Malaysian Grading Rules
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Rationable Behind The Malaysian Grading Rules
Some Areas Of Special Interest
Grading and Inspection Process
What The MGR Can Do For Buyers
Reducing CO2 Through Suitainable Timber Harvesting
Rationable Behind The Malaysian Grading Rules
The Malaysian Grading Rules (MGR) ensure timber quality by focusing on the appearance of sawn timber, primarily through the Cutting and Defect Systems. The Cutting System grades timber based on the percentage of defect-free cuts, commonly used for timber that will be re-sawn. The Defect System allows for certain natural imperfections that don’t affect usage, grading timber like railway sleepers. Defects such as sound knots, phloem, and pinholes are sometimes permissible, with special grades like PHND (Pin Holes No Defect) and IPND (Included Phloem No Defect) available for buyers seeking specific specifications.
Some Areas Of Special Interest
Timbers tend to shrink upon drying. To allow for this expected shrinkage, the MGR recommends that timbers be sawn oversized, with an allowance to compensate for this shrinkage. Timbers sawn with such an allowance for shrinkage are described as full sawn. However, full sawn timbers are more expensive as the cost of the extra material supplied will eventually be borne by the buyers. In cases where the final size of the piece of timber is not critical to its utilization, e.g., when the timber is re-sawn before usage, the buyers can specify that the timber need not be full sawn. This is to save costs. In these cases, the buyers can specify that the timber be sawn to its exact dimension, or bare sawn.This cost-saving measure can be taken further by specifying that the timber be sawn to a dimension slightly less than specified, i.e., scant sawn.Whether the timber is purchased as full, bare or scant sawn, it is very much a matter of buyer-seller contractual agreement. Under specifications for bare or scant sawn timbers, all documents will have to bear the correct specifications and all grades will be marked with the words “bare” or “scant”. In the absence of such a prior contractual agreement, all timbers are presumed to be full sawn timbers.
Timber to be kiln-dried will be graded before kiln-drying. Timbers are to be sawn with recommended oversize and provisions for scant sawn do not apply. Defects developed during the kiln-drying process will be the responsibility of the kiln operator, who shall reject all defective pieces. The kiln operator will issue a kiln-drying certificate, which will be endorsed by the Grading Authority with the statement “timber kiln-dried after grading”. No kiln-dried timber can be exported without this endorsement which proves that the timbers were graded and inspected prior to kiln-drying.
Grading is normally done before impregnation unless otherwise specified. This means that any defective piece would have been removed prior to treatment. It must be noted that grading is done solely to ensure the quality of the piece of timber and not the impregnation process. For that assurance, an accompanying “Impregnation Certificate” will have to be issued by the company treating the timber, and the certificate will have to be endorsed by the Grading Authority.
All timbers graded under the MGR are marked with Grade Marks consisting of an arrow with the letters F and D (denoting the Forestry Department, the historical Grading Authority), on either side. Underneath the arrow is the abbreviation for the appropriate grade (e.g., prime, select, standard, sound, utility etc.). Additional markings are found on the side if appropriate, e.g., PHND.
Some grades are marked as “& UP”. This means that the grade has a minimum rating of the grade and may contain pieces that are of a higher grade. Example, if the grade is “Select & Better”, it means that the worst piece of the parcel is of the “Select” grade but the parcel may contain pieces that are of a better grade.
Grading and Inspection Process
Timber is graded by fully trained and licensed Timber Graders, who are private operators. If required, a check grading can be done by Timber Inspectors of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board, the designated Grading Authority in Malaysia. Check grading is not compulsory and it is done only upon request. The Timber Inspectors will conduct a 10% check grading on the consignment to ascertain that the grading has been done accurately.
