Page 1 of 4
Title / Air dry timber or round wood
Level / 3 / Credits / 3
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of air drying of timber or round wood; and air dry timber or round wood.
This unit standard is for people who are engaged in the air drying of timber or round wood.
Classification / Solid Wood Manufacturing > Timber Drying and Treatment
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 143, Fillet timber for further processing; Unit 159, Demonstrate knowledge of environmental issues in wood manufacturing industries; and Unit 162, Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of wood drying.
Explanatory notes
1Reference
Competence in this unit standard requires knowledge of theApproved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations, Part 5: Timber Stacking, Packeting and Transportation (Wellington: Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour, 1994); available from Bennett’s Government Bookshops or online at This is referred to below as the ‘OSH Approved Code of Practice’.
2The following apply to the performance of all outcomes of this unit standard:
aAll work practices must meet recognised codes of practice and documented worksite health and safety and environmental procedures (where these exceed the code) for personal, product and worksite health and safety, and must meet the obligations required under current legislation, including the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, the Resource Management Act 1991, and their subsequent amendments.
bAll work practices must meet documented worksite operating procedures. This includes the recording (by electronic or non-electronic means) of activities, events, and decisions.
cAll evidence of communications gathered in relation to this unit standard must be in accordance with worksite procedures for content, recipient, timing and method.
3Definition
Worksite policies and procedures refer to documented policies and to documented or other directions provided to staff. These include, but are not limited to, ways of managing health and safety, environmental considerations, quality, and production, and must conform to legislation. Examples include standard operating procedures, company health and safety plans, on-site briefings, and supervisor’s instructions.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of air drying of timber or round wood.
Evidence requirements
1.1The theory of air movement in relation to air drying is explained.
1.2The importance of drainage, airflow, and phytosanitary conditions in yard siting with relation to other process requirements, ease of access and stack rotation, and layout are explained in accordance with the OSH Approved Code of Practice and worksite policies and procedures.
1.3Timber or round wood stack requirements are identified in accordance with the OSH Approved Code of Practice and worksite policies and procedures.
Rangepacket build, alignment to prevailing wind, stack heights, stack height above ground, stack spacing, bearers, safety aspects, packet, stack identification and date in stack.
1.4Benefits of using stack covers and antisapstain are explained in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
1.5Phytosanitary procedures and remedial action are described in accordance with the OSH Approved Code of Practice and worksite policies and procedures.
Rangeweed control, insect and/or fungal degraded timber, degrade hot spots.
1.6Advantages and disadvantages of air drying compared with kiln drying are described in terms of time, energy, inventory costs, defects, yard space, and management cost.
1.7Types of air drying defects are identified and causes explained.
Rangepoor rotation, insect, rot, poor filleting, poor stacking, forklift.
Outcome 2
Air dry timber or round wood.
Evidence requirements
2.1Hazards associated with air drying timber or round wood are identified and actions to be taken to isolate, minimise or eliminate the hazard are described in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangehazards may include but are not limited to – dust, noise, moving equipment.
2.2Safe work practices and housekeeping requirements associated with air drying timber or round wood are identified and used in accordance with worksite policies and procedures and legislative requirements.
Rangepractices may include but are not limited to – isolation procedures, manual handling techniques, wearing appropriate safety equipment.
2.3Drying times are estimated with regard to species, seasonal influences, regional variations and yard location.
2.4Moisture content is measured and compared with specifications in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
2.5Timber or roundwood product is inspected for defects, and corrective action is identified and taken in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
2.6Air dried timber or roundwood is de-filleted, bundled and identified in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
2.7Approved dry storage conditions and location are identified and used in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
2.8Records and documentation are completed in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Planned review date / 31 December 2018Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 18 December 2006 / 31 December 2014
Review / 2 / 18 April 2013 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0173
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Competenz at if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018