Inspection Date: December 11, 2025
Inspection Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Inspector: LUO YONG
Purchase Order Quantity: 2 Containers
Inspection Purpose: Pre-loading inspection commissioned by a US-based wood moulding importer to ensure compliance with US & Canada market standards. Customer and supplier information is redacted due to commercial confidentiality.
Scope: Comprehensive inspection of finger joint radiata pine white primed mouldings, covering material, appearance, dimensional specifications, internal quality, laboratory testing, functional performance, and other relevant items.
1. Material Quality
- Wood Species: Confirm the mouldings are made of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) – verify via grain pattern, density, and material certification (if provided).
- Finger Joint Quality: Check that finger joints are tightly bonded, with no gaps, splits, or loose connections; ensure joint lines are neat and consistent, without excess adhesive residue.
- Wood Grade: Ensure compliance with agreed grade (e.g., clear, select) – no knots (or knots within agreed size/quantity limits), wormholes, rot, decay, or insect damage.
- Moisture Content: Test moisture content to meet US & Canada requirements (typically 6-12% for interior mouldings) – no excessive dryness or dampness that may cause warping/cracking post-export.
- Adhesive for Finger Joints: Confirm the adhesive is non-toxic, meets food contact safety standards (if applicable) and is suitable for radiata pine bonding; ensure no adhesive bleeding or discoloration.
2. Appearance Quality
- White Primer Finish: Check that the primer is evenly applied, with no uneven coating, streaks, drips, or missed spots; ensure consistent white color (no yellowing, fading, or discoloration).
- Surface Smoothness: The primed surface should be smooth to the touch, with no roughness, burrs, sanding marks, or particle residues; no primer bubbles, pinholes, or peeling.
- Edge & Corner Condition: Edges and corners are sharp (or as per agreed design) and intact, with no chipping, rounding, or damage; primer covers edges completely without over-spray or under-coating.
- Joint Appearance: Finger joint lines are barely visible (as per industry standards for export mouldings); no discoloration or primer buildup at joint areas.
- Stains & Imperfections: No visible stains, dirt, oil marks, or foreign debris on the primed surface; no discoloration from wood knots or adhesive.
- Grain Visibility: Ensure wood grain is appropriately visible through the primer (if required by specification) – no excessive primer buildup hiding grain or uneven grain exposure.
3. Dimensional Specifications
- Length: Verify that moulding lengths comply with agreed specifications (e.g., 8ft, 10ft); check for length consistency across samples (randomly select 5-10 pieces per container). Tolerance: ±1/8 inch per 10ft length (per US/Canada industry standards).
- Width & Thickness: Measure width and thickness at multiple points (3-5 points per piece) to ensure consistency; comply with agreed dimensions. Tolerance: ±0.01 inch for thickness, ±0.02 inch for width.
- Profile Accuracy: Confirm the moulding profile (e.g., casing, baseboard, crown) matches the approved sample; check for consistent profile shape, no deformation, or irregularities in curves/grooves.
- Straightness: Place mouldings on a flat surface to check for warping (bowing, twisting, cupping); no visible warping that exceeds 1/16 inch per 4ft length.
- Cutting Precision: End cuts are square, clean, and free of splinters; no uneven cuts or jagged edges that affect installation.
4. Internal Quality
- Wood Density: Ensure consistent density across samples – no overly light/soft pieces that lack structural integrity (test via hardness check and density measurement).
- Finger Joint Strength: Conduct pull tests on random samples to verify joint strength – no joint separation under standard tensile force (minimum strength: 150 psi).
- Internal Defects: Check for hidden defects (via visual inspection of cross-sections) – no internal splits, decay, or hollow areas that compromise durability.
- Wood Stability: Assess resistance to minor moisture changes (preliminary test: expose samples to 50-70% humidity for 24 hours, check for warping/cracking).
- Adhesive Penetration: Ensure adhesive penetrates evenly into finger joint surfaces – no incomplete bonding or weak adhesion points.
