Quality Management

Characteristics of Hardwood Face & Back and Core Veneer Grades(IHPA 1997)

Description BB Face CC Face Overlay Face Utility Face Back Grade
Natural Characteristics
Burls, Sound Yes, smooth Yes, smooth Yes, smooth Yes, smooth Yes
Pin Knots Sound, not clustered Sound Sound Yes Yes
Knots 4 per 3m2,       4 per 1220 x 2440     not clustered 2 per 1m2,       6 per 1220 x 2440     not clustered Not clustered Yes Yes
Live Knots 19mm max. diam. 25.4mm max. diam. 50.8mm max. diam. Yes Yes
Dead Knots No Well puttied & color matched Well puttied & color matched Puttied Yes
Knotholes 9.5mm max. diam. Well puttied & color matched 12.7mm max. diam. Well puttied & color matched 19mm max. diam. Well puttied & color matched 25.4mm max. diam. puttied 19mm max. diam.
Color Variation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stain/Mineral Streaks No Blending Yes Yes Yes
Dry Pitch and Bark Pockets Well puttied & color matched Well puttied & color matched Well puttied & color matched Puttied Yes
Wormholes, Pinholes and Worm Tracks 2 per 1m2        5 per 1220 x 2440 0.8mm max. diam.
Well puttied & color matched
11 per 1m2        32 per 1220 x 2440 1.6mm max. diam.
Filled linear hole 15.9mm max. diam. Well puttied
Well puttied Puttied 1.6mm max. diam.  Not clustered at edges and ends
Vine Marks Blending, smooth, level Blending, smooth, level Blending, smooth, level Sanded, smooth Yes
Cross Breaks No Hairline, 50.8mm max. length Hairline, 102mm max. length Hairline Yes
Doze No Firm, slight, well puttied, blending Firm, slight, well puttied, blending Firm, puttied Yes
Manufacturing Characteristics
Joints 1 max. tight, parallel to edge, color blending at joint 1 max. tight, parallel to edge, color blending at joint 1 max. tight, parallel to edge, color blending at joint 1 Yes
Splits – Open No Hairline, 152mm max. on panel ends Hairline, 305mm max. on panel ends Hairline 9.5mm x 508mm max.
Splits – Filled or Putted Two 1.6mm x 254 or 3.2mm x 203mm at each end, color matched Three 1.6mm x 610 or 3.2mm x 356mm at each end, color matched Three at each end, color matched Yes 9.5mm x 508mm max.
Fill or Putty Smears Color matched Color matched Color matched Yes, smooth Sanded or scraped smooth
Rough Cut/Ruptured Grain No Occasional, sanded smooth Sanded smooth Yes Yes
Shims 6.4mm x 152mm at ends, repaired with veneer, color and grain matching 19mm x 152mm at ends, repaired with veneer, color and grain matching Ends of panel, repaired with veneer, color and grain matching Yes Yes
Knife Marks No No 0.8mm max. smooth Sanded smooth Yes
Tape/Glue Residue No No Slight, sanded smooth Sanded smooth Yes
Sanding Smooth, only blending or inconspicuous streaks or chatter marks permitted Back Grade permits sapwood, patches, bark pockets and gum spots. Doze and decay are allowed provided serviceability of panel is not impaired. Sap, laps, grease/oil or colored chalk marks not allowed.
Other Characteristics Not Pemitted
Boat or large symmetrical patches, open bark pockets, bark, wet pitch, grease/oil or colored chalk, mechanical defects and press marks not allowed in face grades.
Core Veneer BB Core CC Core Overlay Core Utility Core
Voids No One 1.6mm x 102, not visible on face One max. 3.2mm not visible on face Yes
End Splits No Four 1.6mm x 102 not visible on face Four 3.2mm x 102 not visible on face Yes, not visible on face
Laps No No No Yes
Uneven Core Thickness No No No No
Number of Components Max. 5 matched for color Max. 5 matched for color Max. 5 matched for color Not specified
Width of Core Components Min. 152mm machine spliced Min. 152mm machine spliced Min. 152mm machine spliced Min. 152mm machine spliced

※ Sound Sanded Back(SSB) grade is available and is the same grade as Overlay face grade.
※ BB, CC and Overlay core grades shall have no more than 5 core components matched for color and machine splices with no component less than 152mm wide.
※ Utility core grade shall have machine spliced components with no component less than 152mm wide.