INDUSTRY REFERENCE MATERIAL
Definitions
| CODE | DESCRIPTION | COMMENTS |
| 1″ (example) | One Inch | Imperial unit of measurement |
| 1′ (example) | One Foot | Imperial unit of measurement |
| 2/150X50 (example) | Two lengths of 150mm x 50mm timber | Two lengths of 150mm x 50mm boards nailed together to make one beam, header or lintel 150mm x 100mm in size. |
| 2/2×6 (example) | Tow lengths of 2′ x 6′ lumber | Two lengths of 2×6 (2inch x 6inch) boards nailed together to make one beam, header or lintel 4×6 in size. |
| 1mm | One millimetre | Metric unit of measurement |
| 1×2 (example) | Piece of lumber 1 inch thick x 2 inches wide | When relating to the size of timber /lumber, the thickness is stated before the width if using imperial measurements (feet and inches) but the opposite applies if using the metric system. For example; 2×4 (imperial inches) = 100×50 (metric millimetres) |
| 2×4 (example) | Piece of lumber 2 inches thick x 4 inches wide | When relating to the size of timber /lumber, the thickness is stated before the width if using imperial measurements (feet and inches) but the opposite applies if using the metric system. For example; 2×4 (imperial inches) = 100×50 (metric millimetres) |
| 50×25 (example) | Piece of lumber 50mm wide x 25mm thick | When relating to the size of timber /lumber, the thickness is stated before the width if using imperial measurements (feet and inches) but the opposite applies if using the metric system. For example; 2×4 (imperial inches) = 100×50 (metric millimetres) |
| 100×50 (example) | Piece of lumber 100mm wide x 50mm thick | When relating to the size of timber /lumber, the thickness is stated before the width if using imperial measurements (feet and inches) but the opposite applies if using the metric system. For example; 2×4 (imperial inches) = 100×50 (metric millimetres) |
| Actual Size | Actual Size | The finished size as opposed to the nominal size of a piece of wood. |
| BF | Board foot | A form of wood measurement, where one board foot equals the volume of a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long. A board foot is equal to 144 cubic inches of wood. FORMULA: (Thickness x Width x Length) / 144 = Board Feet |
| Bds | Boards | |
| Box | Rough grade timber | |
| BT | Boric treated | Internal framing |
| C.F. | Chemical free | |
| CD | Ply wood. | Defects one side. Filled and sanded one side. |
| CGL | Common Grade Lumber | Lumber with obvious defects |
| Ctl | Cut to length | |
| Clears | Timber without Knots | |
| D4S | Dressed four sides | |
| DD | Ply wood. | Defects both sides |
| D/G | Dressing grade | Dressed but a lower grade of timber |
| F1 | Number one framing | |
| F2 | Number two framing | |
| FBM | Feet, Board, Measure | |
| Fj | Finger jointed | |
| Full Sawn | Lumber cut, in the rough, to its full nominal size. | Also called rough sawn in Australasia. |
| GL | Green Lumber | Freshly cut lumber that has not had time to dry. Moisture content in excess of 19%. |
| H1 | Pressure-treated (P/T) | Treated for inside use. Dry areas |
| H2 | Pressure-treated (P/T) | Treated for outside use, but not in ground |
| H3 | Pressure-treated (P/T) | Treated for outside use and in ground |
| H4 | Pressure-treated (P/T) | In ground structural applications |
| H5 | Pressure-treated (P/T) | In ground structural applications |
| H6 | Pressure-treated (P/T) | Salt water immersion |
| KD | Kiln-dried | |
| KDAT | Kiln dried after treatment | Lumber that has been kiln dried to 19% or less moisture content after being pressure treated. |
| L/F | Lineal (running) foot | A measurement of the length of a board. |
| L/M | Lineal (running) metre | A measurement of the length of a board. |
| Lumber Wood | Logs which have been sawn, or sawn and planed, and cut to length. | |
| MDF | Medium density fibreboard | A special type of tempered hardboard with a fine, smooth finish. MDF is used in cabinet making. |
| Merch | Merchantable.H3, usually fencing | |
| M/G | Gauged smooth finish | |
| MSG | Machine stress graded | |
| Nominal Size | Nominal Size | The rough-sawn size of a piece of lumber. Before the lumber is planed or dressed. The nominal size is usually greater than the actual dimension. e.g.:2 x 4 actually equals 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. |
| p/p | Pre primed | |
| Premium | Contains some small tight Knots | |
| P/T | Pressure-Treated Lumber | Pressure sprayed lumber to lengthen its life expectancy for outside use or inground applications |
| Rad | Radiata | Species of pine most commonly used in NZ |
| Random | Mixed lengths, as it comes off the stack | |
| R.L | Random lengths | |
| R/S | Rough sawn | |
| Sawn | Rough sawn | |
| SED | Small end diameter (for round poles) | |
| Selected | Lengths selected to order | |
| Siding | Exterior finish on walls | May be made from wood, pressed wood by products, hardboard, vinyl, or metal. |
| SPF | Spruce, Pine, Fir | Indicates that the piece of wood is from the Spruce, Pine, Fir family. |
| Standard | Contains small and large knots | |
| Veneer | A thin sheet of wood cut from a log. | |
| Wane | Wane | The presence of bark or lack of wood from any cause on the edge or corner of a piece of wood. |
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