The 1985 standard outlines detailed procedures for safely felling trees and converting them into logs, targeting forestry and timber industry professionals. It covers techniques for directional cutting, handling various tree conditions, appropriate use of tools, and log preparation to optimize safety and reduce wood waste.
Overview
The 1985 standard outlines detailed procedures for safely felling trees and converting them into logs, targeting forestry and timber industry professionals. It covers techniques for directional cutting, handling various tree conditions, appropriate use of tools, and log preparation to optimize safety and reduce wood waste.
Audience
Contents
Structure
This section defines the purpose and application of the code, focusing on safe tree felling and log conversion for general timber use. It references IS 707-1976 for timber terminology and IS 2-1960 for rounding numerical values to maintain precision in measurements.
Key terms are derived from IS 707-1976, supplemented with specific definitions applicable to tree felling and log conversion. Rounding off rules according to IS 2-1960 are explained to ensure consistency in reporting results.
Details the directional principles for felling, including the requirement to fell trees uphill on steep slopes. Introduces the stem tightener device used to prevent butt-end splitting and outlines general procedures for various tree conditions such as leaning, buttressed, rotten, and forked trees.
Describes different felling methods using axe, saw, or a combination of both. Explains the sequence of cuts including sink cuts and back cuts to control tree fall and maintain safety.
Covers preparatory steps such as controlling the fall direction by adjusting holding wood width, positioning the stem tightener, and special considerations when working on slopes.
Outlines the detailed sequence of operations from preparation through cutting and falling, emphasizing the use of stem tightener and safe practices tailored for different tree forms.
Highlights precautions like maintaining adequate holding wood, proper installation of stem tighteners, ensuring escape routes, and communication protocols to prevent accidents.
Discusses the role of wedges in guiding tree fall direction, preventing saw jamming, correct timing for insertion, and the recommended number and placement of wedges for balanced force application.
Provides general guidance on maximizing timber yield through systematic log cutting, use of iron wedges with wooden heads, standard log lengths, and volume estimation using diameter and length measurements.
Specifies the importance of making saw cuts perpendicular to the log axis to minimize wastage, use of appropriate wedges, and benefits such as reduced splitting, improved stacking, and transportation.
Frequently Asked
The standard advises selecting felling techniques based on available tools and tree condition. Methods include using only an axe for smaller trees, a combination of saw and axe for larger ones, and saws alone particularly for big trees. Directional felling should be uphill on slopes. Specific procedures apply for normal, leaning, buttressed, rotten, and forked trees, ensuring safety and maximizing timber yield.
Wedges are inserted into the felling cut kerf once it is deep enough to help direct the tree’s fall toward the intended sink side and to prevent saw jamming. Break-offs, or holding wood, act as a hinge controlling the fall direction; for leaning trees, the break-off is narrower on the leaning side and wider on the opposite side to maintain control. These combined techniques ensure safe and precise felling.
Safety protocols include felling uphill on steep slopes to prevent uncontrolled sliding, fixing a stem tightener above the cut to avoid splitting, clearing the area, using appropriate tools and PPE, ensuring clear communication, and planning escape routes for work crews as the tree begins to fall.
For leaning trees, the standard specifies narrower holding wood on the leaning side and wider on the opposite side to control the fall. Trees leaning more than 5 degrees should not be felled against the lean without tension devices. For rotten or hollow trees, adjustments in sink cuts and careful handling are recommended to avoid uncontrolled breaks. Overall, techniques are modified to maintain safety and control for various tree conditions.
The procedure involves careful preparation assessing tree condition and surroundings, felling with a notch cut and back cut to control fall, followed by systematic removal of branches and cutting logs into standard lengths using appropriate tools. Logs should be marked and stacked off the ground to prevent decay, ensuring efficient processing and minimal timber damage in line with the standard’s guidelines.
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