NOFMA: The Wood
Flooring Manufacturers Association's principal function has been to
formulate and administer industry standards on hardwood flooring.
Establishing grading rules for flooring is a major part of these
standards. Prior to November, 1999, these Official Flooring Grading
Rules covered the standards and grades for solid unfinished hardwood
strip and plank flooring in Oak, Beech, Birch, Hard Maple,
Hickory/Pecan, Ash, and Prefinished Oak. In January, 1999,NOFMA began
a program for certification of Engineered Flooring products. The
program involved establishing grading rules for engineered flooring.
These new engineered grad-ing standards have now been incorporated in
the Official Flooring Grading Rules.
For over a half-century,
NOFMA has been the “Voice of Authority” in the hardwood flooring
industry, extending even to U. S. Government agencies. In 1966, the
Department of Commerce, the National Bureau of Standards, FHA and VA
withdrew product standard CS56-60, strip oak flooring, and accepted
the NOFMA Official Flooring Grading Rules as the standard for the
industry.
A flooring product of mostly heartwood with a minimum number of
character marks and discoloration, providing a uniform appearance
while allowing for all heartwood natural color variations.
Will admit the following: 3/8"
bright sapwood entire length of strip or equivalent if not extending
further than 1" for 1/3 length of piece; small burls and fine pin
worm holes; and equivalent characters such as small tight checks; in
the absence of these, one thin brown streak 3" long to be allowed
every 6'.
Standard Packaging - Bundles to be 1
1/4' and longer; Average length, bundled or nested, 3 3/4'. Shorter
Packaging - Average length for 7' and shorter packages, nested or
otherwise, 3 1/2'.
NOFMA SELECT OAK
A flooring product with coloration variations produced by differences
of natural heartwood and sapwood, along with characters described.
The face may contain: unlimited sound
sapwood; slight imperfections in milling; a small tight knot every 3';
pin worm holes; burls and a reasonable amount of slightly open checks.
Brown streaks should not extend the entire length of a piece. Two flag
worm holes to every 8' are permitted. Slight imperfections in face
work (torn grain) admitted. An intermittent, brown machine burn across
the face not exceeding 1/4" width admitted. Also, a slight
quantity of bark on the back or sides admitted. Will admit pieces with
1/2 tongue. Spot filling is generally required for open characters.
Standard Packaging - Bundles to be 1
1/4' and longer; Average length, bundled or nested, 3 1/4'. Shorter
Packaging - Average length for 7' and shorter packages, nested or
otherwise, 3'.
NOFMA NO. 1
COMMON OAK
A flooring product which contains prominent variations in coloration
and varying
characters.
The following are not admitted: broken
knots over 1/2" in diameter, large grub worm holes; and splits
extending through the piece. Open characters such as checks and knot
holes are admitted, buit must be sound and readily fill. Not more than
20" scant stock in thickness allowed to every 5'. Minor
imperfections in machining permitted. Shall admit sticker stain;
varying wood characteristics, such as flag worm holes, heavy streaks,
checks, and worm holes; and an occasional dark machine burn across the
face not exceeding 1/2" wide, 1/64" deep and not more than
two each 3'. 1/4 tongue allowed. Extremely dark pieces are not to be
included.
Standard Packaging - Bundles to be 1
1/4' and longer; Average length, bundled or nested, 2 3/4'. Shorter
Packaging - Average length for 7' and shorter packages, nested or
otherwise, 2 1/2'.
NOFMA NO. 2 COMMON OAK
May contain sound natural variations of the forest product and
manufacturing imperfections. The purpose of this grade is to furnish a
floor suitable for homes, general utility use, or where character
marks and contrasting appearance is desired.
The following are not admitted:
shattered or rotten ends, large broken knots, excessive bad millwork,
shake, advanced rot, and similar unsound defects. Dark machine burns
exceeding 3/64" deep not admitted. Knot holes and open characters
which will readily fill are admitted. A limited number of pieces with
no tongue which may be face nailed are admitted.
Standard Packaging - Bundles to be 1
1/4' and longer; Average length, bundled or nested, 2 1/4'. Shorter
Packaging - Average length for 7' and shorter packages, nested or
otherwise, 2'.
