African and South American sawn timber

  • The classification is based on clear cuttings, meaning that a percentage of rectangular surfaces exempt of defects is measured against the whole surface of the piece. The grade is determined according to the percentage of the clear surface.
  • This classification is established by rules of the Sciages Avivés Tropicaux Africains (SATA).
Standard grades
FAS
(First And Second)
- Minimum of 40% of wood exempt of defects and sapwood
- The pieces must have good texture
- Tolerance of 3% of pieces having interwoven grain
- On pieces of less than 1 m2 one standard defect is admitted: a knot of 16 to 32 mm -- pin holes, insect holes clusters with diameter < 32 mm -- gum pocket not exceeding 32 cm2 of surface -- a straight shake in the extremity not exceeding 10% of the piece's length
- On pieces between 1 m2 and 1,5 m2 two standard defects are admitted: a knot with diameter between 32 mm and 64 mm -- gum pocket exceeding 32 cm2 but smaller than 64 cm2 -- a oblique shake in the extremity not exceeding 10% of the piece's length
- On pieces over 1,5 m2 three standard defects are admitted: a knot with diameter between 64 mm and 89 mm -- gum pocket not exceeding 97 cm2
No 1 Common and Select - Defects and sound sapwood admitted up to 20% of the piece's width
- Some grain and texture variations admitted
- 1 standard defect on a piece of less than 0,6 m2
- 2 standard defects on a piece between 0,6 m2 and 1 m2
- 3 standard defects on a piece between 1 m2 and 1,5 m2
- 4 standard defects on a piece of more than 1,5 m2
No 2 Common - Sound sapwood tolerated without limits
- Slight blue stains tolerated
- Small dead pin holes, isolated or grouped, not exceeding 1/2 of the piece's surface, are tolerated in 10% of the batch maximum
- Abnormal grain is tolerated as long as it does not affect the resistance and flatness of the piece
- Colour and density variations admitted
- 1 standard defect on a piece of less than 0,6 m2
- 2 standard defects on a piece between 0,6 m2 and 1 m2
- 3 standard defects on a piece between 1 m2 and 1,5 m2
- 4 standard defects on a piece of more than 1,5 m2
Special Grades
Prime - Must have at least 80% exempt of defects and sapwood
- Sound sapwood not exceeding 5% of the piece's width is tolerated
- Tolerance to defects is same as on the preceding grades
- The grade must be of excellent texture and exempt of abnormal grains
Prime Narrow - Straight grain and no Defects
FAS Shorts - In specifications over 15 cm of width, pieces 20 cm or more wide may present one defect
- In specifications over 7,5 cm of width, pieces 15 cm or more wide may present one defect
Prime Strips - One clear side
- The opposite side and a third of its thickness over adjacent edges may present one defect per 1,20 m
Prime Blocks and Shorts - One clear side
- The opposite side and a third of the thickness over its adjacent edges may present one defect
Prime Furniture Squares - Square sections exempt of Defects
Selected Constructional Grade - Well sawn pieces to contractual dimensions, without excessive presence of sapwood, worm holes, distorted knots, rotten heart, or shakes that could affect the resistance of the piece and its durability
- Wane is permitted on sections of 390 cm2 and more, if not exceeding 10% of the dimension
- Intergrown hearts, well closed, are also permitted on these sections, except when contractually excluded
- Shakes normally due to drying and not affecting the solidity of the pieces are tolerated
Reference: Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT - http://www.atibt.org/)