NHLA GRADING RULES -- HARDWOODS

There are 8 hardwood lumber grades in widespread use today. FAS being the highest and No.3B Common the lowest. Higher grades have more large clear area than lower grades.

Grade is determined from the poorest face or side of the lumber. Lumber thickness is not considered, grades are based on two faces alone.

Basic Hardwood Grades

FAS: First and seconds. Highest grade. Kiln-dried, value is often more than $2.00 per board foot on the wholesale market. No. 2A Common: Standard grade for cabinets, millwork and other uses requiring medium to short cuttings.
FAS 1-Face (F1F): Select lumber that is 6 inches and wider. No. 2B Common: Same as No. 2A Common, except that stain and other defects are admitted in the clear cuttings. Excellent paint grade.
Select: No.1 Common piece of lumber (the poorer side grades No.1 Common) and the reverse side (better side) grades FAS. No. 3B Common: Graded on the bases of sound cuttings rather than clear cuttings. Widely used for pallets and crating.
No. 1 Common: Standard furniture grade.

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Hardwood Grades in Table Form

HARDWOOD

GRADES

              

Minimum Board Width

Minimum Board Length

Minimum Cutting Size

Basic Yield

Required Cutting Units

Number of Cuttings

One Extra Cutting Yield
FAS

8 inches

8 feet

4"x5'

3"x7'

83-1/3%

SMx10

SM/4

(4 max)

SMx11
No. 1 Common

3 inches

4 feet

4"x2'

3"x3'

66-2/3%

SMx6

(SM+1)/3

(5 max)

SMx9
No. 2A&B Common

3 inches

4 feet

3"x2'

50%

SMx6

SM/2

(7 max)

SMx8
No. 3A Common

3 inches

4 feet

3"x2'

33-1/3%

SMx4

unlimited

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No. 3B Common

3 inches

4 feet

1 1/2"x2'

approx.

25%

SMx3

unlimited

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Shown in the figure above are two possible clear cuttings of a hardwood board.

When cutting hardwood lumber into a usable piece of wood, often referred to as parts, the ratio of the volume of parts to the volume of lumber is called yield, and is usually expressed in percentages. In general, the higher the grade of lumber, the higher the yield. However, Select and 1-Face lumber usually have a yield (clear on both faces) that is the same as No. 1 Common lumber.

Unlike softwood lumber, where the grade reflects the strength and therefore the load carrying capacity and safety of a particular piece when used in construction, hardwood lumber grading does not require a certified or licensed grader.

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