PENSACOLA, FL -- The Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB) has issued Supplement No. 9 to the 2002 Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber providing new design values effective June 1, 2012. The only design values that have changed apply to visually graded Southern Pine and Mixed Southern Pine sized 2” to 4 in. wide and 2 in. to 4 in. thick (2x2s through 4x4s) in No.2 and lower grades (No.2, No.3, Stud, Construction, Standard and Utility). This also includes new design values for No.2 Dense and No.2 NonDense Southern Pine

Users should now be using the new design values and revised span tables, following a eight-month transition period. Southern Pine users have many available product options including visually graded dimension lumber and an increasing supply of mechanically graded lumber. Many producers and key customer groups have successfully transitioned to the new SBIB design values with minimal disruption to their businesses.