Forest Products Laboratory

Title: Engineering properties of douglas-fir lumber reclaimed from deconstructed buildings

Author: Falk, Robert; Maul, Derek; Cramer, Steven; Evans, James; Herian, Victoria.

Date: 2008

Source: Research Paper FPL-RP-650. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.

Station ID: RP-FPL-650

Description: A vast wood resource exists in our Nation's wood-framed building infrastructure. As the buildings in this infrastructure age and are remodeled or removed for redevelopment, the wood framing residing in these buildings has the potential to be recovered for reuse. However, little technical information exists on the residual engineering properties of reclaimed dimensional lumber. Our study was undertaken to quantify the engineering strength and stiffness of dimensional Douglas-fir 2-by lumber recovered from building dismantlement or deconstruction. These data can serve as a basis for establishing formal recognition of this resource in current grading rules and engineering design standards.

Keywords: Lumber, salvage, reclaimed wood, deconstruction, engineering properties, timber, recycling, wood waste, mechanical properties, construction, demolition debris

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Citation

Falk, Robert; Maul, Derek; Cramer, Steven; Evans, James; Herian, Victoria.  2008.  Engineering properties of douglas-fir lumber reclaimed from deconstructed buildings.   Research Paper FPL-RP-650. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory..