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Grading and scaling
regulations for forestry products GENERAL SPESIFICATIONS Developed by "Tømmermålingsforeningenes
Fellesorgan" (TMF) and sanctioned by FUNT 12.03.98. |
LIST OF CONTENTS:
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AGREEMENT ON GRADING AND SCALING OF FORESTRY PRODUCTS (SAWLOGS AND PULPWOOD) Partners in the Agreement are the main organisations partaking in the trade of forestry products and the timber grading associations. The Agreement is based on the Law of forestry, §§ 42 and 16 last link, and appertaining directions of 28 February 1994 on payment of forestry rate, grading and scaling of forestry products, etc.. § 1 The objective of the agreement The objective of this Agreement is to ensure neutral, correct and rational grading and scaling, besides providing conditions for good cooperation between the partners. § 2 Extent of the agreement – grading and scaling duties The Agreement encompasses grading and scaling forestry products (sawlogs and pulpwood) etc. It is referred to § 3.1 in the regulations of the Department of Agriculture on grading and scaling duties pertaining all forestry products to be processed, sold or exported. Grading and scaling is ordinarily executed by a Timber Grading Association. It is assumed that the execution of grading and scaling is in accordance with the regulations and that the Timber Grading Association takes on the responsibility of documenting the results. Otherwise it is referred to the regulations in force regarding the execution of grading and scaling and how it is to be controlled, etc. confer § 4.2. § 3 Timber Grading Associations A Timber Grading Association is an association of sellers and buyers of forestry products with the objective to execute grading and scaling of roundwood and chips. The convention of the Association is to be composed in accordance with the pattern convention enclosed in this agreement, with any deviations being agreed upon by the associating partners. Convention rules deviating principally from the pattern convention in force are to be sanctioned by FUNT – confer §4. Central and local organizations within forestry and forest industries may initiate negotiations regarding fusion of timber grading associations and other eventual changes in order to obtain more modern and rational grading and scaling. The Timber Grading Associations are supposed to establish the Timber Grading Associations Council ("Tømmermålingsforeningenes Fellesorgan (TMF)") as a professional cooperative organization for timber grading and scaling in Norway (Addendum 2) § 4. Administration of the Agreement – Joint Committee for Norwegian Grading and Scaling of Roundwood ("Fellesutvalg for norsk tømmermåling (FUNT)") The partners appoint a joint committee to administer this Agreement.
The committee must have at least 3 members present to be able to make decisions. Among those present must be at least one member from each of the participating groups, the sellers, the buyers and 1 timber grading executive. Decisions may be made with ordinary majority, although at least each of the group representing the sellers and the buyers must cast 1 vote in favour of the issue in question. § 5. Activation, changes and termination of the agreement This agreement replaces the agreement of 3 February 1993 between the main organizations. It is valid until superseded by a new agreement, or one of the parts having given notice of termination prior to 1 June for enforcement as off 31 December. Proposals for change of the agreement are to be presented to the Joint Comittee for Norwegian Grading and Scaling of Roundwood (FUNT) prior to treatment in the respective main organizations and timber grading associations partaking in this agreement. Signed in November/December of 1994 by the following signatories: Trelastindustriens Servicekontor, Treforedlingsindustriens Bransjeforening, Norsk Skogbruksforening, Norges Skogeierforbund, and the Timber Grading Associations from Øst-Norge, Nordenfjelske, Agder and Rogaland, Drammensvassdraget * ,Lågen-Telemark*, and Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane* . (the ones marked* have later joined into "Tømmermåling Sør").
