Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau - PLIB

08/21/2026

PLIB is excited to attend the Timber Processing & Energy Expo coming up next month September 25-23, 2026! We hope to see you there! Stop by and say hi at Booth #132, or feel free to drop your booth number below and we will stop by and say hello!

08/13/2026

PLIB has launched the second of four online grading courses to the public. Following the earlier release of the Fundamentals of Lumber Grading online course, the STUD Grade course takes the next step in going deeper into characteristics determining the STUD grade category in the National Grade Rule. Video grading practices, 3D model grading practices, STUD grade rules, and graphics are all effective tools to become knowledgeable on STUD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkEjYGru0iE

The third course on the Light Framing category (CONSTRUCTION, STANDARD, & UTILITY) will be available soon. https://education.plib.org/

Click here to see a sample grading activity: https://plib.org/GradingBasics/VideoGradingActivity/story.html

07/10/2026

PLIB Members Gather in Osoyoos for 2026 Annual Meeting

Members of the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau from Canada, Europe, and the U.S. met at Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos, British Columbia, during the last week of June for the PLIB Annual Meeting and semi‑annual Board session.

Before the meetings began, members toured the Mercer Mass Timber glulam facility in Okanagan Falls, gaining a firsthand look at this long‑established operation. During the business session, the membership elected the 2026–2027 Board of Directors and welcomed new directors Valentina Wolfrum (Rettenmeier) and Natalie Peace (Weyerhaeuser). Members also heard from Jackson Morrill, President of the American Wood Council, who provided an update on AWC initiatives on sustainability, building codes and regulations, and PLIB’s collaborative efforts.

Outside the meeting room, attendees enjoyed time together in the Okanagan Valley—golfing, visiting the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, and touring Nk’Mip Cellars.

It was yet another successful and energizing gathering in our 123 year history, underscoring the strong cooperation and collaboration between our North American and European members and the shared commitment to advancing the organization’s mission and our great industry.

Pictured below: Members of PLIB’s Board of Directors and staff at the annual meeting in Osoyoos, BC, Members, spouses and staff hear from the Executive Director at the Nk’ Mip Cultural Centre, PLIB members and staff at Mercer Mass Timber OK Falls, BC.

06/08/2026

PLIB welcomes two new employees! We are thrilled to officially welcome Axel Duran and Jonathan Cooke to the PLIB team.

🌲 Meet Our New Team Members:

Jonathan Cooke is stepping into the Canadian District Supervisor role. He brings his skills and technical expertise with over 20 years experience in Canadian lumber production. Canadian Members can expect to start seeing Jonathan at their mill inspections in the next few weeks.

Axel Duran joins us as the new Accounting Clerk. A recent graduate, he brings a wave of fresh energy, up-to-date training, and a deep eagerness to learn our operations from the ground up.

Help us welcome them by commenting below and giving them a warm industry welcome. Drop a comment or an emoji below to say hello! 👇

06/01/2026

PLIB staff attended the Portland Wholesale Lumber Association sawmill tour last Thursday and had a great time touring Superior Wood Treating (Manke Lumber Co Inc - Sumner) and Manke Lumber Company Inc to learn all about how the manufacturing side of our industry works. It was a fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes and get a picture of where it all begins with lumber. We are very grateful to PWLA and Manke Lumber for the opportunity!!

06/01/2026

The recent meeting of the PLIB Grade and Technical Committee highlighted the important role that member engagement plays in the continuous development of lumber grading standards.
The Committee provides a forum for PLIB members to actively contribute to the rules and standards that underpin the North American lumber industry. Many of the recent changes to the National Grading Rules originated as proposals from PLIB members and were developed through the collaborative work of this committee.

At the May meeting, discussions focused on several grading clarifications, including knot size definitions for knots occurring in finger-jointed lumber. These types of technical reviews help ensure that grading requirements remain clear, consistent, and practical for producers, customers, and inspectors alike.

