Canadian Lumber Standard

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Canadian Lumber Standard, typically abbrievated as CLS, is a type and standard/grade of processed and sawn lumber (timber) used in many countries. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

History

CLS was originally a product of Canada used in the construction of sturdy timber-framed houses as rated by the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board (CLSAB). [1] [2] Following the end of the Cold War it was increasingly used by manufacturers in Baltic countries as a reference grade for export to the UK and other Western European countries. [1] For these reasons, Latvian CLS, Swedish CLS and other European graded timber are now available, despite not originating from Canada. [1] Most CLS now originates from Europe, including Scandinavia. [6]

Usage

CLS is primarily used in internal construction because of is strength and durability. [6] As such, CLS is widely utilised as a general standard for timber suitable for wall studs, DIY and other construction projects, including housebuilding. [1] [4] [7] It is very commonly employed in conventional timber frames for roofs, lofts and attics. [8] It is typically used in the UK for timber wall studs. [9]

For use outside, CLS timber should be treated for external use. [4]

Details

CLS timber is kiln-dried and is white wood. [9] Tree sources include Fir, Pine and Spruce. [10] [6]

CLS is planed and fished with eased or rounded edges. [9] [11] CLS timber is commonly graded at two strengths, C16 or C24. [9] C24 is the stronger and is typically more expensive. [10]

It is often pressure treated and may also be treated with pesticides to stop insect and fungal growth. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodworking</span> Process of making objects from wood

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumber</span> Wood that has been processed into beams and planks

Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes, including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing. Lumber has many uses beyond home building. Lumber is referred to as timber in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, while in other parts of the world the term timber refers specifically to unprocessed wood fiber, such as cut logs or standing trees that have yet to be cut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joinery</span> Where pieces of wood are fixed together in an assembly

Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining pieces of wood, engineered lumber, or synthetic substitutes, to produce more complex items. Some woodworking joints employ mechanical fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, while others use only wood elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpentry</span> Skilled trade

Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters traditionally worked with natural wood and did rougher work such as framing, but today many other materials are also used and sometimes the finer trades of cabinetmaking and furniture building are considered carpentry. In the United States, 98.5% of carpenters are male, and it was the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the country in 1999. In 2006 in the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry positions. Carpenters are usually the first tradesmen on a job and the last to leave. Carpenters normally framed post-and-beam buildings until the end of the 19th century; now this old-fashioned carpentry is called timber framing. Carpenters learn this trade by being employed through an apprenticeship training—normally four years—and qualify by successfully completing that country's competence test in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Australia and South Africa. It is also common that the skill can be learned by gaining work experience other than a formal training program, which may be the case in many places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engineered wood</span> Range of derivative wood products engineered for uniform and predictable structural performance

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Softwood</span> Wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jointer plane</span> Large woodworking hand plane used for flattening and jointing workpieces

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Marking out or layout means the process of transferring a design or pattern to a workpiece, as the first step in the manufacturing process. It is performed in many industries or hobbies although in the repetition industries the machine's initial setup is designed to remove the need to mark out every individual piece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Framing (construction)</span> Construction technique

Framing, in construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure support and shape. Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel. The alternative to framed construction is generally called mass wall construction, where horizontal layers of stacked materials such as log building, masonry, rammed earth, adobe, etc. are used without framing.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wall stud</span> Component of a buildings wall

A wall stud is a vertical repetitive framing member in a building's wall of smaller cross section than a post. It is a fundamental element in frame building.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sill plate</span> Bottom horizontal member of a wall which vertical members are attached to

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timber roof truss</span> Structural framework of timbers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">American historic carpentry</span>

American historic carpentry is the historic methods with which wooden buildings were built in what is now the United States since European settlement. A number of methods were used to form the wooden walls and the types of structural carpentry are often defined by the wall, floor, and roof construction such as log, timber framed, balloon framed, or stacked plank. Some types of historic houses are called plank houses but plank house has several meanings which are discussed below. Roofs were almost always framed with wood, sometimes with timber roof trusses. Stone and brick buildings also have some wood framing for floors, interior walls and roofs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gothic-arch barn</span> Type of barn with curved rafters

A Gothic-arched roof barn or Gothic-arch barn or Gothic barn or rainbow arch is a barn whose profile is in the ogival shape of a Gothic arch. These became economically feasible when arch members could be formed by a lamination process. The distinctive roofline features a center peak as in a gable roof, but with symmetrical curved rafters instead of straight ones. The roof could extend to the ground making the roof and walls a complete arch, or be built as an arched roof on top of traditionally framed walls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnisher</span> Woodworking tool for sharpening a card scraper

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Coulson, Jim (2020-12-21). A Handbook for the Sustainable Use of Timber in Construction. Hoboken (N.J.): John Wiley & Sons. p. 176. ISBN   978-1-119-70109-5.
  2. 1 2 Willis, Walter Edward (1968). Timber from Forest to Consumer. London : published for the Timber Trades Journal by Benn. p. 97. ISBN   978-0-510-48011-0.
  3. Desch, Harold Ernest (1981). Timber, Its Structure, Properties, and Utilisation. Forest Grove, Or: Timber Press (OR). ISBN   978-0-917304-62-0.
  4. 1 2 3 "What is CLS Timber?". Arnold Laver. 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  5. 1 2 "What is CLS Timber? CLS Features & Uses". travisperkins.co.uk. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Jenkins, Steve (2023-09-03). "What is CLS timber and what DIY projects is it good for?". Homebuilding & Renovating. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  7. Brett, Peter (2012-06-20). Carpentry and Joinery Book Two: Practical Activities. Oxford University Press - Children. p. 81. ISBN   978-1-4085-1938-7.
  8. Coutts, John (2008-04-15). Loft Conversions. John Wiley & Sons. p. 144. ISBN   978-0-470-75958-5.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Stephen; Redfern, Stephen; Fearn, Colin (2019-10-28). The City & Guilds Textbook: Site Carpentry and Architectural Joinery for the Level 2 Apprenticeship (6571), Level 2 Technical Certificate (7906) & Level 2 Diploma (6706). Hodder Education. ISBN   978-1-5104-5846-8.
  10. 1 2 "What is CLS Timber?". Harlow Bros Ltd. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  11. Brett, Peter (2004). Carpentry and Joinery. Nelson Thornes. p. 88. ISBN   978-0-7487-8502-5.