Section 062020 is a three-part model specification for the use of urban and salvaged wood in construction projects. It is written in CSI MasterFormat language so it can be adapted directly into project manuals by architects, specifiers, sustainability consultants, and municipal capital-projects teams. The definitional language and chain of custody framework are aligned with the Standards for Certification and Chain of Custody for Urban, Salvaged and Reclaimed Woods published by USRW.
The document is built for design teams, specifiers, fabricators, owners, and supply chain partners who need procurement-ready language for material that was diverted from the waste stream, including fresh-cut urban trees, salvaged trees from orchard and agricultural removals, wildfire-damaged trees, and forest health and fire management thinnings.
What's in this specification
Part 1, General. Scope, definitions aligned with the USRW Standards, performance requirements, action and informational submittals, chain of custody documentation levels, quality assurance, and delivery, storage, and handling requirements.
Part 2, Products. Material requirements for urban wood and salvaged wood, character and grading expectations, the highest and best use principle, acceptable alternatives, variability and mockup requirements, and supplier identification fields.
Part 3, Execution. Examination, preparation, and installation requirements, including verification of chain of custody, moisture content, and grade prior to installation.
Three chain of custody documentation levels. Level 1 covers source identification and processing locations. Level 2 adds batch-level traceability with documented transfers and processing records. Level 3 provides full traceability from source tree to final installation, consistent with USRW Certified scope and compatible with digital tracking platforms.
Download
Section 062020, Model Specification v1.4 (PDF)
The editable Word version is available on request. Use the contact form below and tell us a little about the project so we can stay in touch about how the spec is being used in the field.
How to cite
Urban Ashes. Urban and Salvaged Wood Model Specification, CSI Section 062020, v1.4. Detroit, Michigan: Urban Ashes, May 2026.
Projects, pilots, and feedback
If you are specifying urban or salvaged wood on an active project, piloting Section 062020 language in a project manual, or working on procurement or sustainability requirements that intersect with this material category, we would like to hear about it. Send a note through the contact form below.