GRADING AND SCALING REGULATIONS FOR FORESTRY PRODUCTS (SAWLOGS AND PULPWOOD) GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS. These regulations have been established on the basis of an agreement between "Norges Skogeierforbund, Norsk Skogbruksforening, Trelastindustriens Servicekontor, Treforedlingsindustriens Bransjeforening and the Timber Grading Associations. The agreement was signed in December of 1994. 1.1 Grading and scaling duties. The Law on forestry and forest protection (The Forestry-Law) of 21 May 1965 has in §16, last link, the following regulation: "Provided not otherwise specified by the Department shall buyer and seller of forestry products ensure that all roundwood being felled for processing, sale or export is graded and scaled. The Department may give more detailed regulations about registration and documentation obligations regarding such grading and scaling." The Department of Agriculture laid 12 June 1995 down regulations stating that: "Special-timbers, sawlogs, pulpwood and other types of roundwood, including wood graded and measured in standing trees - regardless of species - are to be regarded as forestry products." "Buyers and sellers of forestry products are obliged to have all forestry products harvested for processing, sale or export, graded and scaled in a satisfactory manner..." The Department may give dispensation from the regulation. 1.2 Working conditions at the grading place. The conditions at the grading place must be conveniently arranged so that grading and scaling can be performed in an efficient and correct manner and with neutrality regarding part interests. The need for adequate lighting, secure transport arrangements, enough space, solid foundation, etc. must be adequately taken care of. The grading place must furthermore have enough room for the timber grading association to perform control measurements, included herein to be able to store control-objects when needed. When grading at the industry site or at a terminal adequate room must be available to dispose of eventual rejected loads. With reference to and based on the regulations mentioned, a Timber Grading Association may deny the partners grading and scaling. Forestry products to be graded and scaled must be properly inspected. Whether the object to be graded is a truckload, a bundle or a rank, the wood quality is to be determined on the basis of the visible part of the object. The quality of the whole object is determined by the quality of the visible part, if it may be presumed that the latter is representative. The grader may determine that an object is to be spread out for closer inspection. In such a case the grader decides the measuring method to be used. The grading association stipulates the documentation
and supplier identification necessary for roundwood to be graded and scaled. Prior to grading and scaling the grader judges the load/lot with regard to the following:
If these conditions are not satisfied as judged by the reception control, the load/lot may be rejected for grading and scaling. The parts are to be summoned according to agreed routines. The timber is judged according to the regulations for the actual assortments. Timber is rejected when it does not fulfil the requirements regarding length, diameter or quality. Quality is valued after eventual reduction of length or diameter for qualities where such reduction is permitted. The timber shall be well pruned and cut off at right angles in both ends to make it suitable for further processing. Ordinary undercuts are permitted. For pulpwood single logs with broken off ends are permitted; in such cases length and diameter are measured from a full cross section. When grading and measuring on an industry site, the rejected wood falls to the buyer, if otherwise is not agreed upon in the contract. The rejected volume falling to the buyer is to be registered. When grading and scaling is performed in the forest, rejected logs are not to be measured but are to be marked so they may be separated from the graded and measured logs. The grader may study the wood quality closer. Damages to the timber due to grading, scaling and appurtenant handling are not to be regarded as defects. 1.6 Control of measuring instruments. The grading association is obliged to control the measuring equipment according to the quality system of the association. Associations not having a quality assurance system of their own shall perform their control in accordance with ISO - 9002. Prior to being taken into use for grading and scaling wood for sale, new measuring equipment is to be controlled. After maintenance/changes that may influence the functions of measuring equipment, similar controls are to be performed. Measuring instruments and equipment at the grading place are not to have errors larger than:
The errors of the measuring instruments of the graders are not to exceed
