| Knots | Gum pockets | Shakes | Wane | Checks (cracks) from drying | Other particularities | Applications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRADE 0 (former grades OA and OB) |
Not present in the best side and the two edges. Intergrown knots are tolerated in small number, with a maximum diameter of 15 mm on the opposite side. |
Not admitted | Small edge shakes of small length and depth are tolerated only the opposite side | Excluded, except on pieces taller than 3 m, where a slight edge wane is tolerated on the opposite side, on 10% of the batch | Very slight superficial checks admitted | All other particularities, sawing imperfections or alterations are excluded | All applications in which the aspect of the wood holds primordial importance: fine carpentry, furniture, decoration... |
| GRADE 1 (former grade 1) A maximum of two structural particularities are admitted on both side and three on the opposite side by element-type (rectangle of 1m x 0,10m) |
Limited to 1 sound knot of max 20mm on top face and of 3 sound knots of max 25mm diameter on counter-face. Tolerance of small black knots which will stay during processing. | Small gum pockets tolerated | Edge shakes: length limited to 5% of the length | Not admitted on short pieces - tolerated on pieces longer than 3 m, on one edge. The length must be smaller than 20% of the piece's length and the width smaller then 20% of the piece's thickness | Length must be limited to one and half times the piece's width | All other imperfections or alterations are excluded | All applications in which the aspect of the wood holds primordial importance: furniture, internal and external carpentry... |
| GRADE 2 (former grade 2) A maximum of three structural particularities are admitted on both sides and five on the opposite side by element-type (rectangle of 1m x 0,10m) |
Limited to three sound intergrown knots of 30 mm diameter on the side and 5 knots of 40 mm on the opposite side. Presence of some small non-intergrown black knots on the opposite side. |
Some small gum pockets on the side, bigger on the opposite side, are tolerated. | Heart and edge shakes of maximum length equivalent to the piece's width, and not exceeding 5 to 8% of the piece's length | Not admitted on short pieces - tolerated on pieces longer than 3 m, on one edge. The length must be smaller than 20% of the piece's length and the width smaller then 20% of the piece's thickness | Tolerated if not exceeding 2 times the piece's width (three times on the opposite side) | Slight tolerance of curly grain on the opposite side. Some black inactive pin holes are admitted in a limited number of pieces in a batch, on the opposite side. All other alterations are excluded. |
Structural or construction material and general carpentry work. Special packaging, For structural applications the pieces must comply with the NF B 52-001 norm. |
| GRADE 3 (former grade 3A) |
Sound or black, the knot's diameter must not exceed on the two sides: 1/2 of the sides' width on pieces narrower than 90 mm 45 mm on pieces up to 150 mm wide 1/3 the sides' width on pieces wider than 50 mm - On the edges, emerging knots not exceeding 2/3 of the edge's width |
Gum pockets 60 to 80 mm long are tolerated | Heart and edge shakes may have a length equivalent to 2 times maximum of the piece's width, not exceeding 8% of the piece's length | Not admitted on pieces shorter than 3 m. On pieces taller than 3 m, admitted if the length is equivalent to maximum 1/3 of the piece's length, with the width not exceeding half of the thickness (limited to 10-15 % of the pieces in a batch). | Admitted if the length does not exceed three times the width of the piece | Bark pocket and curly grain admitted if not altering the mechanical resistance of the piece. Some slight traces of rot are tolerated, and some non-through pin holes. Some traces of mistletoe. Blue stain can be tolerated. |
Structural or construction material and general carpentry work. industrial packaging...For structural applications the pieces must comply with the NF B 52-001 norm. |
| GRADE 4 (former grade 3B) |
Admitted without limitation in number and diameter | Heart and edge shakes admitted | Not admitted on pieces shorter than 3 m - admitted without length limitations on one side or two edges | Active pin holes, rots and dotes are excluded | Boxes, regular packaging, pallets, ... |