Spruce Pine Fir South

[Atomic25]

This may be an obvious question, but there is a large different between Spruce Pine Fir and Spruce Pine Fir South. Where in the United States is each of these predominately used? Is there actual differences in the stamped designations if I go to check this in the field?

 

[COEngineeer]

Yes there is a difference. Spruce pine fir south is weaker. Check NDS. Specific gravity of spf is 0.42. for spf south is 0.36. Check 2005 NDS table 113.2A

http://www.swijetty.com

Sea Water Intake and Jetty Construction

 

[Atomic25]

My bad, I worded that kinda goofy.....I stated there is a large difference, and want to know where each is predominantly used in the US. It doesnt seem to be logical because I have a contractor in the South using SPF.

 

[FSS]

The "south" part is misleading and does not mean use in the southern part of US. We get our SPF from Canada, which definitely is not SPF "south"

A call to a lumber yard or two should get you the answers you need.

 

[ctcray]

SPF South is noted SPFs on the grade stamp. Sometimes the little "s" is in brackets like SPF(s). In the Mid-Atlantic region, I think you'll find both in lumber yards, especially in 2x4 and 2x6 in 8' and 10' lengths as well as in 92-5/8" and 104-5/8" precut lengths. The lumber buyers are just looking for the cheapest studs to compete with HD and Lowes for these particular lengths.

All of our long lengths in 2x4 and 2x6 as well as all lengths in 2x8, 2x10, and 2x12 are SPF from Canada.

Your concern is valid, too that SPFs is much inferior to SPF. Most Contractors are not concerned with (or aware of) the difference between the two.

 

[csd72]

The US really needs a universal grading system.

In many countries timber is marked with a stress grade giving the minimum bending stress strength of a timber regardless of its species. Other properties are specified relative to this property.

csd

 

[boo1]

Thanks CTCRAY i had wondered adout the diffence for years...

 

[RARWOOD]

SPF & SPFs are species combinations. That means that lumber from a number of different trees fall into that grouping. Different species of wood may be grouped together for a number of reasons. They may have similair strength properties. They may have similair end uses. For example a stud mill may only produce 2x4s. They don't want to sort the material by species. Also sometimes for finish material species that all look the same will be grouped together.

SPF is a grade used for trees grown in Canada. SPFs is a grade used for trees grown in the US. The main reason the strength properties of SPFs are lower than SPF is because SPFs allows for some species that are not found in the SPF grouping. SPFs may contain lumber from Norway Pine, and Sitka Spruce, two species not found in the Canadian grouping.

Another factor is that trees that grow in different parts of North America, have different strength properties. Doug Fir-Larch N from Canada sg=0.49, Doug Fir-Larch from the Northern growing range in the Us sg=0.5 & Doug Fir-South from the Southern growing range sg=0.46.

The use of stress classes has been talked about in the US. I personally would not like a stress class system.

All lumber is not created equal, Douf Fir is more stable than Souther Pine. Southern Pine treats easier than Doug Fir.

 

[csd72]

RARSWC,

Agree it has its drawbacks, but you just call up F5 doug Fir (if you need the properties of doug fir and the strength grade F5) then they at least cant get the strength wrong.

csd