Scales for weighing of transport devices are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Weights and Measurement ("Justervesenet"). Measuring equipment having errors exceeding established tolerance limits are not to be used for grading and scaling for sales, until corrections have been made, and new controls have shown satisfying results. 1.7 Marking of graded and scaled logs. Where the possibility exists that timbers after grading may be mixed with timbers belonging to another buyer, the timber is to be marked according to rules laid down by the grading association. The parts may in agreement with the grading association decide that quality and eventual reduction of length or diameter is to be traced after grading by marking of the individual logs. Logs to be used for control are treated in accordance with the rules laid down for control of grading and scaling. 1.8 Documentation of grading and scaling results. The results of grading and scaling of all objects are to be documented and made available to buyer and supplier/seller. The minimum requirement is information regarding supplier and buyer, assortment, volume and quality, grading and measuring place and date. The grading association is obliged to keep the documentation for 3 years. 2. GRADING AND SCALING METHODS. Forestry products are graded and scaled according to measuring methods and regulations developed by TMF and sanctioned by FUNT, and regulations for the different assortments. The timber is to be displayed so that inspection and registration of grading and scaling data for each log may be performed according to the regulations for the assortment. Logs are rejected when they do not fulfil the requirements of agreed assortments after eventual reductions of length or diameter, the rejected volume is recorded in dm3. With log grading and scaling, length and diameter are recorded. Length is the shortest distance between the butt end and the top end of the log without considering ordinary felling cut. Diameter is to be measured as the average of the largest and the smallest diameter at a right angle to the length direction of the log. By optical-electronical measuring, diameters are recorded in one or more directions. Diameter is to be recorded as:
The measuring point for the log-diameter is not moved if the log length is shortened. Recording of diameter under bark of unbarked assortments may be done as:
2.2 SWVM - Solid Wood Volume Measurement. The wood is to be displayed or stacked in well-organised and separate measuring units/lots. The lot to be measured ought to be the size of a truck-bundle. The grading association may grade and scale larger units of pulpwood in standard lengths, provided each unit may be identified and control grading and scaling may be executed. If the width of the unit exceeds 3 m, it is to be measured in sections. Average figures for the whole load are calculated afterwards. Logs not fulfilling the requirements of the agreed assortments are rejected and the volume is recorded in dm3. Net-volume is distributed per cent on species and eventual quality-classes. 2.2.2 Measuring of loose volume.
Length, width and height of the unit to be measured are recorded in cm. The measurements are taken as if the wood is piled in a box so that all logs in the outer layer touch the sides, the bottom and the lid. When measuring the length the longest logs are regarded as being shortened and that the cut-offs are filling the voids caused by shorter logs. The stakes and beams of the transporting unit function as walls and bottom of the box. When scaling a loaded unit, length, width and height are determined by recording the measurements necessary to do so. When measuring height, the recording is to be adjusted for eventual hollow or cavity for crane. 2.2.3 Estimation of solid wood volume percentage The solid wood volume percentage is the solid wood volume expressed as a percentage of the loose volume of the load, with or without bark. To support the evaluation, factorial tables are used. The grader estimates solid wood volume percentage included eventual rejects. 2.2.4 Basis for value calculation according to SWVM-grading and scaling. When using SWVM for pulpwood the value is computed by multiplying the calculated net solid volume with the agreed price per m3. When using SWVM for sawlogs the number of logs in the load, apart from rejects, is counted. The average log volume is computed by dividing the net solid wood volume by number of logs. The volume-evaluated average length after eventual shortening is used to compute the top-diameter of the average log. The average log is used to calculate the value of approved assortments. Price for the average log is found by interpolation in mm for diameter and cm for length in the current price table, with eventual correction. 2.3 Weight-grading and scaling. The measuring unit ought to be the size of a truck-bundle. Logs not fulfilling the requirements of the agreed assortments are rejected. The rejected volume is recorded in dm3 being converted to kg dry matter according to further instructions. The green weight of the load is recorded after eventual corrections for snow, ice and logging debris. When ice and snow is evenly distributed on the logs in the load the dry weight test probes will directly give corrections for this. When ice and snow is not evenly distributed, the grader must take this into consideration. According to further instructions the grader may subtract up till 4% of the green gross-weight because of snow and ice not represented in the dry-weight test. If snow and ice make up more than 4% of the green gross-weight of the load the load is to be rejected for weight measurement. 