House committee hears industry push to treat New Hampshire’s SPFS lumber as equivalent to SPF in building plans

Representative Arnold Davis introduced SB503 to allow New Hampshire‑grown spruce‑pine‑fir stamped SPFS to be substituted where SPF is specified in building plans, while directing designers and inspectors to rely on published design values for installed lumber.

Why it matters: Backers framed the bill as a jobs and fairness measure for New Hampshire sawmills and loggers. Matt Mayberry, CEO of the New Hampshire Home Builders Association, and Jason Stock of the Timberland Owners Association said the change would give consumers and developers an option to use locally milled lumber without weakening safety standards.

Key details and concerns: Sponsors stressed that architects and engineers retain authority to require higher‑strength materials where needed. Committee members pressed on implementation questions: whether the change creates duplicative plans, how municipalities and building inspectors will verify mill origin and certificates, and whether insurance or federal code alignment would be affected. Witnesses described existing ALSC grade stamps, mill certificates and software that can load SPFS values as mechanisms to avoid duplicate design work.

Opposition / outside input: Representative Sargent noted a submission from the American Wood Council opposing the bill on the grounds that it effectively changes building‑code density requirements by statute; proponents countered that the bill preserves required design‑value checks.

Outcome: The committee moved SB503 in executive session and reported it out on consent (15–0).