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TIMBER PRODUCTS August 2017 HT Newsletter Volume: 08/23/2017
Online Newsletter
Matt McGowan - WPM Program Manager
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
Office: 770.785.4769
Mobile: 678.480.2451
Mobile: 678.480.2451
For more information on the IPPC program
Please contact:
Matt McGowan
WPM Program Manager
Conyers GA
Office 770.785.4769
Mobile 678.480.2451
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
The unauthorized and/or fraudulent use of the TP IPPC mark is illegal and a situation we take seriously. Anyone with information regarding the misuse of IPPC marks should contact TP's WPM Manager immediately. Thank you for helping to protect the integrity of the ISPM 15 program which is vital to our business and economy.
Business Notes:
Despite a brief dip during week 28, southern yellow pine lumber prices have remained flat through June and July—possibly suggesting a period of equilibrium after a steady price decline since April’s 12-year high of $440/mbf. US housing startsrebounded more than expected in June after declining for three straight months, which helped drive demand for lumber during what is traditionally the most active part of the building season.Housing starts were up 8.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1,215,000 units in June; single-family starts accounted for 849,000 units and the multi-family housing segment increased 13.3 percent to a 366,000 unit-pace after five straight months of declines.
The composite southern yellow pine lumber price for week 30 was at $382/mbf, which is up from week 29’s $377/mbf mark. Week 30’s price is just 1.1 percent above its January 2017 starting point of $378/mbf, and 2.1 percent below the 2016 week 30 price of $390/mbf.
A closer look at some of the prices we have seen since the beginning of the year:
- 1Q2017 Average Price: $404/mbf
- 2Q2017 Average Price: $410/mbf
- YTD Peak Price: $440/mbf
- YTD Average Price: $407/mbf
- Average Summer Price: $382/mbf
Courtesy of John Greene, Forest2Market
"Discipline not desire determines destiny."
Andy Stanley
Emerald Ash Borer
A REVIEW OF PEST REGULATED UNDER ISPM 15
ISPM 15 heat treatment prescribed standards are based on testing that was performed to address Pine Wilt Disease. Scientific data shows this time and temperature specified by ISPM 15 is also efficacious in killing most insect pests the standard was established to protect against. The general listing of these pests is based on families and listed as:
- Anobiidae, Bostrichidae, Lyctidae - These three families are part of the superfamily Bostrichoidea which includes wood boring beetles (powder post beetles), auger beetles, spider beetles and furniture beetles.
- Buprestidae - Metallic wood boring beetles (i.e. Emerald ash borer).
- Cerambycidae - Beetles with long antennae (i.e. Long Horned Asian Beetle).
- Curculionidae, Scolytidae - These two families share the snout and bark beetles which includes weevils.
- Isoptera - Termites
- Oedemeridae - Fungus, darkling and blister beetles
- Siricidae - Wood wasps
- Bursaphelenchus Xylophilus - Pine wood nematodes / pine wilt nematodes, dirt nematodes
There are thousands of species in these families worldwide and it depends on the specific country as to which pests would be considered harmful under ISPM 15. While the specific species list can change with each country, as long as your material is properly treated, debarked and marked there are no issues with other countries importing and accepting your WPM.
Noticeably absent from this list are carpenter ants which are in the Formicidae family. Carpenter ants will excavate into wood to build nests but do not consume wood like the insects in the list above. Concerns related to carpenter ants come up occasionally but because they are not a pest addressed by ISPM 15, the heat treatment prescribed is not meant to be effective in eradicating them from your WPM.
Protecting WPM After Treatment
In the above information, we discussed the different pests that ISPM 15 addresses. While the Scope of ISPM 15 states "The phytosanitary measures described in this standard are not intended to provide ongoing protection from contaminating pests or other organisms", it is important to reduce the opportunity for problems overseas by being proactive in protecting treated WPM. Ways of doing this include:
Making sure all IPPC stamped WPM is made with lumber that has been properly treated.
Keeping treated WPM off bare ground where nematodes can contaminate it.
Keep untreated and treated material segregated.
Clean out boxes and containers of loose wood and other potential contaminants prior to loading treated and marked WPM.
Properly caring for treated WPM prior to international use is one more way of insuring potential problems do not become a reality.
Addendums
Addendums are additional documentation developed by the facility to provide information related to a unique situation occurring there. The addendum should clarify the process so that anyone going into the facility (i.e. ALSC) can read the addendum and understand the related process is conforming to ISPM 15 and ALSC regulations. Examples where addendums are used include:
- Heat chambers running at less than 140°F.
- Manufacturing of kits and knockdowns.
- Facility processing of reused pallets.
- Marking pallets with the IPPC stamp prior to heat treating.
- Heat treated rough lumber shipments.
This is only a partial list and if a facility wants to implement something new and different it is good to ask your inspector whether an addendum would be needed to implement the new practice. Once an addendum is created, it must be approved by the WPM Division Manager before being placed in the permanent QC procedures file and implementing the process.