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Six communities to host Alaska Lumber Grading program trainings

Training sessions will be held in six Alaska communities for individuals who wish to earn certification from the Alaska Lumber Grading program. 

The free program aims to expand Alaskans’ ability to use locally harvested lumber for homebuilding. The certificate allows individuals to self-grade dimension lumber, which can then be used to build house frames in compliance with residential building codes.

Matt Labrenz, a forest products specialist with ÐÔÓûÉç Cooperative Extension Service, will lead the sessions, which include classroom training and hands-on lumber grading practice.

Participants will learn the visual grading system and rules for evaluating pieces of lumber and sorting them into categories based on characteristics that affect structural performance. They will also learn about the grade mark lumber infrastructure in North America, wood science for producing structural lumber, and the details and rules associated with using the program.

Individuals who complete the one-day training session and pass the associated exam will be issued a renewable five-year certificate allowing them to self-grade dimension lumber for personal use or for sale to an end user.

Upcoming sessions: 

• Fairbanks: Wednesday, Aug. 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 955 Draanjik Drive
• Palmer: Thursday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, 1509 S. Georgeson Road
• Elim: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Location to be determined.
• Klawock: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Generations Southeast Community Learning Center
• Dry Creek: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Logging and Milling in Dry Creek
• Galena: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Louden Tribe Learning Center

For more information and to register, visit the Alaska Lumber Grading website.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at amnorris2@alaska.edu or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu. 

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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