It sounds like the state weights and measures department was requested to make a legal definition, but they were scientists and bureaucrats and not necessarily firewooders.
Been Giving Wood Away For Years! A Cord Is NOT 128 Cu Ft!!
- Thread starter flyboy553
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ft. churchill
Addicted to ArboristSite
Please notice that the link given is for the state government in Minnesota. So....... 4'x4'x8' still works for the rest of us.
flyboy553
Oakaholic
Am thinking I need to find a way to sell ALL my firewood to the State of MN!
Ted
elmoleaf
ArboristSite Lurker
In Massachusetts, wood is only supposed to be sold in terms of cubic feet or cubic meters. The term "cord" is not legally defined. Of course in practice, this doesn't happen. In fact, the state's own pdf about firewood sales (http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/docs/dos/firewoodsales.pdf) says a cord = 128 cu. feet, and then just to confuse everyone, cites the law that states the term "cord" is not to be used. The same pdf also says cross-stacking in a "cord" not allowed, even though the law just says "closely stacked".
MGL Chapter 94 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.
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.
MGL Chapter 94 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.
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.
and in Utah... (Weights and Measures FAQ - Regulatory Services - Divisions - Utah Department of Agriculture and Food)
When Buying Firewood...
Get a receipt which shows the seller's name, address, phone number, the price, amount and kind of wood purchased. Write down the license number of the delivery vehicle.
A seller may not use terms such as "truckload" -"Face cord" -"Loose cord" -"rack" or "pile".
A cord is 128 cubic feet To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood in a way that is easy to measure, then measure the firewood before using any.
If you feel you have a problem, contact the seller before you burn any wood. Take a picture of the stack if you think it is less than a cord.
If the problem cannot be resolved, contact your Weights and Measures office at 801-538-7158 before burning any wood.
Remember: A cord is 4' x 4' x 8' or 2' x 4' x 16'
(end of quote)
A quick look at the local classified ads showed that most firewood sellers use Cord as the unit of measure. A much smaller percentage used the "truckload" unit of measure.
My cords measure a bit shy of 400 British Pecks.
When Buying Firewood...
Get a receipt which shows the seller's name, address, phone number, the price, amount and kind of wood purchased. Write down the license number of the delivery vehicle.
A seller may not use terms such as "truckload" -"Face cord" -"Loose cord" -"rack" or "pile".
A cord is 128 cubic feet To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood in a way that is easy to measure, then measure the firewood before using any.
If you feel you have a problem, contact the seller before you burn any wood. Take a picture of the stack if you think it is less than a cord.
If the problem cannot be resolved, contact your Weights and Measures office at 801-538-7158 before burning any wood.
Remember: A cord is 4' x 4' x 8' or 2' x 4' x 16'
(end of quote)
A quick look at the local classified ads showed that most firewood sellers use Cord as the unit of measure. A much smaller percentage used the "truckload" unit of measure.
My cords measure a bit shy of 400 British Pecks.
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