Standards and grading rules are living documents that must evolve alongside industry practices, manufacturing technologies, and market needs. PLIB is grateful for the dedication and expertise of the committee members who generously contribute their time and knowledge to this process.

Thank you to all participants for helping strengthen the standards that support confidence, consistency, and quality throughout the lumber industry.

binderholz group Freres Wood Fritch Mill Ilim Timber Germany Mercer Mass Timber Roseburg Forest Products RSG Forest Products Southport Lumber Tolko Industries Ltd. Weyerhaeuser @ Zip-O-Log Mills, Inc

05/19/2026

🪵 New Product Alert!
We’ve just launched an exciting new training tool—and it’s available now on our website! Our new lumber Grade Sleeves are designed to make training easier, more interactive, and more effective for new graders.

✨ What makes them great?
✔ Easy-to-use sleeves that slide right over dry lumber
✔ Color-coded visuals for knot placement and grading
✔ Covers multiple grade types
✔ Works with dry-erase markers for hands-on learning
Whether you’re teaching, learning, or refining your skills, this is a must-have training aid!

👉 Check it out and grab yours today: https://plib.org/resources/publications/plib-store/

05/05/2026

Rules-writing agencies play an essential role in the structural lumber system—developing and maintaining the design values that engineers rely on for safe and efficient design.

In that context, the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau (PLIB) is pleased to share a recent update. PLIB has developed design values for Norway spruce and Scots pine dimensional lumber sourced from Poland, and these values have now been approved by the Board of Review of the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC).

This milestone reflects the collaborative work required to bring new species and sources into the framework of recognized design standards, while maintaining consistency and reliability across the system. We appreciate the contributions of all involved in this process.

For those with questions about specific design values or how they compare, PLIB’s Design Values Comparison Calculator (https://lnkd.in/dtFenUcg) is available as a helpful resource. Pictured are examples for a quality mark on Scots pine indicating that the lumber production has been audited by PLIB for conformance to the National Grading Rules.

, , ,

04/28/2026

PLIB participated in a trade mission to Monterrey, Mexico with the Softwood Export Council and Members. The trade mission aligned perfectly with our PLIB Mission to Serve, Advance, and Support our Members, their customers and product end users. The group met with leading importers/ wholesalers in the state of Nuevo Leon, where they toured wholesaler yards and discussed major softwood species and grades used in the pallet, formwork, and furniture sectors. During a workshop at the Universidad de Monterrey in conjunction with the School of Packaging and Design, PLIB North American Regional Manager, John Hamilton, and Special Programs Manager, Ben Haynes, gave presentations on US softwood species, grades, and phytosanitary regulations for wood packaging materials (WPM). Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to work with a certified lumber grader while using samples provided by Forestal BGA, S.A. de C.V.. Members and participants included Max Heller, Sean Coughlin, Javier Tijerina, Rose Braden, Utah Lumber, Christy Hollenback, Hector Dimas, Elliazar Lopez, Jose Payes.

PLIB participated in a trade mission to Monterrey, Mexico with the Softwood Export Council and Members. The trade mission aligned perfectly with our PLIB Mission to Serve, Advance, and Support our Members, their customers and product end users. The group met with leading importers/ wholesalers in th...

04/20/2026

PLIB’s Kelly Clifford and Bruce Bajema conducted grading demonstrations in cooperation with Mobile Dimension Sawmill a manufacturer of portable sawmills, at the Skagit County Fairgrounds Wood Show this weekend. The event showcased some incredible wood art as well as woodworking and sawing equipment for the wood craftsperson and portable sawmill industry. PLIB demonstrations highlighted our Transient (on-demand, on-site) lumber grading service which is well known throughout the region. Through this service, portable sawmills can have lumber graded and stamped or certificated by a PLIB inspector for a nominal fee. More information on this service is available in our brochure: https://plib.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PLIB-Transient-Grading-10-2019.pdf.

To schedule service, contact Kelly Clifford at 253-835-3344 or [email protected].