NOFMA 1 1/4'
SHORTS OAK
Pieces 9" to 18" long are to be bundled together and
designated as 1 1/4' Shorts. Pieces graded NO. 1 COMMON, SELECT and
CLEAR to be bundled together and designated NO. 1 COMMON & BETTER
with pieces grading NO. 2 COMMON bundled separately and designated as
such. Although pieces 6" under and only 3" over the nominal
length of the bundle may be included, the pieces must average 1 1/4',
which is achieved through the natural preponderance of longer lengths.
Shall have the face practically free of all defects, but the natural
color of the wood shall not be considered a defect. The highest
standard grade, combines appearance and durability.
Will admit the following: variations in the natural color of the
wood (with use of some finishes, slight shadows and color variation
may appear); an occasional small, firm pin knot, not over 1/8" in
diameter, provided it does not occur on edges or ends of strips;
occasional dark green or black spots or streaks not over 1/4"
wide and 3" long (or its equivalent) which may contain a tight
check not over 1/2" long, provided it is boxed within the piece;
bird's eyes and small burls; slightly torn grain; or similar defect
which can be readily removed by the ordinary method of sanding the
floor after it is laid; a slightly shallow place not over 12"
long on underside of the flooring if it does not extend to either end
of the piece. Pieces with 1/2 tongue for no more than 25% of the
length are allowed. The wood must be sound and free of shake. Bark
streaks shall not be permitted.
Bundles shall be 1-1/4' and longer through 7' or 8' as the stock
will produce. Not over 55% of the total footage shall be in bundles
under 4'; Not more than 25% of the total footage shall be in 2'
bundles, and not more than 10% of the footage shall be in 1-1/4'
bundles.Nested bundles (standard packaging): maximum average number of
pieces under 1-1/4' shall be 8 pieces. Average length is 3'.
NOFMA #1 Common Hard Maple(shown)
NOFMA #1 Common Beech
NOFMA #1 Common Birch
A floor with varying wood characteristics and colors to include
distinct color variations, numerous streaks, stained sapwood, sound
knots, and checks. All defects must readily fill.
Will admit the following: sound tight knots, provided they do not
occur on edges or ends of strips; slight imperfections in machining;
distinct color variations; sticker stain/shadow; numerous dark green
or black spots or streaks, provided they do not occur in combination
with predominantly dark heartwood; slight checks not exceeding 3"
in length (may be slightly open) and running parallel with and well
inside the edges and ends of the strips; dark spots or streaks with
slight checks in center; small rough spots (torn grain) which cannot
be wholly removed by ordinary method of sanding the floor after it is
laid; slightly torn edges; short tongue if sufficient to hold properly
in the floor; shallow or waney back, if piece has sufficient bearing
of full thickness to support it in the floor; small bark streaks where
bark is as sound as surrounding wood; and slight variation in angle of
end matching. The face shall be free of shake and wood must be sound.
Bundles shall be 1-1/4' and longer through 7' or 8', as the stock
will produce. Not over 60% of the total footage shall be in bundles
under 4', not more than 27% of the total footage shall be in 2'
bundles; and not more than 15% of the footage shall be in 1-1/4'
bundles.Nested bundles (standard packaging): maximum average number of
pieces under 1-1/4' shall be 12 pieces. Average length 2 3/4'.
NOFMA #2 Common Hard Maple(shown)
NOFMA #2 Common Beech
NOFMA #2 Common Birch
Must be of such character as will lay and give a good serviceable
floor. The wood must be firm, serviceable and may contain all defects
common to maple. Pieces with 1/4 full tongue admitted.
Third grade will not admit- knot holes over 3/8" in diameter
or unsound knots where the unsound portion is over 1" in
diameter; voids on ends or edges; or shake, heart checks, badly split
ends and imperfections in manufacture which would materially impair
the serviceability of the floor.
Bundles shall be 1-1/4' and longer through 7' or 8', as the stock
will produce. Not over 85% of the total footage shall be in bundles
under 4'; and not more than 55% of the total footage shall be 1-1/4'
bundles.Nested bundles (standard packaging): maximum average number of
pieces under 1-1/4' shall be 42. Average length 2 1/4'.
