Firewood Measurement Definitions

[BaldSawRunner]

OK folks, I am making this thread to help :newbie: 's and visitors to the site.

The ONLY legal term for a measurement of firewood is a "cord".
A cord of firewood is defined as a stack of split wood measuring 4' High X 4' Wide x 8' Long, well stowed (aka tightly stacked) 4x4x8= 128. So, a cord of firewood, well stowed, takes up an B]VOLUME[/B] of 128 cubic feet. Now, no matter how tight you stack your firewood, there will be air spaces in the stack of wood.

Some examples of a cord of wood are:

3 well stowed stacks of split firewood; 16" long (3 x 16 = 48) 4'H x 8'L

2 well stowed stacks of split firewood; 24" long (2 x 24 = 48) 4'H x 8'L

Some people use terms like rick, rank, face cord, and so on. (These are the 3 most commonly used, so I am going to stick with these for now.) These terms have ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL DEFINITION!!!! A rick of wood could be 2'H x 3"W x 6' L. Same with a face cord, or rank. The only way you should be buying firewood is in cords or fractions thereof.

Example: Say you need 2/3 of a cord. When you call the firewood supplier, and he says he can deliever 2 face cords, (or 2 ricks,etc,) and you say ok, and he delievers it to you, you stack it up and see that you have been shorted 1/3 of what you said you needed, you have nothing to stand on. All he has to say is, you agreed to to face cord, thats what you got.

Now, if you tell him you need 2/3 of a cord of wood, 16" long, then you (and the supplier) know that what you want is 2 well stowed stacks of firewood, 16" L, 4'H x 8'L. Now if the guy delievers, and shorts you you know so, and he should too.

This is kind of long but I hope it will help

 

[projectsho89]

...takes up an AREA of 128 cubic feet...

Technically, a cord is 128 cu ft in VOLUME - not area (which has only two dimensions - length and width...)

:spam:



Steve

 

[BaldSawRunner]

Corrected I was in a hurry and area was the first word that popped into my head.

 

[TreePointer]

In addition, it's a good idea to check your state (or municipal) regulations for rules governing advertisement and sale of firewood. They define what the terms mean, and what terms are not permitted by law.

Also note there often is a state department or agency that is prepared to take complaints if you think you have been cheated. These departments may be called "Weights and Measure," "Bureau of Standards," "Office of Consumer Affairs," or some variation thereof.

 

[BaldSawRunner]

Good points. I am hoping the powers that be on this site make this (or another thread like it) a sticky for folks

 

[elmoleaf]

Check with your local or state government for firewood information.
"Cord" is not a legal sales term in Massachusetts:
"Beware Loose Talk, Fuzzy Math and "the Dump"
Massachusetts law specifically prohibits the terms "cord", "face cord", "pile" or "truckload" from being used in advertising the sale of cordwood or firewood.
The first stacking of firewood is the legal measurement and doesn't necessarily happen on your property after delivery.
Sellers are required to disclose their name and address, the amount of cubic feet sold and price charged on the customer's invoice or delivery ticket.
A standard pickup truck full of loose firewood that "should be about a cord" is simply NOT a cord. If anything, it might be a "face cord", which is roughly one-third of 128 cubic feet.
Beware the dump! Get a delivery receipt attesting to the quantity sold and stack it tightly and promptly. Measure and take pictures. If the quantity delivered is less than promised, contact your local weights and measures office or the Division of Standards at (617) 727-3480." - http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapres...&b=pressrelease&f=05_12_01_firewood&csid=Eoca

Chapter 94: Section 298. Sale of cordwood; dimensions; standard units of measure defined

Section 298. Cordwood sold or offered or exposed for sale shall be four feet in length. The term “firewood” shall be construed to mean and include wood cut to any lengths of less than four feet and more than eight inches. Cordwood and firewood shall be advertised, offered for sale and sold only in terms of cubic feet or cubic meters which will be construed as indicating the closely stacked cubic foot or cubic meter content to be delivered to the purchaser. The terms “cord”, “face cord”, “pile”, “truckload” or terms of similar import shall not be used in the advertising and sale of cordwood or firewood. The term “kindling wood” shall be construed to mean and include all split wood, edgings, clippings or other waste wood averaging eight inches in length. Except as provided by sections two hundred and forty-three and two hundred and forty-seven, the standard unit of measure for kindling wood shall be the bushel of two thousand one hundred and fifty and forty-two hundredths cubic inches. - http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/94-298.htm

