IS 13622 : 1993Indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- Classification

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BS EN 942 · NHLA Rules for Grading Hardwood and Cypress Lumber (2023 Edition)

CurrentSpecializedSpecificationBIMMaterials Science · Timber and Timber Stores

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IS 13622:1993 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- classification. This standard classifies Indian timbers into three groups (I, II, and III) based on their suitability for making furniture and cabinets. The classification considers key properties like strength, hardness, stability, and workability to guide the selection of appropriate wood species for different grades of furniture.

Indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- Classification

Overview

Status: Current
Usage level: Specialized
Domain: Materials Science — Timber and Timber Stores
Type: Specification

International equivalents

BS EN 942:2021 · BSI - British Standards Institution, UK / CEN - European Committee for Standardization NHLA Rules for Grading Hardwood and Cypress Lumber (2023 Edition) · NHLA - National Hardwood Lumber Association, USA

Typically used with

IS 399 IS 1708 IS 1141 IS 401 IS 287

Also on InfraLens for IS 13622

4Key values 2Tables 4FAQs

BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.

Practical Notes

! Group I timbers (e.g., Teak) are premium choices for high-end, durable furniture, while Group III timbers (e.g., Mango) are economical for general-purpose items.

! The 'Suitability Index' in Annex B is a crucial comparative tool, with Teak used as the benchmark (index = 100).

! This classification assumes the timber is properly seasoned as per IS 1141; using unseasoned wood will lead to poor performance regardless of its group.

Frequently referenced clauses

Cl. 4Classification Cl. 4.1Basis for Classification Cl. 4.2Grouping Annex A - List of Timbers Suitable for Furniture and Cabinets Annex B - Suitability Indices of Indian Timbers for Furniture and Cabinets

timberwoodfurniture

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards

BS EN 942:2021BSI - British Standards Institution, UK / CEN - European Committee for Standardization

MediumCurrent

Timber in joinery - General requirements

Both provide a framework for selecting timber for furniture, but IS 13622 classifies species while EN 942 grades individual timber pieces based on visual defects.

NHLA Rules for Grading Hardwood and Cypress Lumber (2023 Edition)NHLA - National Hardwood Lumber Association, USA

MediumCurrent

Rules for the Measurement & Inspection of Hardwood & Cypress

Provides a grading system based on the yield of clear wood cuttings, a key factor for furniture making, whereas the IS code uses a broader property-based classification of species.

BS 1186-1:1992BSI - British Standards Institution, UK

HighWithdrawn

Timber for and workmanship in joinery. Specification for timber

Historically similar in concept, it specified classes of timber for joinery based on permissible defects, akin to the IS code's classification approach.

Key Differences

≠IS 13622 classifies entire timber species into three suitability classes (Class I, II, III), whereas international standards like EN 942 and NHLA Rules grade individual boards or pieces of timber based on defects and appearance.

≠The Indian standard is prescriptive, providing a finite list of suitable Indian species for each class. International standards are performance-based, allowing any species to be used if it meets the specified grade requirements for defects, grain, etc.

≠IS 13622's classification is a composite assessment of strength, durability, workability, and finishing. EN 942 focuses primarily on appearance grading (knots, checks, stain) and moisture content, while NHLA rules focus almost exclusively on the yield of clear, defect-free cuttings.

≠The IS code is geographically specific to Indian timbers, while standards like NHLA are specific to North American hardwoods, and EN 942 is species-agnostic within its framework.

Key Similarities

≈The fundamental purpose of all standards is to provide a reliable system for selecting wood of appropriate quality for furniture, joinery, and cabinet making.

≈All standards employ a hierarchical quality structure: IS 13622 has Class I, II, III; NHLA has FAS, No.1 Common, etc.; EN 942 has appearance classes like J2, J10, J30. In each case, a lower number or higher class indicates better quality.

≈Control over natural wood defects (such as knots, splits, and decay) is a core principle in all the standards, as these features directly impact the aesthetic quality and structural integrity of furniture components.

