Quick Specs
Common Name(s): White Ash, American White Ash
Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana
Distribution: Eastern North America
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-5 ft (.6-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft3 (675 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .55, .67
Janka Hardness: 1,320 lbf (5,870 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 15,000 lbf/in2 (103.5 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,740,000 lbf/in2 (12.00 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 7,410 lbf/in2 (51.1 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.9%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 13.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
Ash Solid Wood Flooring Grades
NWFA-NOFMA CLEAR ASH: The face shall be practically free of defects.
The following characters are admitted: Small burls (less than 1/8″ (.125”) (3.18 mm) in diameter); fine pin worm holes with no discoloration (one (1) for every 3′ (914.4 mm) in length), or in the absence of these, one (1) thin light brown streak (3″ (76.2 mm) long to be allowed for every 6′ (1828.8 mm) of length or equivalent).
Brown heartwood is allowed as follows: 3/8″ (.375”) (9.53 mm) wide entire length or 1″ (25.4 mm) wide for one-third (1/3) the length of the piece.
Clear Ash is usually chosen for its light color.
NWFA-NOFMA SELECT ASH: The face shall contain mostly sapwood, unstained.
The following characters are admitted: narrow streaks not running entire length of the piece; pin worm holes (up to three (3) every 3′ (914.4 mm) in length); imperfections in milling (torn grain) which will sand out; one (1) small tight knot (1/4″ (.250”) (6.35mm) in diameter) to every 3′ (914.4 mm) in length, small pith fleck (less than 1/4″ (.250”) (6.35mm) diameter), an intermittent brown machine burn across the face not exceeding 1/4″ (.250”) (6.35mm) in width; and unlimited cambium miners.
Brown heartwood is allowed as follows: 3/8″ (.375”) (9.53 mm) wide the entire length of the piece or 1″ (25.4 mm)
wide for one-third (1/3) the length of the piece.
Will admit pieces with one-half (1/2) tongue, full length of the piece.
Most defects are lost sight of after the floor is laid and finished, giving a good appearance
NWFA-NOFMA NO. 1 COMMON ASH: A floor with varying wood characteristics such as heavy streaks, stained
sapwood, and sound knots typical of this grade. All defects must readily fill and be sound.
The following characters are admitted: Broken knots up to 1/2″ (.500”) (12.7 mm) in diameter, pith flecks less than 3/16″ (.1875”) (4.76 mm) in diameter, worm holes up to 3/16″ (.1875”) (4.76 mm); checks and end splits less than 1/16″ (.0625”) (1.59 mm) wide and not extending through the piece, and sticker stain.
Minor imperfections in machining permitted; torn grain (not over one-fourth (1/4) of the surface, less than 1/16″
(.0625”) (1.59 mm) in depth); one (1) dark machine burn across the face for every 3′ (914.4 mm) of length, not
exceeding 1/2″ (.500”) (12.7 mm) in width, and 1/64″ in depth.
Will admit pieces with one-quarter (1/4) tongue, full length of the piece.
NWFA-NOFMA NO. 2 COMMON ASH: Defects of every character admitted but should lay a serviceable floor.
The following defects are NOT allowed: soft rot, broken knots where the unsound portion extends through piece,
torn grain over 3/16″ (.1875”) (4.76 mm) in depth, splits and open defects extending through the piece, shake and
pith flecks that are soft if over 1/4″ (.250”) (6.35mm) in diameter.
Knot holes and defects which will readily fill are admitted. Occasional scant thickness (hit or miss) on the back of the flooring board the entire length of the piece admitted, providing there is full bearing across the board at some point within three inches of the ends. A limited number of pieces with no tongue admitted.