TITLE 2309.24 - REGIONAL FACILITIES HANDBOOK
FSH 9/85 R-10 TRANS
CHAPTER 300 - MATERIALS AND FINISHES
310 - Materials. A rustic appearance shall be encouraged through careful selection
of materials harmonizing with the natural setting. Refer to FSM 2336.16, and
2336.13, Amendment 89, for additional direction.
Wood shall be encouraged as the dominant building material in the Alaska Region.
To reduce decay and resulting maintenance cost, cedar or pressure treated wood
shall normally be used. This is especially important where there is direct exposure
to soil, or where water can collect and remain for extended periods (such as corner
joints, sills).
Where use of pressure treated lumber is not practical (such as in isolated areas too
costly to bring materials in by helicopter), wood members shall be peeled, seasoned,
and treated on site prior to use, if possible. Use cedar instead, if available. Load
bearing members exposed to weather must be larger than normal to compensate for
potential decay in this situation. Frequent inspections shall be made to reduce
liability.
Native stone harmonizes well with natural surroundings, but is generally not cost
effective because of the extensive labor required to construct with this material.
Where cost can be keep down, and specialized skills found to do a quality job, use of
this material is to be encouraged. Stone can be used in retainer walls or walks, if
laid up dry.
Metal, fiberglass, and concrete, as primary building materials, are appropriate
under certain conditions (such as when vandalism or maintenance is a serious
problem). Designs shall be permitted after a thorough review, including the RO, to
insure harmony with other structures and the site.
Metal roof material shall be permitted. Metal roofing shall be high quality, 28gauge, of the "high-rib" type (not corrugated) with baked-on, non-reflective finish,
and shall include a zinc undercoat, as specified by Champion Metal, or equal. The
Forest Landscape Architect shall select the color; a light brown, in most situations.
Fiberglass roofing shall be permitted for toilet buildings where lack of windows
cause a lighting problem.
Cedar shakes shall be permitted in Wilderness.
320 - Finishes. Finishes for outside wood surfaces shall be a semi-transparent,
penetrating oil-based stain, that effectively retains much of the grain and texture of
wood. Stain shall be used instead of paint for outside surfaces exposed to the
elements. Where the proper stain, mixed with preservative and water repellent is
used, experience and research shows it is more durable than paint in high rainfall
situations. The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) Natural Finish is still
recommended as a superior product in Alaska because of its paraffin wax base,
pentacholorophenol, and iron oxide pigments, which help to prolong durability in
high rainfall situations. (Refer to FPL publication No. 046 in Appendix 12). Oilbased paint, water-based paint, varnish, epoxy, or fiberglass finishes on wood
exposed to adverse weather, shall not be used. Blistering and the task of stripping
off will cause problems.
A finish similar to the FPL stain is recommended. It can be purchased
commercially in 1- or 5-gallon containers. The task of procurement, mixing, and
retaining quality in large mixed batches is often difficult when using FPL stain.
Any substitute should contain both a preservative and a water repellent to be most
effective, especially on the Tongass Forest.
Only wood, pressure treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), shall be used
for new wood structures or existing structures needing a preservative, and which
will have significant skin or food contact. Examples of such structures are picnic
tables, and bridge handrails. Pentacholorophenol, or similar, may be used in other
areas needing a good preservative, and not expected to have skin or food contact.
However, were possible, pressure treated wood shall be encouraged for most
situations.
The Regional Recreation Office has initiated a request to General Services
Administration for a waiver to allow local purchase of semi-transparent,
penetrating stain, having characteristics for durability in our high rainfall
situations. This direction will be issued if approval is obtained, and a suitable
substitute found similar to natural FPL stain (Appendix 12). Our long-term
objective is to find one semi-penetrating stain usable for all facilities. The finish
shall include a water-repellent (wax), and a durable non-toxic preservative that will
be effective as a mildewcide.
330 - Asbestos Cement Board Substitutes. Fiberboards containing asbestos shall
not be used. There are several non-asbestos fiberboards now being manufactured
made of an unflammable material, which produces a non-toxic dust when the
boards are installed, repaired, or removed. Substitute those new boards for
asbestos boards when performing work requiring fiberboards.
340 - Color. Three colors well suited for use on siding and other wood structures,
and blending with most sites in Region 10, are cedar, light redwood, and dark
redwood. Each Forest shall select 1 of these 3 colors for use, and shall supplement
this Handbook on the subject. Other "earth" colors may be used in unusual
situations, but there is a need to maintain continuity throughout the Region for
Forest Service facilities.