Standardization News

A proposed revision to ASTM International standard D5456, Specification for Evaluation of Structural Composite Lumber Products, would add bamboo as a fiber material that can be used in the manufacture of products covered in the standard.

D5456 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D07.02 on Lumber and Engineered Wood Products, part of ASTM International Committee D07 on Wood.D5456 was originally approved in 1993 and specifies the procedures necessary for a group of engineered wood composite products to be evaluated for all structural design properties that would allow them to be used as substitutes for solid sawn lumber and glue-laminated timbers in residential and commercial building construction.

"Up until now, D5456 made reference to the traditional wood species used for solid sawn lumber," says Luke Schuette, president, Lamboo Inc., and a member of D07.02. "The proposed revision adds bamboo as another ligno-cellulosic fiber material that can be used in the manufacture of these products."

Proposed revisions include the addition of a definition for laminated veneer bamboo and direction on how LVB would be evaluated to develop structural design values.Anyone with an interest in the development of new engineered structural component products is invited to join D07.02. The subcommittee is particularly interested in participation from those who have knowledge of bamboo and who could aid in drafting revisions to the standard that would address any differences between bamboo and traditional wood species.

Primary users of D5456 are manufacturers of engineered wood products, code qualification agencies and third-party certification agencies.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation number, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 610-832-9585). CONTACT Technical Information: Luke Schuette, Lamboo Inc. • Springfield, Ill. • Phone: 217-408-4446 • E-mail: luke@lamboo.us O ASTM Staff: Kevin Shanahan • Phone: 610-832-9737 • E-mail: kshanaha@astm.org O Upcoming Meeting: April 12-14, 2011 • April Committee Week • Anaheim, Calif.