Read more about Hemlock
Pacific Coast Hemlock
is the commercial designation given to one of
British Columbia's most abundant species: Western
Hemlock. The quality of abundance is one which
manufacturers will value increasingly in the
future. since Pacific Coast Hemlock comprise some
60 percent of British Columbia's coastal forest
resources, continued supply in a wide range of
grades and dimensions is assured.
In
Canada, the United States and international
markets, Pacific Coast Hemlock is finding
increasing favour as a viable alternative to
hardwood and other softwoods in the production of
quality millwork and joinery. Introduce Pacific
Coast Hemlock into your production line soon. For
ease and speed of production of the, highest
quality millwork and joinery, it could be the most
profitable decision you'll ever make. If you have
any further question e-mail or call
US
Of the West's
approximately 136 million acres of forested land,
there are nearly 40 million acres of commercial
timberland* and nearly 50 million acres of
forested land, including some 13 million acres of
designated "old growth," permanently set aside in
parks, scenic reserves, wilderness areas, habitat
reserves and research areas -- forever protected
from harvesting. In addition, as of 1996, more
than 80 percent of the forested area in the
region's National Forests has been withdrawn from
timber harvesting due to legislative,
administrative, or judicial actions as even more
progressive ecosystem management plans are
implemented.
Hem-Fir species group
In the Western Woods
region, the 12 contiguous Western states plus
Alaska, there are approximately 20 commercially
important species well suited to softwood lumber
production. While each has unique characteristics,
physical and mechanical working properties, making
it appropriate for specific applications, these
Western softwood species are grouped into six
primary combinations. These combinations simplify
production, inventories and distribution, and
facilitate engineering and product specification
for design.
Hem-Fir is a species
combination of Western Hemlock (Tsuga
heterophylla) and five of the True Firs:
California Red Fir (Abies magnifica), Grand Fir
(Abies grandis), Noble Fir (Abies procera),
Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis), and White Fir
(Abies concolor). While Western Hemlock and the
True Firs are sometimes marketed separately in
products graded for appearance, these species
share similar design values making products graded
for structural applications interchangeable.
The Hem-Fir species
combination is one of the most important in the
Western region, second only to the Douglas
Fir-Larch species group in terms of abundance,
production volumes, strength, and versatility in
end use.
Additional info
Since Hem-Fir framing
lumber products are nearly as strong as Douglas
Fir-Larch, they can meet many of the structural
load-bearing and load-carrying requirements of
residential, light commercial and heavy
construction. With their good strength and
stiffness properties, S-DRY and KD Hem-Fir
structural-grade products are well suited to
framing systems where solid-sawn, structural
lumber is needed for immediate use in an assembly
of other dry framing products (I-beams,
structural-glued finger-jointed lumber,
stress-rated boards, etc.). Dry Hem-Fir framing
products are subject to minimal shrinkage and
checking, and thus perform extremely well in hot,
dry climates, or in cold, low-humidity climates,
and in multistory framing.
Recently, in some
regions of the U.S., end users have experienced
"bouncy" floors when imported species have been
used to their maximum allowable published spans.
In contrast, published design values for all U.S.
species combinations have proven reliable in end
use and U.S. species perform well to published
allowable maximum spans. Hem-Fir's modulus of
elasticity (MOE or E) value, a stiffness factor in
floor systems, exceeds all other Western species
combinations except Douglas Fir-Larch, the species
combination which is held as the standard against
which all other framing lumber is measured
worldwide. It is the combination of stiffness (MOE
value) and strength (Fb value) that yields a
satisfactory floor system.
Hem-Fir is additionally
preferred by many builders because of its:
resistance to splitting in nailing and screwing;
ability to hold nails and screws securely; ease of
sawing without splintering; ability to hold a
variety of glues and adhesives; and moderate
lightness in weight. It is straight grained,
stiff, strong, easy to work and relatively free
from pitch.
Dimension Lumber: The
bulk of S-DRY and KD Hem-Fir is produced in
Dimension lumber sizes (2" to 4" thick by 2" and
wider). Dimension lumber Hem-Fir products include:
Structural Light Framing grades fit applications
where high design values are needed in
light-framing sizes for engineered applications,
trusses, laminated products and multistory
projects. (grades include SELECT STRUCTURAL, NO.
1&BTR, NO. 1, NO. 2, and NO. 3.) These grades
may be a special order for some retail lumber
suppliers. Light Framing grades are intended for
general framing applications such as wall framing,
plates, sills, cripples, blocking, etc.
(CONSTRUCTION, STANDARD, and UTILITY). STUD grade
is intended for vertical installations in wall
systems and other applications including blocking
and furring. Structural Joists & Planks, in
2x5 through 4x18 sizes (with the majority of
production in 2x6 through 4x12), are available in
SELECT STRUCTURAL, NO. 1&BTR J&P, NO. 1,
NO. 2 and NO. 3 to fit engineered applications
where larger-sized members are required. Special
Dimension: Hem-Fir products in this category
include Machine Stress-Rated (MSR) lumber for
components manufacturing and engineered
applications, and structural-glued (end- or
fingerjointed) products,which are recognized by
U.S. building codes as interchangeable with
solid-sawn lumber products of the same grade,
species and intended end use.
One quarter of the
lumber used in components and truss manufacturing
is MSR lumber. Hem-Fir MSR products are commonly
available in several stress levels, occasionally
up to 2400 Fb-2.0E. These MSR products offer good
strength-to-weight properties, recognized
plate-holding ability, exceptional stiffness and
consistent availability in a variety of lengths,
widths and grades. for more informatiom e-mail US
sales@premiumquality.net