Timbers will be graded in accordance to the grade specified for the consignment. For instance, if the buyer wishes to buy Select & Better sawntimber, then the Timber Graders will be looking at the consignment to see whether it will qualify for this grade. Grading is also guided by the buyers’ specifications on which system of grading to use, e.g., Cutting System or the Defects System. Then the timbers are examined piece by piece to ascertain the percentage of clean surfaces that can be obtained from the consignment. If the percentage of good clean surface is adequate for that particular grade, then the consignment is deemed to represent that grade. It must be noted that the underlying principle of grading as done under the Malaysian Grading Rules is that it is the amount of good clean surfaces that decide the grade, and not the amount of defects present. In other words, when you order timbers graded under the MGR, you are guaranteed a certain amount of good timber, and not how much defective timbers were kept out.
What The MGR Can Do For Buyers
Although grading is no longer compulsory, the MGR remains as an assurance tool for buyers purchasing Malaysian timbers. Buyers who are already familiar with Malaysian timbers usually by-pass the grading process. If buyers are looking for certainty of getting the quality they want, they should order graded timbers. The MGR is designed to provide a statement of quality on sawntimbers shipped from Malaysia.
If you would like further clarification on the Malaysian Grading Rules, please contact Malaysian Timber Industry Board.
Ensuring Quality & Consistency in Timber Grading
Specifying Timbers Under the Malaysian Grading Rules
Depending on the purpose for which the timbers are purchased, buyers who wish to buy graded timbers from Malaysia have a choice of having their timber graded under the General Market Specification or the Special Market Specification.
General Market Specification is reserved for timbers, e.g., boards and planks, that are usually re-sawn before use and the timbers are graded under the Cutting System. For this reason, the presence of good, clean-cut surfaces are important and the grades are determined according to the percentage of clear faces that can be obtained from the piece of timber.
Special Market Specification deals with timbers for specific purposes and the final sizes are usually specified, e.g., railway sleepers and cross arms. The following section outlines the two methods of timber specification and the grading systems applicable for different uses. For further clarification on the Malaysian Grading Rules, please contact the Malaysian Timber Industry Board.
| Specification | System Used | Grades Available |
|---|---|---|
| Boards/Planks | Cutting System | (i) Prime (ii) Select (iii) Standard (iv) Sound (v) Serviceable (vi) Utility |
| Specification | System Used | Grades Available |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Prime Wides and Panels | Cutting System | (i) Prime |
| (ii) Strips | Cutting System | (i) Prime (ii) Select (iii) Standard (iv) Sound (v) Serviceable (vi) Utility |
| (iii) Scantlings | Defect System | (i) Select & Better (ii) Standard (iii) Sound (iv) Serviceable (v) Utility |
| (iv) Sleepers | Defect System | (i) Select & Better (ii) Standard & Better |
| (v) Shorts | Defect System | (i) Prime (ii) Select (iii) Standard (iv) Sound (v) Serviceable |
| (vi) Cross Arms | Defect System | (i) Select & Better (ii) Standard & Better |
| (vii) Wagon Planks | Defect System | (i) Wagon Plank |
| (viii) Large Scantlings & Squares | Defect System | (i) Large Scantling & Squares |
| (viii) Decks | Defect System | (i) Decks |
| Specification | System Used | Grades Available |
|---|---|---|
| Boards/Planks | Cutting System | (i) Prime (ii) Select (iii) Standard (iv) Sound (v) Serviceable (vi) Utility |
| Specification | System Used | Grades Available |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Prime Wides and Panels | Cutting System | (i) Prime |
| (ii) Strips | Cutting System | (i) Prime (ii) Select (iii) Standard (iv) Sound (v) Serviceable (vi) Utility |
| (iii) Scantlings | Defect System | (i) Select & Better (ii) Standard (iii) Sound (iv) Serviceable (v) Utility |
| (iv) Sleepers | Defect System | (i) Select & Better (ii) Standard & Better |
| (v) Shorts | Defect System | (i) Prime (ii) Select (iii) Standard (iv) Sound (v) Serviceable |
| (vi) Cross Arms | Defect System | (i) Select & Better (ii) Standard & Better |
| (vii) Wagon Planks | Defect System | (i) Wagon Plank |
| (viii) Large Scantlings & Squares | Defect System | (i) Large Scantling & Squares |
| (viii) Decks | Defect System | (i) Decks |
