As you may already know, effective June 1st of this year, all truss compaines and anyone designing with Southern Yellow Pine must use the New Values, as indicated by American Lumber Standards.

Below find information from Mitek, regarding said lumber changes and how to know if a company is using the correct values.

Southern Pine Design Value Update:

Reminder of June 1, 2012 Implementation of New Values

Through our communications with you and from SBCA updates, you hopefully know that the new American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) prescribed Southern Pine (SP) design values went into effect June 1, 2012 for visual grades of 2″- 4″ thick, 2″- 4″ wide, Southern Pine #2 Dense and 2×4 Mixed Southern Pine #2 and all lower grades (i.e. #3, Stud, Construction, Standard, and Utility). The new values have been reduced approximately 20-30 percent.

Beginning June 1, 2012, sealed truss design drawings produced by MiTek specifying Southern Pine lumber will be based on the new ALSC approved design values. There will be exceptions for repairs and on-going jobs if so directed by the building official or EOR.

In Summary, here’s how to identify which Southern Pine is being used:

• SYP lumber designation equals old Southern Pine lumber values.
• SPp lumber designation equals proposed new Southern Pine lumber values.
• SP lumber designation equals final ALSC approved/new Southern Pine lumber values.



Our sealed drawings will note that the lumber designation SP is the indication to the reviewer that the new values have been used.

Design values for all other grades and sizes of visually graded Southern Pine remain the same, pending results of testing scheduled for completion later in 2012. You will need to continue to use the SYP species group to design with Southern Pine lumber for members whose values have not changed (for example, 2×6 No. 2). All MSR and MEL lumber is included in the SP species group since these values will not be changing.

For SBCA guidance and details related to transitioning to new SP design values refer to the following policy on their website:

 “SBCA’s Policy on Building Code Applied Loads and Lumber Related Resistance Implementation: Transitioning to June 1 Southern Pine Design Values”