Chapter 4: Construction Details, Section 57: Wood and Plastic Lumber Structures


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Published: July 2019


Section 57 Wood and Plastic Lumber Structures

4-5701 General

This section provides guidelines for inspecting construction of wood and plastic lumber structures for work specified under Section 57, “Wood and Plastic Lumber Structures,” of the Standard Specifications.

The work covered in this section also includes treating wood materials to prevent decay from moisture, bacteria, or insects.

4-5702 Before Work Begins

Before work begins, do the following:

  • Verify that Form CEM-3101, “Notice of Materials to Be Used,” includes lumber materials. Refer to Section 6-202, “Responsibilities for Acceptance of Manufactured or Fabricated Materials and Products” of this manual for additional information.
  • Occasionally, lead times to procure hardware and wood materials requiring preservative treatment can be longer than a contractor anticipates. Early in the project, determine when materials will arrive at the job site.
  • Upon delivery of treated wood materials, note whether they are identified by marks or inspection tags. Inspection and release of treated wood materials by Materials Engineering and Testing Services (METS) will assure that specified preservative treatment meets specifications.
  • If the wood or plastic lumber structure requires painting, review Sections 4-78, “Incidental Construction,” and 4-91, “Paint,” of this manual.
  • Inspect the material in accordance with Table 6-2.1, “Inspection of Fabricated and Manufactured Materials,” in Section 6-2, “Acceptance of Manufactured or Fabricated Materials and Products,” of this manual.

4-5703 During the Course of Work

During the work, take the following steps:

  • To verify that METS has inspected and released the materials to be used, retrieve their inspection release tags from the materials as they are delivered to the job site, and match the materials to Form TL-0029, “Report of Inspection of Material.”
  • In accordance with Table 6-2.1, “Inspection of Fabricated and Manufactured Materials,” of this manual, visually inspect the lumber materials.
  • Verify that lumber delivered to the job site complies with the grading specifications.
  • Verify that the lumber materials and hardware conform to the plans and specifications.
  • Make sure that any damage during handling and installation does not reduce the preservative treatment’s effectiveness. No further inspection of the treatment is needed.

4-5704 Quality Control

Verify that lumber delivered to the job site complies with the grading specifications.

For plastic lumber, make sure that stiffness tests are performed in the presence of the METS inspector.

4-5705 Payment

For the basis of measurement and payment, refer to appropriate sections of the special provisions and Standard Specifications.

The payment for preservative treatment is included in the contract prices paid for the various wood materials that are treated.

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