Chapter 5. STORAGE OF SPECIAL COMMODITIES

CHAPTER 5

STORAGE OF SPECIAL COMMODITIES

Section I. Lumber

well dried wood. Lumber may be treated with a

5-1. General.

preservative in accordance with section 5 of MIL HDBK-

The information and instructions in this section are

7 to prevent infestation for longer storage periods. If

designed to aid personnel performing lumber storage

infestation occurs during drying, the fungus will continue

and handling operations.

to live in a dormant state for months or years after the

wood dries and will resume activity if moisture content

NOTE

again becomes high enough. A key to preventing

Further technical data with respect to

deterioration during long-term storage is to eliminate

lumber storage can be found in MIL

infestation during drying and to keep the wood dry in

HDBK-7,

Lumber

and

Allied

storage. All lumber must be checked thoroughly at the

Products. That portion of section 6

time of receipt for moisture content and fungus

of the handbook, dealing with

infestation before storage. The preparation for storage

handling and storage of lumber, is

and the type of storage will be based upon the results of

superseded by this manual.

these checks. It is important, especially when lumber is

received in drafts, to choose drafts from different parts

a. Storage and materials handling. The advances

of each shipment and disassemble the drafts for

made in the mechanized handling of lumber have

examination; unless this procedure is followed, the

changed storage and handling methods.

The

condition of the lumber inside the draft cannot be

development of handling equipment such as forklift

ascertained.

Lumber presents unique problems in

trucks and straddle carry trucks that can be used to

storage. Special piling methods are necessary to

stack, unstack, and transport lumber, has brought about

provide proper ventilation that will prevent deterioration

revolutionary changes; the most notable being the

of the lumber. The method of stacking each shipment

handling of lumber in packages. Regardless of whether

of lumber must be determined by competent personnel.

lumber is handled by mechanized equipment or by

manual labor, the objectives of storage and handling are

d. Ordering lumber.

unchanged.

b. Objective of storage and materials handling.

As emphasized in the paragraphs above, the length of

The objective of lumber storage is to maintain the

storage time and moisture content of lumber greatly

lumber at, or bring it to, a moisture content suitable for

affects the lumber's condition. Only the quantity of

its end use with a minimum of deterioration. The

lumber that will be used during a reasonable period of

objective of lumber handling is to load, transport,

time should be ordered. If the storage activity knows

unload, stack, and unstack lumber economically and

that the lumber will be stored for an extended period of

without damage. Both of these objectives are obtained

time or a history of wood decay problems exists, then

easily if good handling and storage practices are

the lumber should be ordered requiring either stickering

followed. Adequate protection of lumber in storage will

prior to shipment or dry (less than 19 percent moisture

help prevent attack by fungi or insects, as well as

content) lumber with no substitution.

changes in moisture content, which encourage checking,

warping, twisting, and straining in lumber and make it

e. Protective equipment.

unsuitable for the intended use.

c. Condition of lumber placed in storage. The

(1) Lumber apron. The lumber apron for use

condition of lumber placed in storage, with respect to

in lumber handling should be constructed in accordance

moisture content and possible fungus infestation, has an

with the specifications outlined in figure 5-1. The apron

important bearing on the subsequent qualities of the

should consist of a soft leather backing faced with heavy

lumber over long periods.

Fungi (wood rot) and

leather three-sixteenths of an inch or more in thickness.

subterranean termites infecting wood are retarded in

The two pieces of leather should be riveted together and

their growth when the moisture content of the wood is

supported by a belt 11/2 inches in width or wider to

lower than 20 percent; however, dry wood termites,

ensure adequate distribution of the weight of the apron

powder post beetles, and other wood borers can develop

and lumber being handled to prevent cutting or

successfully in

5-1