Chapter 94: Section 299. Delivery ticket or sales invoice

Section 299. Whoever, except as otherwise provided, sells cordwood or firewood, shall cause a delivery ticket or sales invoice to be issued and delivered to the purchaser or his agent at the time of delivery of the wood. Such delivery ticket or sales invoice shall include the name and address of the seller and the purchaser, the quantity delivered to the purchaser in terms of cubic feet or cubic meters, the date delivered and the price of the quantity of wood delivered. Whoever violates any provision of this or the preceding section shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of fifty dollars, for the second offense by a fine of two hundred dollars and for each subsequent offense by a fine of five hundred dollars. Whoever alters or substitutes a delivery ticket or sales invoice for fraudulent or deceptive purposes shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or shall be subject to a civil citation as provided in section 29A of chapter 98. http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/94-299.htm

 

[BaldSawRunner]

Check with your local or state government for firewood information.
"Cord" is not a legal sales term in Massachusetts:
"Beware Loose Talk, Fuzzy Math and "the Dump"
Massachusetts law specifically prohibits the terms "cord", "face cord", "pile" or "truckload" from being used in advertising the sale of cordwood or firewood.
The first stacking of firewood is the legal measurement and doesn't necessarily happen on your property after delivery.
Sellers are required to disclose their name and address, the amount of cubic feet sold and price charged on the customer's invoice or delivery ticket.
A standard pickup truck full of loose firewood that "should be about a cord" is simply NOT a cord. If anything, it might be a "face cord", which is roughly one-third of 128 cubic feet.
Beware the dump! Get a delivery receipt attesting to the quantity sold and stack it tightly and promptly. Measure and take pictures. If the quantity delivered is less than promised, contact your local weights and measures office or the Division of Standards at (617) 727-3480." - http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapres...&b=pressrelease&f=05_12_01_firewood&csid=Eoca

Chapter 94: Section 298. Sale of cordwood; dimensions; standard units of measure defined

Section 298. Cordwood sold or offered or exposed for sale shall be four feet in length. The term “firewood” shall be construed to mean and include wood cut to any lengths of less than four feet and more than eight inches. Cordwood and firewood shall be advertised, offered for sale and sold only in terms of cubic feet or cubic meters which will be construed as indicating the closely stacked cubic foot or cubic meter content to be delivered to the purchaser. The terms “cord”, “face cord”, “pile”, “truckload” or terms of similar import shall not be used in the advertising and sale of cordwood or firewood. The term “kindling wood” shall be construed to mean and include all split wood, edgings, clippings or other waste wood averaging eight inches in length. Except as provided by sections two hundred and forty-three and two hundred and forty-seven, the standard unit of measure for kindling wood shall be the bushel of two thousand one hundred and fifty and forty-two hundredths cubic inches. - http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/94-298.htm

Chapter 94: Section 299. Delivery ticket or sales invoice

Section 299. Whoever, except as otherwise provided, sells cordwood or firewood, shall cause a delivery ticket or sales invoice to be issued and delivered to the purchaser or his agent at the time of delivery of the wood. Such delivery ticket or sales invoice shall include the name and address of the seller and the purchaser, the quantity delivered to the purchaser in terms of cubic feet or cubic meters, the date delivered and the price of the quantity of wood delivered. Whoever violates any provision of this or the preceding section shall be punished for the first offense by a fine of fifty dollars, for the second offense by a fine of two hundred dollars and for each subsequent offense by a fine of five hundred dollars. Whoever alters or substitutes a delivery ticket or sales invoice for fraudulent or deceptive purposes shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or shall be subject to a civil citation as provided in section 29A of chapter 98. http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/94-299.htm

If you restack wood at the delivery site, and the person stacked it at the seasoning site, when you restack, there is going to be a smaller amount of wood there due to shrinkage. Or is this factored in?

 

[BaldSawRunner]

Here is an interesting link from Mizzou: http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/forestry/g05452.htm

 

[Ole Farmerbuck]

The wood i deliver is being sold by the pickup load this year. Long or short box, take your choice. If they come pick it up, then it will be a rick. (16"x4'x8').

 

[Taxmantoo]

I don't believe you can legally say "face cord" in Michigan. If the word "cord" is in there anywhere, you better deliver 128 cubic feet.
I'm shocked to learn that you are breaking the law in Massachusetts if you sell a "cord" of wood and deliver 128 cubic feet.