 Western Wood Products grade rule book indicates that the NGR was developed concurrently with PS 20-70. PS 20 is a voluntary product standard for the manufacture of soft wood lumber.

If you compare the dimension lumber grade rules published by WWPA, WCLB, SPIB and NLGA, you will see that they are identical.