Publications for Download

March 2025

Updates to Hem-Fir(N) design values for dimension lumber

NLGA informs you of updates to the design values for Hem-Fir (N) dimension lumber, which will take effect on April 1, 2025. These changes result from a routine reassessment of strength and stiffness properties, ensuring Hem-Fir (N) continues to meet structural performance expectations.

Key Points:

• • Minimal Practical Impact: The updated design values should not result in significant changes to the practical use of Hem-Fir (N) in most applications, maintaining continuity for builders, designers, and engineers.
  • Consistent Performance: Hem-Fir (N) remains a trusted and dependable choice for residential and commercial construction, with values that closely align with previous standards.
  • No Impact on Existing Construction: Structures built under previous building codes remain compliant.

• • The updates are reflected in the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber, CSA O86 – Engineering Design in Wood, and the National Design Specification® (NDS®) Supplement for Wood Construction.

For additional details, including specific design value changes, affected lumber grades, and implementation considerations, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for Canada or the USA.

For Canada

For the USA

 

2022 Standard Grading Rules For Canadian Lumber

We are pleased to provide free PDF sections of the NLGA Standard Grading Rules For Canadian Lumber (2022 edition) for your personal reference.

These files are protected by copyright. You may view, print and download these PDF files for your own use but may not copy, reprint, publish, distribute or sell them in any format, including electronic, without the written permission of National Lumber Grades Authority.

The separated sections of the NLGA Standard Grading Rules are listed for convenience only and are not meant to be stand-alone, but rather must be considered in the context of the Grading Rules in their entirety.

A spiral-bound book of the full NLGA Standard Grading Rules For Canadian Lumber may be purchased from NLGA through our publication sales section of the website.

• • • NLGA GR 2022 version Pages 1-238
    • NLGA GR 2022 version Pages 239-end

Erratum No. 1 to the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber (2022)
(effective March 21, 2023)

• • • Erratum No. 1 to NLGA Grading Rules (2022)

Erratum No. 2 to the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber (2022)
(effective May 18, 2023)

• • • Erratum No. 2 to NLGA Grading Rules (2022)

Erratum No. 3 to the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber (2022)
(effective November 29, 2023)

• • • Erratum No. 3 to NLGA Grading Rules (2022)

Erratum No. 4 to the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber (2022)
(effective May 30, 2024)

• • • Erratum No. 4 to NLGA Grading Rules (2022)

Supplement No. 1 to the NLGA Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber (2022)
(effective December 1, 2024)

• • • Supplement No. 1 to NLGA Grading Rules (2022)

2017 Standard Grading Rules For Canadian Lumber

We are pleased to provide free PDF sections of the NLGA Standard Grading Rules For Canadian Lumber (2017 edition) for your personal reference.

**  Please note that, effective March 1, 2019, Supplements to the NLGA Standard Grading Rules have been posted on this website under Publications – Updates.

These files are protected by copyright. You may view, print and download these PDF files for your own use but may not copy, reprint, publish, distribute or sell them in any format, including electronic, without the written permission of National Lumber Grades Authority.

The separated sections of the NLGA Standard Grading Rules are listed for convenience only and are not meant to be stand-alone, but rather must be considered in the context of the Grading Rules in their entirety.

A spiral-bound book of the full NLGA Standard Grading Rules For Canadian Lumber may be purchased from NLGA through our publication sales section of the website.

PDF files of sections of the Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber are listed below:

• • • NLGA GR 2017 – Cover, Title Page, Preface & Section Index (pgs. 1-6)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 1 – General Provisions – Paras. 1-48 (pgs. 7-24)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 2 – Upper Grades – Paras. 100-109 (pgs. 25-38)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 3a – Boards – Paras. 112-115 (pgs. 39-54)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 3b – EW & Red Pine Boards – Paras. 116-118 (pgs. 55-64)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 4 – Dimension Lumber (NGR) – Paras. 120-125 (pgs. 65-82)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 5 – Decking, Machine Graded & Glued Lumber, Timbers – Paras. 126-131 (pgs.-83-110)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 6 – Specialty Items – Paras. 132-195 (pgs. 111-168)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 7 – Western Red Cedar Products – Paras. 200-211 (pgs. 169-186)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 8,9 – Stress Grades & Measurements – Paras. 300-360 (pgs. 187-196)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 10 – Re-Inspection Provisions – Paras. 400-413 (pgs. 197-206)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 11 – Glossary – Paras. 700-754 (pgs. 207-224)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 12 – Characteristic Tables & Abbreviations – Paras. 810-830 (pgs. 225-242)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 13 – Grading Agencies & Grade Stamps (pgs. 243-248)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 14,15 – Profile Patterns & Metric Conversion (pgs. 249-260)
    • NLGA GR 2017 – Section 16 – U.S. Lumber Design Values – Paras. 900-910 (pgs. 261-286)
    • NLGA Interpretations & EU 2017 – Part 1 – NGR Interpretations (pgs. 5-19)
    • NLGA Interpretations & EU 2017 – Part 2 – NLGA Interpretations (pgs. 20-35)