Alaska’s recently enhanced local-use Dimensional Lumber Grading program stands to create new cost-effective opportunities for builders and stimulate much-needed growth in the state’s homebuilding market.

The program provides certification training that enables small and medium-scale sawmill operators to produce dimensional lumber from native species such as spruce, hemlock, and yellow cedar. When operators meet program standards, this locally produced lumber can serve as an alternative to traditional grade-stamped lumber—most of which is currently imported from the Lower 48 states—for structural uses in residential construction under Alaska’s building codes.

“This program represents a significant advancement for Alaska’s mill operators to grade stamp lumber in compliance with Alaska Housing’s building standards,” said Jimmy Ord, director of Research & Rural Development at the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. “Expansions of this nature demonstrate how thinking outside the box can address and often solve regional challenges. It is a win-win for the lumber and construction industries, as well as future homebuilders and homebuyers.”

Certification and Training

The certification process requires participants to complete a one-day Alaska Lumber Grading training course provided by the State Division of Forestry & Fire Protection in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. Following the course, operators must pass a proficiency test to receive certification, which lasts for five years and can be renewed through refresher training.

Alongside certification, the program offers ongoing technical support in lumber grading and additional educational resources covering topics such as wood drying and sawmill operations. Training sessions are planned to be offered at least annually in Interior, Southeast, and Southcentral Alaska, with opportunities for additional regional offerings based on demand.

Addressing Regional Challenges

Traditionally, most Alaska sawmills have faced prohibitive costs related to joining accredited grading agencies, particularly due to high travel expenses for site inspections compared to operations in the Lower 48. This has limited the use of local dimensional lumber in home construction, which often requires grade-stamped materials.

By enabling a local grading option, the program opens doors for more use of Alaska-produced lumber in residential projects, potentially lowering costs and supporting local economies.

Species and Standards

The program focuses on five Alaska softwood species for which strength and mechanical properties have been tested and documented: white spruce, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, and Alaska yellow cedar. These data, published by the American Lumber Standard Committee and supported by testing at the Ketchikan Wood Technology Center, allow integration of the Alaska Lumber Grading system into building codes.

Under Senate Bill 87 (AS 41.17.630), local building officials retain the authority to approve, reject, or modify the use of lumber graded under this program, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. The bill was passed in 2023 by the 33rd Alaska State Legislature.

Looking Ahead

Jeremy Douse, director of the State of Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, expressed optimism about the program’s potential: “I'm excited for what this program will do for Alaskan communities. We have already trained about 140 mill operators in grading lumber and approximately 40 in wood drying techniques. UAF is looking to expand the educational opportunities to include mill operations and to develop a wood drying handbook specifically for Alaskan tree species.”

Douse added, “As we look toward the management of young growth timber in the Tongass National Forest, we also want to gain more understanding of the strength properties of lumber produced from those managed stands. These efforts combine to support a housing need in Alaska, as well as our local forest products industry that provides employment opportunities in rural communities.”

The program’s integration of local lumber grading is seen as a step forward for Alaska’s housing sector, potentially improving the affordability and availability of homes while bolstering the state’s forestry and sawmill industries.

Municipal building departments interested in the program are encouraged to reach out to the Alaska Lumber Grading Program for detailed information on how it operates and how it compares to existing regional grade mark standards.

Originally reported by AHFC.