Residents of Louisiana have recently encountered problems with local parish building inspectors when attempting to get a home inspected and approved if the home was built with non-grade-stamped lumber. According to Todd Shupe, professor in the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, “the grade stamp on a pine board corresponds to its maximum allowable load capacity. A separate moisture content stamp is also present on most lumber purchased from wholesale and retail distributors. Typically, most pine lumber is kiln dried to 19% moisture content, which is advisable for home construction.”

In 2005, and amended in 2006, the Louisiana Legislature mandated the use of nationally recognized codes and standards as the state’s Uniform Construction Code. The initial code adopted by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council became effective on Jan. 1, 2007 (La. R.S.40:1730.28). Chapter 5 of the International Code Council’s International Residential Code states that “load-bearing dimension lumber for floors, walls, roofs and ceilings shall be identified by a grade mark of a lumber-grading or inspection agency that has been approve by an accreditation body that complies with DOC PS 20. In lieu of a grade mark, a certificate of inspection issued by a lumber-grading or inspection agency meeting the requirements shall be accepted.” The primary grading agency for southern pine lumber is the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau located in Pensacola, Fla.