Services for International CustomersServices for International CustomersSEC member grading agencies are industry leaders in providing special services for the international customers of its member companies and their products. These agencies are approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to issue Heat Treatment Certification Using a Kiln Facility as well as Certificates of Debarking and Grub Hole Control, as required by EU and other countries. Upon request, they will provide Inspection Certificates that attest to the accuracy of the grades and tallies shipped by their member companies. If any disagreement should arise, all SEC member grading agencies are able to provide Reinspection Services anywhere in the world to resolve disputes. Certificates of Kiln Drying certifying a moisture content of less than 20% are also available. In addition, these agencies are approved to prepare documentation for individual companies in preparation for acquisition of the USDA Phytosanitary Certificates that are required by specific destination countries. All four agencies are accredited by ALSC to supervise NGR-based grading and grade-marking services on structural products for Japan. Under the Japanese Ministry of Construction, these SEC agencies are approved to provide grade-stamping services for machine stress-rated timber as well as for visually graded structural dimension timber. The Japanese government further allows WWPA to provide grading supervision services in those WWPA-JAS mills certified to use the JAS grade mark on structural products to be shipped directly to Japanese construction sites.
Grade StampsWhile appearance-grade products are sometimes grade stamped on the back or ends, grade marks for appearance products do not have to be stamped directly onto the timber. This avoids marring the beauty of the wood. However, the information revealed by a grade stamp is still required for commerce and, as such, is included in written documentation that accompanies a shipment. Grade-stamping requirements for structural timber are different. Structural grades have assigned design values for use in engineering and construction. Design values are numerical indications of strength and performance properties, derived according to rigorous testing protocols that testify to a grade’s appropriateness for particular applications. Thus, building codes and other regulatory entities that oversee design and construction require structural timber products be clearly grade stamped with an approved registered mark. Most grade stamps, except those for heavy members 127 mm x 127 mm and larger, contain the following five basic elements:
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