Manual of Millwork

The Institute published its first Manual of Millwork in 1953, distributing it to the architectural, design, and specification writing communities free of charge. The Manual of Millwork established the industry standards for the materials, construction and fabrication techniques, installation, and finishing of architectural millwork. Throughout the years the Institute has refined and upgraded the Manual of Millwork, leading to the current 2003 Edition. Provided free of cost to all design professionals and specification writers within the Institute's Service area.

The Manual is an established set of material, manufacturing, finishing, and installation STANDARDS FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK INDUSTRY, used by private enterprise; city, county, and state government; the Federal Government and Military; school districts; the health care industry and over 7,000 architectural/specifier/design professionals within the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon.

Based on three primary grades of quality, ECONOMY, CUSTOM, and PREMIUM (and for Sections 14, 15, 16 & 17 LABORATORY), the Manual offers users the flexibility to meet their customers' needs. The architect / specifier / design professional may, but only by means of the drawings and/or specifications, MODIFY ANY AND ALL WOODWORK INSTITUTE GRADES. Such modification shall govern and take precedence over the GRADE rules.

The Manual of Millwork, clearly and completely defines MATERIALS, JOINERY, and WORKMANSHIP; fosters fair competition (with all bidders adhering to one standard); takes the “guess work” out of “OR EQUAL” clauses; and is NON-DISCRIMINATORY.

Whereas PROPRIETARY SPECIFICATIONS leave the materials, joinery, and workmanship in question; are not subject to impartial third party inspection or verification; allow easy substitution of inferior materials, joinery, and workmanship through “Or Equals”; and are discriminatory against firms not listed or named.