Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the standard terminology used in the sawmill industry to describe wood pieces of a specific thickness.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Planks (A): In timber trade, a plank is a rectangular piece of wood that is wide and relatively thin. Specifically, it is a piece with a thickness between $2.5$ cm and $5$ cm, a width of $15$ cm or more, and a length of $2$ meters or more.
• Scantlings (B): These are pieces with smaller cross-sections (often square or nearly square), typically less than $10$ cm in both width and thickness.
• Beams (C): These are large structural members with thickness and width greater than $15$ cm.
• Terminology Importance: Standard sizes allow architects and engineers to calculate the strength of structures. "Planks" are the primary material for flooring and heavy furniture.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Wooden slabs of 5cm thickness are called planks.