5. Laboratory Testing (Sample-Based)
- Formaldehyde Emission: Test to meet US EPA TSCA Title VI (Phase 2) and Canada NAFTA requirements – formaldehyde emission ≤ 0.09 ppm (for composite/finger-jointed wood).
- VOC Content: Primer VOC content complies with US EPA and Canada CEPA standards (≤ 250 g/L for architectural primers).
- Primer Adhesion: Conduct tape test (ASTM D3359) – no primer peeling or flaking after tape removal (minimum rating: 4B).
- Abrasion Resistance: Test primed surface for abrasion resistance (ASTM D4060) – no visible damage after 500 cycles (meets interior moulding standards).
- Moisture Resistance: Test for resistance to moisture absorption (ASTM D1037) – no swelling, warping, or primer peeling after 48-hour water exposure.
- Insect Resistance: Verify compliance with US & Canada import requirements for wood packaging/materials – no live insects, insect eggs, or evidence of infestation; confirm heat treatment (HT) or fumigation (if required) is completed and certified.
6. Functional Performance
- Installation Compatibility: Check that mouldings are compatible with standard US/Canada installation methods (e.g., nailing, gluing) – no structural issues that hinder installation.
- Fitment: Test corner joints (for crown/baseboard mouldings) – no gaps when joined at 45° angles; ensure precise fit for seamless installation.
- Paintability: Confirm the primed surface is suitable for top-coating (paint/stain) – no primer properties that prevent adhesion of topcoat (test via trial topcoat application on samples).
- Durability: Assess resistance to minor impact (ASTM D2794) – no chipping, cracking, or primer damage from light impact (relevant for transport and installation).
- Long-Term Stability: Predictive assessment (based on material and testing data) – no significant warping, cracking, or primer failure under normal interior use conditions in US/Canada climates.
7. Packaging & Labeling
- Packaging Material: Packaging is sturdy (e.g., cardboard, wooden crates) to protect mouldings during ocean transport and handling; no damaged packaging that exposes mouldings to moisture/dust.
- Protective Measures: Mouldings are wrapped in plastic or foam to prevent scratches, primer damage, or moisture absorption; no direct contact between mouldings that causes friction damage.
- Labeling Compliance: Labels include product name, length, quantity per package, inspection date, and country of origin (Vietnam) – compliant with US CBP and Canada CBSA requirements; no missing or incorrect labeling.
- Container Loading: Ensure mouldings are loaded securely, with no shifting during transport; avoid overloading or crushing; container is clean, dry, and free of debris/insects.
8. Other Items
- Batch Consistency: Check that all mouldings in the 2 containers are consistent in material, appearance, and dimensions – no significant variations between batches.
- Certification Compliance: Verify availability of required certificates (e.g., HT/fumigation certificate, material origin certificate, formaldehyde emission certificate) for US/Canada import.
- Defect Rate: Calculate overall defect rate (random sampling: minimum 5% of total quantity) – defect rate ≤ 2% (critical defects: 0 tolerance; major defects: ≤ 1%; minor defects: ≤ 1%).
- Critical Defect Definition: Defects that affect structural integrity, safety, or compliance with US/Canada standards (e.g., rot, insect infestation, excessive formaldehyde, severe warping).
- Major Defect Definition: Defects that affect appearance or functionality but are repairable (e.g., minor primer drips, small knots exceeding limits, slight dimensional deviations).
- Minor Defect Definition: Cosmetic defects that do not affect functionality or installation (e.g., tiny primer pinholes, barely visible joint lines).
Inspection Conclusion
This pre-loading inspection covers all key aspects of finger joint radiata pine white primed mouldings intended for export to the US and Canada. Based on sampling and testing, the products [Pass/Fail] the inspection requirements. Defects identified (if any) are detailed below, with recommendations for corrective actions prior to container loading.
Inspector Signature: ________________________ Date: December 11, 2025
