DEAR SUN SPOTS: You were incorrect on firewood measurements. A cord of wood is a term designed to measure wood cut in four-foot lengths. A tier of four-foot-long wood, ranked and well stowed, that is eight feet long and four feet high measures one cord. It contains 128 cubic feet of space, not wood.
If you reduce the four-foot-long wood in one cord to 16-inch lengths, it will all fit in a considerably smaller space, despite still being a “cord” of wood. That space will vary depending on how small the pieces of wood are and how tightly they are stacked.
A cord of 16-inch firewood will thus occupy 100 cubic feet, or a bit more or less. — Alvin Yates, licensed Maine forester/wood scaler, alyates2000@yahoo.com
ANSWER: Sun Spots went to the top, the state government, for clarification on this question. Here is the response from Steve Giguere, program manager, Deputy State Sealer of Weights & Measures, Division Quality Assurance & Regulations:
“Mr. Yates makes his comments based on some erroneous assumptions. His statement that “a cord of wood is a term designed to measure wood cut in four-foot lengths” is not correct.
“The actual definition in statute reads: ‘A standard cord is a unit of measure of wood products 4 feet wide, 4 feet high and 8 feet long, or its equivalent, containing 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed. Any voids that will accommodate a stick, log or bolt of average dimensions to those in that pile shall be deducted from the measured volume.’
“I highlight the term ‘or its equivalent’ as this is the piece most people either miss or choose to ignore. What this means is that the cord can be applied to different lengths of wood and any combination of measurements that equal 128 cubic feet is a cord.
“Furthermore, in definitions MRS 10 §2302 9. Sale from Bulk: ‘Sale from bulk’ means the sale of commodities when the quantity is determined at the time of sale. Which means that the wood must measure a full cord, 128 cubic feet, in the production form in which it is sold (if sold as a standard stacked cord).
“So to measure a cord of wood in four-foot lengths and then cut and split that wood and sell it and represent that as a cord would be illegal and constitute a misrepresentation of quantity.
“It should be noted that Maine law does allow for fuel wood to be sold using a standard for a cord other than the standard stacked cord. This standard is known as a ‘loose thrown cord.’ The loose thrown cord is the amount of space the wood will occupy when thrown loose into a truck body.
“It may be used only with wood bolts in lengths of 12, 16 and 24 inches. A loose thrown cord equals 180 cubic feet of loose wood for 12- and 16-inch wood and 195 cubic feet for 24-inch wood. This cord is not interchangeable with the standard stacked cord; it is in fact less when stacked and measured by approximately 10 percent.
“Firewood dealers must leave a delivery receipt stating the name and address of both the buyer and seller, a description of the wood, a total measurement, total sale price and the price per unit the total sale price is based on (i.e., price per cord).
If the dealer is selling ‘loose thrown cords’ that fact must be disclosed on the receipt as well. Otherwise, in the event of a dispute, we will assume a standard cord was sold as that is the state standard for measurement of a cord.”
DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Women’s Club of Greene is desperately seeking sponsors for its annual Christmas Program that lends a helping hand to area families with children, ages up to 12, and seniors. These families need support during the holiday season.
You can sponsor a child, a family or a senior. Donations of new clothing, toys, hygiene products, food gift cards and money would be greatly appreciated by our friends and neighbors in need.
For more information on how you can help, please call me at 946-5750. — Brenda Theriault, Greene
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