Why a 3rd party professional inspection service & monthly auditing program is an important value added service to customers
Canadian Timberframes (CTF) has recently enrolled into the Timber Products Inspection program. Timber Products Inspection, Inc. (TP) is an independent, third party woods product inspection, testing and consulting company with field representatives throughout North America. They provide professional inspection services as well as monthly auditing to all of their customers. Using TP, our customers will now have independent, professional third party assurance of our timber grades stamped on our timbers. Their grading rules are based upon ‘Standard methods for establishing stress grade for structural members used in log and timberframe buildings’ Standard ASTM D3957 a North American recognized standard used for both residential and commercial uses.
Walter Bramsleven, our Production and Logistics Manager says “we are excited to pass this high level of quality to our customers and we are one of the few of North American timberframe companies with this level of timber accreditation.”
One of the great benefits to our customers from this new program, is when a grade of timber is specified by an architect or engineer within their design, we can deliver on these requirements in house without adding additional costs or time, where other manufacturers would have to source this service; get tested & comply. Grading also provides a layer of protection for the manufacturer and homeowner by establishing definable levels of quality for the products being sold and marketed within the industry.
The Grading Process:
TP’s lumber experts, engineers and research scientists have developed an accredited program to define stress grades for the log and timber industry’s use. In this program, logs and timbers are visually inspected with qualified graders observing all the surfaces of the member for strength reducing characteristics. Graders must be TP personnel or individuals trained by TP at manufacturing facilities.
Manufacturing facilities with grade-marking privileges must have their graders certified and their performance is routinely monitored on an unannounced basis to assure conformance to the guidelines.
By providing this level of confidence and security to our customers it ensures 3 important measures: each piece has been visually inspected and graded – ensuring quality; it ensures all clients are delivered the quality of wood specified in their contract, and lastly; with the ongoing monthly surprise inspections by TP the quality & grading is always being inspected, validated and third party endorsed.
If you would like to know more about our program we are here to answer your questions. Please contact Walter Bramsleven at wbramsleven@canadiantimberframes.com