≈The grades or classes in each standard directly correlate to the end-use application, distinguishing timber suitable for high-visibility surfaces from that meant for structural or hidden parts.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	IS Value	International	Source
Primary Classification Method	Classification of timber species into suitability classes based on a composite of properties.	Grading of individual timber pieces based on the quantity, size, and nature of permissible defects.	BS EN 942:2021
Appearance Grading Basis	Based on a species' inherent 'finishing characteristics' and general appearance.	Based on the percentage yield of clear, defect-free cuttings obtainable from a board (e.g., FAS grade requires 83.33% yield).	NHLA Rules
Knot Specification	Implicitly controlled by assigning species with naturally fewer knots to higher classes. No specific dimensional limits are given.	Specifies explicit limits on knot type, size, and concentration for each appearance class (e.g., Class J10 allows sound knots up to 10 mm).	BS EN 942:2021
Moisture Content (Interior Use)	Recommends a range of 8% to 12% for furniture applications.	Specifies a target average of 10% ± 2% for timber in heated interior environments (Service Class 1).	BS EN 942:2021
Natural Durability	Used as a primary classification criterion (e.g., Class I species are 'Highly Durable').	Treated as a separate property to be specified according to durability classes (DC1-DC5) from EN 350. It is independent of the appearance grade.	BS EN 942:2021
Example of Top Tier	Class I: Species like Teak (Tectona grandis) and Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia).	FAS (First and Seconds) Grade: The highest standard grade for hardwoods, defined by minimum board size and yield of clear cuttings.	NHLA Rules

⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values4

Quick Reference Values

Reference Species for Suitability IndexTeak (Tectona grandis) is the reference, with most indices set to 100

Example of Group I TimberTeak (Tectona grandis), Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)

Example of Group II TimberWhite Cedar (Dysoxylum malabaricum), Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo)

Example of Group III TimberMango (Mangifera indica), Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis)

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables

Table in Annex A - Classification of timber species into Group I, II, and III

Table in Annex B - Comparative suitability indices for properties like strength, hardness, etc.

Key Clauses

Clause 4 - Classification

Clause 4.1 - Basis for Classification

Clause 4.2 - Grouping

Annex A - List of Timbers Suitable for Furniture and Cabinets

Annex B - Suitability Indices of Indian Timbers for Furniture and Cabinets

Frequently Asked Questions4

Which timber group is best for high-quality furniture?+

Group I is recommended for high-grade furniture due to its superior strength, durability, and dimensional stability (Clause 4.2.1).

What properties are used to classify the timbers in this standard?+

Classification is based on strength, hardness, dimensional stability (retention of shape), workability, and finishing characteristics (Clause 4.1).

Is Mango wood suitable for furniture according to this standard?+

Yes, Mango (Mangifera indica) is listed as a Group III timber, suitable for more economical classes of furniture and common articles (Annex A).

What is the reference timber used for comparing properties?+

Teak (Tectona grandis) is used as the standard for comparison, with its suitability indices for various properties generally set to 100 (Annex B).

QA/QC Inspection Templates

📋

QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.

Browse all 300 templates →

IS 13622 : 1993Indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- Classification

PDF Google Compare BIS Portal

Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details

BS EN 942 · NHLA Rules for Grading Hardwood and Cypress Lumber (2023 Edition)

CurrentSpecializedSpecificationBIMMaterials Science · Timber and Timber Stores

PDF Google Compare BIS Portal

Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details

Indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- Classification

Overview

Status: Current
Usage level: Specialized
Domain: Materials Science — Timber and Timber Stores
Type: Specification

International equivalents

Typically used with

IS 399 IS 1708 IS 1141 IS 401 IS 287

Also on InfraLens for IS 13622

4Key values 2Tables 4FAQs

BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.

Practical Notes

! Group I timbers (e.g., Teak) are premium choices for high-end, durable furniture, while Group III timbers (e.g., Mango) are economical for general-purpose items.

! The 'Suitability Index' in Annex B is a crucial comparative tool, with Teak used as the benchmark (index = 100).

! This classification assumes the timber is properly seasoned as per IS 1141; using unseasoned wood will lead to poor performance regardless of its group.

Frequently referenced clauses

timberwoodfurniture

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards

BS EN 942:2021BSI - British Standards Institution, UK / CEN - European Committee for Standardization

MediumCurrent

Timber in joinery - General requirements

Both provide a framework for selecting timber for furniture, but IS 13622 classifies species while EN 942 grades individual timber pieces based on visual defects.

