rd
party certified log grading program. The LHC officially recognizes three properly accredited
programs that members can subscribe to – LHC Log Grading Program, the
Timber Products Inspection (TPI) and the VTT Finnish Grading Program.
The three programs are functional equivalents. As a matter of
fact, the LHC was the first to create a grading program specific to log
structures – TPI and others followed. In the early 1980’s, the LHC wrote
the first uniform grade rules defining and quantifying the limiting
characteristics of structural members. This was done after a push was
made for the development in 1980 of ASTM Standard D3957, which the
program is now based. The LHC Log Grading Committee has maintained the
program in accordance with any changes in building codes since that
time. The LHC Grading Program is in compliance with the International
Accreditation Service (IAS) under the ISO 17020 requirements for grading
agencies.
Additionally, throughout 2005 and 2006, Log Homes Council
representatives Chaired and sat on the committee that developed
International Code Council (ICC) 400, an ANSI based ‘Standard On the
Design and Construction of Log Structures.’ The Standard released early
in 2007 and will be referenced in the IRC. Section 302 of the standard
indicates that “all logs shall be stress graded and identified by the
grade mark or Certificate of Inspection issues by an accredited log
grading agency.” The Log Homes Council Grading program meets this
requirement and has done so for over 20 years.
Members of the Log Homes Council have been shipping log home kits
all over the country and world for many, many years. As long as the log
home kit is coming from an LHC member, the customer, code official and
others can be assured that each timber has been graded under a credible
standard, ensuring quality constructed homes. Ensuring code compliance
is an important issue, because the truth is, there are many log home
companies out there that do not grade their timbers or follow a standard
building code. For more information on the Log Homes Council, please see
www.loghomes.org.
The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based
trade association representing more than 250,000 members involved in
home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property
management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product
manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial
construction. Known as “the voice of the housing industry,” NAHB is
affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations
around the country.