White Oak and Red Oak in STANDARD &
BETTER Grades with a natural coloration, to be separated. All other
colors and grades may be mixed Red Oak and White Oak. Grades are
established after the flooring has been sanded and finished.
PRIME
PREFINISHED OAK
This is the top grade and the overall appearance shall be good. The
face of strips shall be selected for appearance after finishing. This
grade includes characteristics found in the unfinished grades of CLEAR
and SELECT grade.
The following characters are admitted:
unlimited sapwood and the natural variations of color; occasional
small burls; light brown steaks not more than 1/8" in width and
6" in length or the equivalent; an occasional very small tight
1/8" knot; and limited 1/32" fine pinworm holes, may be
included in any one piece when properly filled. Will not admit pieces
with less than 3/4 full tongue. Minimum average length 3 1/4'. Bundles
1 1/4' and up.
STANDARD
PREFINISHED OAK
The face of strips may contain sound wood characteristics which are
even and smooth after filling and finishing. This grade includes some
characteristics found in the unfinished grades SELECT, NO.1 COMMON,
and NO. 2 COMMON.
The following characters are admitted;
worm holes; season and kiln checks, broken knots up to 3/8" in
diameter, minor imperfections in machining, torn grain and burns.
Other characters will be admitted if they do not impair the soundness
of the floor. All larger admitted open characters are to be properly
filled and finished. Limited unfinished/unfilled small open grade
characters permitted.
Large grub worm holes, splits extending
through the piece, shake and similar unsound defects not admitted.
For naturally finished coloration- all
the varying color characteristics of the wood admitted to include,
Sticker Stain, and Dark Streaks up to 3/8" in width not to exceed
1" in length for each lineal foot.
For stained finishes- all varying
colorations and streaks permitted, predominantly dark boards not
permitted.Minimum average length 2 1/2'. Bundles 1 1/4' and up.
STANDARD
& BETTER PREFINISHED OAK
A combination of PRIME and STANDARD grade developing from the
production run. Minimum average length 2 1/2'. Bundles 1 1/4' and up.
TAVERN
PREFINISHED OAK
Should lay a serviceable floor.
A limited amount of unfilled/unfinished
open characters admitted. A limited amount of pieces with finish
irregularities such as bubbles, small skips, lines, stain/color
variation, surface handling scratches, minor trash, and the like are
allowed.
The following characters are NOT
admitted: mis-manufactured boards; shattered or rotten ends; large
open knots and other unsound defects of a similar nature; pieces with
less than 1/4 full tongue.Minimum average length 2'. Bundles 1 1/4'
and up.
TAVERN
& BETTER PREFINISHED OAK
A combination of PRIME, STANDARD and TAVERN grades developing from the
production run.Minimum average length 2'.
PLAIN
SAWN: flooring that is marked or specified as PLAIN
SAWN or PLAIN, may contain any combination of the following types of
grain classification. Also, flooring without a grain designation may
contain any combination of the types of grain classification: Plain
Sawn, Rift Sawn, and Quarter Sawn.
QUARTER SAWN: flooring that is marked
or specified as QUARTER SAWN or QUARTERED; at least 50% of the piece
must contain Quartered characteristics.
Quartered characteristics
as defined by NOFMA are: In cross section the angle of the annual ring
tangent to the face of the piece to be between 45° and 90°. Grain
lines to be mostly parallel to the length of strips, and medullary ray
flecks present and more than 1/16" wide.
RIFT SAWN:
Flooring that is marked or specified as RIFT SAWN or RIFT; at least
75% of the piece must contain Rift characteristics.
Rift characteristics as
defined by NOFMA are: In cross section the angle of the annual ring
tangent to the face of the piece to be between 30° to 60°. Grain
lines to be mostly parallel to the length of strips and medullary ray
flecks less than 1/16" wide.
QUARTER/RIFT SAWN: Flooring that is
marked or specified as NOFMA QUARTER/RIFT SAWN or QUARTER/RIFT, is a
combination of QUARTER SAWN and RIFT SAWN developing from the
production run.