NHLA Rules for Grading Hardwood and Cypress Lumber (2023 Edition)NHLA - National Hardwood Lumber Association, USA

MediumCurrent

Rules for the Measurement & Inspection of Hardwood & Cypress

Provides a grading system based on the yield of clear wood cuttings, a key factor for furniture making, whereas the IS code uses a broader property-based classification of species.

BS 1186-1:1992BSI - British Standards Institution, UK

HighWithdrawn

Timber for and workmanship in joinery. Specification for timber

Historically similar in concept, it specified classes of timber for joinery based on permissible defects, akin to the IS code's classification approach.

Key Differences

≠The IS code is geographically specific to Indian timbers, while standards like NHLA are specific to North American hardwoods, and EN 942 is species-agnostic within its framework.

Key Similarities

≈The fundamental purpose of all standards is to provide a reliable system for selecting wood of appropriate quality for furniture, joinery, and cabinet making.

≈The grades or classes in each standard directly correlate to the end-use application, distinguishing timber suitable for high-visibility surfaces from that meant for structural or hidden parts.

Parameter Comparison

Parameter	IS Value	International	Source
Primary Classification Method	Classification of timber species into suitability classes based on a composite of properties.	Grading of individual timber pieces based on the quantity, size, and nature of permissible defects.	BS EN 942:2021
Appearance Grading Basis	Based on a species' inherent 'finishing characteristics' and general appearance.	Based on the percentage yield of clear, defect-free cuttings obtainable from a board (e.g., FAS grade requires 83.33% yield).	NHLA Rules
Knot Specification	Implicitly controlled by assigning species with naturally fewer knots to higher classes. No specific dimensional limits are given.	Specifies explicit limits on knot type, size, and concentration for each appearance class (e.g., Class J10 allows sound knots up to 10 mm).	BS EN 942:2021
Moisture Content (Interior Use)	Recommends a range of 8% to 12% for furniture applications.	Specifies a target average of 10% ± 2% for timber in heated interior environments (Service Class 1).	BS EN 942:2021
Natural Durability	Used as a primary classification criterion (e.g., Class I species are 'Highly Durable').	Treated as a separate property to be specified according to durability classes (DC1-DC5) from EN 350. It is independent of the appearance grade.	BS EN 942:2021
Example of Top Tier	Class I: Species like Teak (Tectona grandis) and Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia).	FAS (First and Seconds) Grade: The highest standard grade for hardwoods, defined by minimum board size and yield of clear cuttings.	NHLA Rules

⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values4

Quick Reference Values

Reference Species for Suitability IndexTeak (Tectona grandis) is the reference, with most indices set to 100

Example of Group I TimberTeak (Tectona grandis), Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)

Example of Group II TimberWhite Cedar (Dysoxylum malabaricum), Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo)

Example of Group III TimberMango (Mangifera indica), Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis)

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables

Table in Annex A - Classification of timber species into Group I, II, and III

Table in Annex B - Comparative suitability indices for properties like strength, hardness, etc.

Key Clauses

Clause 4 - Classification

Clause 4.1 - Basis for Classification

Clause 4.2 - Grouping

Annex A - List of Timbers Suitable for Furniture and Cabinets

Annex B - Suitability Indices of Indian Timbers for Furniture and Cabinets

Frequently Asked Questions4

Which timber group is best for high-quality furniture?+

Group I is recommended for high-grade furniture due to its superior strength, durability, and dimensional stability (Clause 4.2.1).

What properties are used to classify the timbers in this standard?+

Classification is based on strength, hardness, dimensional stability (retention of shape), workability, and finishing characteristics (Clause 4.1).

Is Mango wood suitable for furniture according to this standard?+

Yes, Mango (Mangifera indica) is listed as a Group III timber, suitable for more economical classes of furniture and common articles (Annex A).

What is the reference timber used for comparing properties?+

Teak (Tectona grandis) is used as the standard for comparison, with its suitability indices for various properties generally set to 100 (Annex B).

QA/QC Inspection Templates

📋

QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.

Browse all 300 templates →

IS 13622 : 1993Indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- Classification

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values4

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions4

QA/QC Inspection Templates

IS 13622 : 1993Indian timbers for furniture and cabinets- Classification

Overview

International Equivalents

Key Values4

Tables & Referenced Sections

Related Resources on InfraLens

Frequently Asked Questions4

QA/QC Inspection Templates