Wood Utilization—Wood Industry in North Wood Utilization—Wood Industry in North AmericaAmerica

How much wood is used in building a house?How much wood is used in building a house?

For a 2000 ftFor a 2000 ft22 wood-framed house wood-framed house• 16,2000 board ft. (1 bf = 1’ x 1’ x 1”) 16,2000 board ft. (1 bf = 1’ x 1’ x 1”) LumberLumber

or 1,350 ftor 1,350 ft33 or 20.5 m or 20.5 m33

or 20 pine trees (30” DBH)or 20 pine trees (30” DBH)

• Plus 9,500 ftPlus 9,500 ft22 (based on 0.5” thick) (based on 0.5” thick) Structural PanelsStructural Panels

or 400 ftor 400 ft33 or 300 4’ x 8’ x 0.5” sheets of or 300 4’ x 8’ x 0.5” sheets of

Plywood, OSB, or Hardboard Plywood, OSB, or Hardboard for sheathing, decking & sidingfor sheathing, decking & siding• Wood for decks and non-structural panels are extraWood for decks and non-structural panels are extra

LumberLumber

• Solid lumber is good but subjects to availability and Solid lumber is good but subjects to availability and

variability in physical propertiesvariability in physical properties

• Can be substitutes by engineered wood products, such asCan be substitutes by engineered wood products, such as

Parallel Strand L, I-joist, Laminated Veneer L and Laminated Parallel Strand L, I-joist, Laminated Veneer L and Laminated Strand LStrand L

PSL I-Joist LVL LSL

PlusPlus

Glue-laminated TimberGlue-laminated TimberGlulamGlulam

Advantages of Engineered Products Advantages of Engineered Products

• Value-added and conservative Value-added and conservative

These products made from materials of lower grades and These products made from materials of lower grades and processing residuesprocessing residues

• Predictable physical properties and performancesPredictable physical properties and performances

Disadvantages

• Wood is good but needs to be protected from many enemies Wood is good but needs to be protected from many enemies

Fires destroy houses Fires destroy houses And billions of dollarsAnd billions of dollarsProperty lose annuallyProperty lose annuallyAlong with 12,200 Along with 12,200 fatalitiesfatalities

Enemies of Wood Enemies of Wood

• Termites also destroy housesTermites also destroy houses

Annual property lose: 250 M$

Costs 125 M$/yr inCorrective measures.

Wood DecaysWood DecaysMillions are spent annually to repair houses due to decay

Bath room leakage causes decayBath room leakage causes decay

A brown-rot fungus is eating up the woodA brown-rot fungus is eating up the wood

My Pella window decayedMy Pella window decayed

Only because of inproper installation!Only because of inproper installation!

The wood industry is proud to be environmentally The wood industry is proud to be environmentally friendlyfriendly

• A survey was conducted in 1996 by the Forest Products A survey was conducted in 1996 by the Forest Products Laboratory to identifyLaboratory to identify

Top Ten Most Significant Forest Products TechnologiesTop Ten Most Significant Forest Products Technologies

Here They Are

#1#1 Development of wood preservative treatments to Development of wood preservative treatments to extend the service life of woodextend the service life of wood

--How many trees saved?--How many trees saved?

#2 #2 Oriented Strand Board manufacturingOriented Strand Board manufacturing

--Use low-value species and milling residues--Use low-value species and milling residues

#3#3 Manufacturing paper from hardwood and wood Manufacturing paper from hardwood and wood wasteswastes

--Again, saving more valuable softwoods--Again, saving more valuable softwoods

#4 Technology for plywood production from Technology for plywood production from Southern pineSouthern pine

--Saved many big Douglas fir and larch trees --Saved many big Douglas fir and larch trees

#5 #5 Methods to utilize alternative/low-value speciesMethods to utilize alternative/low-value species

#6 #6 Methods of processing small logsMethods of processing small logs --Computer technologies make it possible --Computer technologies make it possible

#7 #7 Development of composite products from wasteDevelopment of composite products from waste

or low-value woods/fibers including hardboard,or low-value woods/fibers including hardboard,

particleboard, medium density fiberboard,particleboard, medium density fiberboard,

wood/plastic compositeswood/plastic composites

#8 #8 Development of recycling technologies forDevelopment of recycling technologies for

paper, wastewood and agricultural fiberspaper, wastewood and agricultural fibers

#9 #9 Development of non-toxic wood preservativesDevelopment of non-toxic wood preservatives

#10 #10 Technology transfer to the forest productsTechnology transfer to the forest products

industryindustry