Is NH timber getting a raw deal? The fight over lumber grades in the Granite State

New Hampshire is the second most forested state in the country, yet our local timber industry struggles to compete against Canadian lumber because of how wood is classified. This year, legislators are considering three bills—HB 1204, SB 503, and SB 529 —aimed at redefining how New Hampshire wood is graded and sold.

Why NH wood gets a lower grade

Buy a 2x4 at your local hardware store and you’re likely to see a stamp on the wood that reads “SPF.” No, it doesn’t mean it comes with sunscreen—SPF stands for Spruce-Pine-Fir, a standard category of wood species used in construction. Those three letters are at the center of an important debate in the New Hampshire Legislature this year, about the distinction between “SPF” and “SPFS” woods.

The premium “SPF” grade is largely reserved for Canadian timber. International design standards prize Canadian SPF because it is considered stronger and denser, owing largely to the cold climate it grows in.

Meanwhile, the exact same species grown just south of the border in New Hampshire must often be graded as “Spruce-Pine-Fir South” (SPFS). SPFS is considered a separate, slightly weaker classification.

Since New Hampshire’s northern climate and soils are so similar to Canada’s, some legislators believe our wood warrants the same density designation.

Revising the building code to favor NH lumber

The House and Senate are both considering bills that would allow more New Hampshire timber to be used in place of SPF Canadian timber.

As introduced, HB 1204 would allow softwood timber harvested in New Hampshire at or above 44 degrees North latitude to be eligible for classification as spruce-pine-fir (SPF). The House is considering some significant amendments to that bill, partly due to concerns over interfering with international standards.

SB 503 takes a slightly different approach. That bill would mandate that for the purposes of the state building code, SPFS lumber harvested and milled in New Hampshire must be accepted wherever SPF is specified. While it allows architects and engineers to specify higher-strength materials if safety requires it, the bill generally compels them to consider SPFS as a viable alternative.

The text of this bill contains an extensive “Statement of Findings and Purpose.” This section describes the background of the issue in detail and makes arguments for the bill’s passage. For example, it begins, “The majority of structural timber harvested for building materials in New Hampshire comes from Coos County and many areas of Coos County extend farther north than portions of Canada where lumber is graded as spruce pine fir (SPF).”

It goes on to say that wood density should be determined by latitude rather than "an arbitrary designation of density based upon political borders".

Opponents argue that creating a special carve-out for New Hampshire lumber will create confusion for engineers, who might choose to avoid SPF and SPFS altogether if state law seems to contradict international standards. Dan Martel, President of the Structural Engineers of New Hampshire, told a Senate committee that equating two different lumber grades was like saying two different recipes with different ingredients were the same.

Another bill, SB 529, requires state-funded building projects to give preference to American lumber. There would be an exception if the project’s design criteria required using imported wood. Since SB 529 sets up a preference, not a mandate, the bill would have a less significant impact than SB 503 or HB 1204.

This bill’s fiscal impact statement notes that while lumber prices are currently declining due to decreased demand, a future increase could strain domestic production. If this was combined with high tariffs on Canadian lumber, it could result in higher lumber and construction costs.

What do you think?

Is it time for New Hampshire to demand equal standing for its timber, or should longstanding grading standards remain unchanged? HB 1204 will get a vote by the full House in March, while SB 503 and SB 529 are headed to public hearings in House committees. You can reach out to your representatives to let them know where you stand. Check out our Advocacy Toolkit to learn more.