§ 250.2 - Describing wood and wood imitations.

(a) Solid wood construction. Industry members should not use unqualified wood names to describe furniture unless all of the exposed surfaces are constructed of solid wood of the type named. If more than one type of solid wood is used and one of the woods is named, then all of the principal woods should be disclosed, or the extent of the use of the wood named should be indicated. In lieu of naming the specific woods, a general designation of the type of wood, such as “hardwood” or “softwood” may be used. For example, the following representations, if factually correct, will be acceptable: “solid maple”, “solid African mahogany”, “walnut and pecan”, “solid oak fronts”, “walnut”, “maple and other selected hardwoods”, “fine hardwoods” and “selected hardwoods”.

(b) Wood veneers. (1) When the exposed surfaces of furniture are of veneered and solid construction, and wood names are used to describe such furniture, the wood names should be qualified to disclose the fact of veneered construction. For example, “walnut solids and veneers” or “mahogany veneered construction” may be used when all the exposed surfaces of furniture are constructed of solid and veneered wood of the type named. When such terms as “walnut veneered construction” or “oak veneered construction” are used, it is understood that the exposed solid parts are composed of the same wood.

(2) When solid parts of furniture are of woods other than those used in veneered surfaces, either the use of such other woods should be disclosed or the location of the veneers stated. Examples: “walnut veneers and pecan solids”, “mahogany veneers and African mahogany solids”, “walnut veneered tops, fronts and end panels”, “table tops of mahogany veneers” or “cherry veneers and selected solid hardwoods”.

(c) Wood products. Wood names or names suggesting wood should not be used to refer to materials which, while produced from wood particles or fibers, do not possess a natural wood growth structure. Such materials, however, may be referred to by their generally accepted names, if otherwise nondeceptive, such as “hardboard”, “particleboard”, “chipcore” or “fiberboard”, or may be referred to as “wood products”.

(d) Color or grain design finish. When wood names are used merely to describe a color of a stain finish and/or grain design or other simulated finish applied to the exposed surfaces of furniture that is composed of something other than solid wood of the types named, it must be made clear that the wood names are merely descriptive of the color and/or grain design or other simulated finish. Terms such as “walnut finish” or “fruitwood finish” will not suffice. However, terms such as “walnut color”, “fruitwood stain finish”, “maple finish on birch solids and veneers”, “walnut finish on walnut veneers and selected solid hardwoods”, “cherry grained maple drawer fronts”, “walnut finish plastic top” or “maple stained hardwoods” will be considered acceptable when factually correct and in contexts otherwise nondeceptive.

(e) Materials simulating wood. No wood names should be used to describe any materials simulating wood without disclosures making it clear that the wood names used are merely descriptive of the color and/or grain design or other simulated finish; nor should any trade names or coined names be employed which may suggest that such materials are some kind of wood. [Guide 2]