| Knots | Gum pockets | Shakes | Wane | Checks (cracks) from drying | Other particularities | Applications |
GRADE 0
(former grades OA and OB) | Not present in the best side and the two edges.
Intergrown knots are tolerated in small number, with a maximum diameter of 15 mm on the opposite side. | Not admitted | Small edge shakes of small length and depth are tolerated only the opposite side | Excluded, except on pieces taller than 3 m, where a slight edge wane is tolerated on the opposite side, on 10% of the batch | Very slight superficial checks admitted | All other particularities, sawing imperfections or alterations are excluded | All applications in which the aspect of the wood holds primordial importance: fine carpentry, furniture, decoration... |
GRADE 1
(former grade 1)
A maximum of two structural particularities are admitted on both side and three on the opposite side by element-type (rectangle of 1m x 0,10m) | Limited to 1 sound knot of max 20mm on top face and of 3 sound knots of max 25mm diameter on counter-face. Tolerance of small black knots which will stay during processing. | Small gum pockets tolerated | Edge shakes: length limited to 5% of the length | Excluded, except for superficial wanes limited to 10% of the pieces taller than 3 m | Length must be limited to one and half times the piece's width | All other imperfections or alterations are excluded | All applications in which the aspect of the wood holds primordial importance: furniture, internal and external carpentry... |
GRADE 2
(former grade 2)
A maximum of three structural particularities are admitted on both sides and five on the opposite side by element-type (rectangle of 1m x 0,10m) | Limited to three sound intergrown knots of 30 mm diameter on the side and 5 knots of 40 mm on the opposite side.
Presence of some small non-intergrown black knots on the opposite side. | Some small gum pockets on the side, bigger on the opposite side, are tolerated. | Heart and edge shakes of maximum length equivalent to the piece's width, and not exceeding 5 to 8% of the piece's length | Not admitted on short pieces - tolerated on pieces longer than 3 m, on one edge. The length must be smaller than 20% of the piece's length and the width smaller then 20% of the piece's thickness | Tolerated if not exceeding 2 times the piece's width (three times on the opposite side) | Slight tolerance of curly grain on the opposite side.
Some black inactive pin holes are admitted in a limited number of pieces in a batch, on the opposite side.
All other alterations are excluded. | Structural or construction material and general carpentry work. Special packaging, For structural applications the pieces must comply with the NF B 52-001 norm. |
GRADE 3
(former grade 3A) | Sound or black, the knot's diameter must not exceed on the two sides: 1/2 of the sides' width on pieces narrower than 90 mm
45 mm on pieces up to 150 mm wide
1/3 the sides' width on pieces wider than 50 mm
- On the edges, emerging knots not exceeding 2/3 of the edge's width | Gum pockets 60 to 80 mm long are tolerated | Heart and edge shakes may have a length equivalent to 2 times maximum of the piece's width, not exceeding 8% of the piece's length | Not admitted on pieces shorter than 3 m. On pieces taller than 3 m, admitted if the length is equivalent to maximum 1/3 of the piece's length, with the width not exceeding half of the thickness (limited to 10-15 % of the pieces in a batch). | Admitted if the length does not exceed three times the width of the piece | Bark pocket and curly grain admitted if not altering the mechanical resistance of the piece.
Some slight traces of rot are tolerated, and some non-through pin holes. Some traces of mistletoe. Blue stain can be tolerated. | Structural or construction material and general carpentry work. industrial packaging...For structural applications the pieces must comply with the NF B 52-001 norm. |
GRADE 4
(former grade 3B) | Admitted without limitation in number and diameter | | Heart and edge shakes admitted | Not admitted on pieces shorter than 3 m - admitted without length limitations on one side or two edges | | Active pin holes, rots and dotes are excluded | Boxes, regular packaging, pallets, ... |