2.3.3 Dry-weight and its measurement. When wood measured by weight is to be sold according to dry-weight, representative probes are made by means of a router. The probes are used to determine dry-weight percentage, which is to be recorded with a one-digit decimal. Green-weight multiplied by the dry-weight percentage gives the dry gross-weight of the load. 2.4 Test sampling-grading and scaling. Grading and scaling of collectives on the basis of test sampling may be performed by a combination of different measuring methods and/or parts of these. Collectives are formed by assortments being univocally defined regarding units like for instance logs, bundles, etc. All units in the collective are registered or measured in a simpler way than are the test samples. The test samples are evaluated according to the regulations for the assortments or groups of assortments contained in the collective. Test samples are to be taken randomly and form the basis for final evaluation of the collective. Collectives may be graded and measured over an agreed period summing up volume and quality at the end of the period. The final calculations are based on the results from the test samples. Collectives may also be graded and scaled continuously on the basis of a rolling test sampling procedure. The start of such collectives may be on the basis of statistical data gathered at the start of the collective or according to an agreed procedure. 2.4.2 Measuring accuracy required. Number of test samples to be used is determined on the basis of an assumed coefficient of variation for the group of assortments and the registration unit forming the basis of the collective. For collectives over 15,000 fm3 the number of test samples should be so large that the average failure on the average number is computed to be under 1 % for value and volume. For collectives under 15,000 fm3 the number of test samples is to be so large that the average failure on the average number is computed to be less than 2% for value and volume. The number of test samples by grading and scaling truckloads ought however to be at least 30 for a collective over 7,500 fm3. For collectives under 7,500 fm3, the number of test samples ought to be 15 as a minimum. 2.4.3 Test sampling procedure. Possible test sampling procedures may be:
The collective may include one or more suppliers and one or more buyers. When more suppliers participate in a L/S collective, the loose volume is to be reduced, due to bad piling, bad pruning, crooks, snow, ice, etc. After grading and scaling the loose volume should contain about the same usable volume as with average wood. In the same manner rejects are to be subtracted when more suppliers participate. When test sample grading and scaling, rejected logs are not to be included in the loose volume of the load. If the collective encompasses only one supplier, deduction may be omitted by the loose volume measurement. Corresponding arrangement as described above may be used with other test sample methods. The minimum delivery to participate in a collective is one grading and measuring unit. 3. MEASURING UNITS AND CALCULATIONS. When log-grading and scaling the diameter is recorded in whole centimetres while downgraded to the class bottom. Single log volume is calculated on the basis of the average of the diameter class. Diameter may be registered on or under bark. Length is registered as 1 dm, 3 dm, 5 dm or in fixed lengths according to contract. 1 dm and fixed lengths are always registered as downgraded to the nearest whole length unit. 3 dm or 5 dm lengths are rounded off to the nearest length unit. When length measuring the grader is to consider eventual biased length cutting. Volume is calculated by means of the following formula:
where V is the volume in whole dm3, Dm is the average mid-diameter of the diameter class in cm, and L is the length in dm. p (3.14) is used with two decimals. Volume is calculated by means of the following formula:
where V is the volume in whole dm3, Dt is the average top-diameter of the diameter class in cm. L is the length in dm. p (3.14) is used with two decimals. For a measured lot the volumes of the individual logs are summed up. The sum is recorded in fm3 rounded off with two decimals. The solid wood volume in fm3 is obtained by multiplying the loose volume of the unit (length*width*height) in lm3, rounded off to two decimals by the evaluated solid wood volume percentage. The volume is recorded rounded off with two decimals. 3.3 Weight-grading and scaling. Wood is sold by weight if agreed between the parts. The weight of the unit is recorded with an accuracy of 10 kg rounded off. The result is corrected for bark and eventual rejects. To reach an approximate volume, the weight is divided with a relation number (kg/fm3) agreed upon by the parts. The volume is recorded in fm3 rounded off with two decimals. 4. CONTROL AND TREATMENT OF DEVIATIONS The grading associations are to carry out control-measurements for all grading and scaling of wood obliged to be graded and scaled, according to the current specifications for control and follow up sanctioned by FUNT. No significant systematic deviations outside the limits determined by FUNT by the grading and scaling of volume and value are allowed. If the limits are exceeded actions are to be started in accordance with the specifications for control and treatment of deviations. |
