| Government regulations requiring grade stamps or certificates for construction | The National Building Code of Canada and all Provincial Building Codes require structural lumber to meet Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards. These call for grading and specifically reference the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) and the role of the CLSAB. See CSA standards CAN/CSA-0141 (Softwood Lumber) and CSA-086 (Engineering Design in Wood – Limit States Design). |
| Research and Design Standards | The Canadian Wood Council and Forintek Canada Corp. (Canada’s national wood products research institute) have undertaken extensive research and produced a large number of design standards, guidelines and tools for working with lumber, many of which reference the Canadian lumber grading system. |
| Rules on grading | Grading rules and special product standards are developed, maintained and interpreted by the NLGA. The CLSAB reviews these documents and any proposed modifications, and must be satisfied with their contents; CLSAB holds approval authority over these documents.
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| Accreditation and review of Grading Agencies | CLSAB regulations cover initial accreditation and ongoing review of reports, monitoring, regular inspections and enforcement. |
| Procedures for grade stamping or grade certification | These requirements are set out in the CLSAB regulations, and in legally binding contracts between CLSAB and each accredited Lumber Grading Agency. |
| Education, training & annual certification of graders | This is the responsibility of the accredited Lumber Grading Agency, under policies and procedures approved by the CLSAB. |
| Grading of lumber | Visual inspection and grade stamping of each piece of lumber, performed by Certified Graders employed by the facility, under Agency policies and procedures approved and monitored by the CLSAB. |
| Regular review of the accuracy of Certified Graders’ work | This is the responsibility of the accredited Lumber Grading Agency, under policies and procedures approved and monitored by the CLSAB. |
| Regular review of Grading Agency’s performance | Unannounced, random, on-site inspections by the CLSAB to confirm the accredited Lumber Grading Agency’s evaluations, reports, etc. |
| Additional voluntary quality management and other standards (e.g. appearance) | Performed by the forest products company/facility, based on corporate decisions and clients’ requirements. |
