RobPickett &Associates, LLC

Providing technical services since 2001

About Ed Burke

A consulting wood scientist since 1976, Edwin J. Burke specializes in wood product and coatings performance, wood and charcoal identification, forensic wood science investigations, timber harvest systems, log home design, and materials grading standards compliance. He is a member of International Code Council IS-LOG Consensus Committee that developed the IC400 Standard on log structures.

Earning undergraduate and graduate degrees (M.S. and Ph.D., Colorado State University ‘78) in Wood Science and Technology, he has taught and conducted research at the University of Montana School of Forestry since 1979. Teaching classes in wood anatomy, wood mechanical properties, products manufacturing, wood microbiology, seasoning and preservation, harvesting and tree biology, he brings over 20 years of experience.

As technical advisor and primary instructor for the Log Homes Council Grading Program since 1986, Burke taught over 50 log grading courses and certified more than 350 graders and Quality Supervisory Agents (QSA). He has presented papers on log grading and log building design at many conferences and has spoken to many industry groups on this subject. Ed is also the QSA for several western companies.

Articles written by Ed Burke can be downloaded from links below:

3-07 Logology: Drying Time
STABILITY IS THE AIM OF DIFFERENT METHODS
(CLICK HERE)

11-06 Logology: Weighty Matters
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WATER IN WOOD
(CLICK HERE)

10-06 Logology: Making the Grade
ENSURING THAT YOUR LOGS PASS THEIR FINAL EXAM
(CLICK HERE)

Reprints of Logology articles courtesy of The Log & Timber Homes Network
Text Box: Ed and Alex teamed up to develop the protocol for this test of log wall settling (photo left). The walls are assembled per producer specifications, measured, and loaded. Concrete weights rest on top of the log walls only. Measurement and moisture content probes are placed prior to loading into a steam-fired dry kiln (background). Each test assembly spends 21 to 28 days in the controlled atmosphere of the kiln prior to removal. Final settlement determination is made upon inspection and measurement of the wall assemblies following removal from the kiln.

Material Testing & Evaluation
Top quality testing and analysis from IAS-accredited University of Montana Wood Science Laboratory.
• Fastener testing
• Timber drying expertise
• Quality control system documentation and implementation

Ed has been an consultant with TimberLogic on projects relating to:
• Expert testimony
• Log home inspection and recommendation for remediation of construction flaws — such as for straightening buckled log walls
• Scientific investigations — site inspection, incident scene examination to find cause, specimen/evidence collection and analysis, report of findings, and development of remedy or mitigation technique.

Contact Info

P.O. Box 490

11 Stimpson Hill

Hartland, V 05048

 

Phone & Fax: 802-436-1325

E-mail: robpickett@vemontel.net

 

 

RobPickett &Associates, LLC, copyright© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

 This site was last updated

 June 8, 2010

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