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Standards for Specific Applications

Standards and Performance Characteristics for Specific Plywood Applications

The standard that classifies plywood is EN 636. It gives the requirements for plywood for general purpose use and for structural (load bearing) applications in dry, humid and exterior conditions. It also gives a classification based on bending properties.

Specifiers and builders: simply select the property you need, such as bending strength, from the list below and APA’s guide will identify which standard you need to comply with.

Requirements for manufacturer testing: the Declaration of Performance supplied by the manufacturer lists the product’s value. For those performance testing requirements, click here.

  • For floors, walls and roofs and non-structural applications – what do I need to comply with?
    • Bending strength
      EN 310 specifies how to determine bending strength and stiffness
      EN 326-1 explains how to record and present test results
    • Bending stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity)
      EN 310 specifies how to determine bending strength and stiffness 
      EN 326-1 explains how to record and present test results
    • Bonding quality
      EN 314-1 specifies methods for determining the bonding quality of veneer plywood by shear testing.
      EN 314-2 specifies the requirements for bonding classes of veneer plywood according to their end uses.  
    • Durability in terms of moisture resistance
      EN 321 specifies how to determine moisture resistance under cyclic test conditions 
      EN 1087-1 provides a test method for evaluating bond quality
    • Reaction to fire (except non-structural)
      EN 13501-1 provides a procedure for classifying construction products according to their reactions to fire tests 
      EN 13986 (Table 8) specifies relevant characteristics and test methods for wood-based panels
    • Water vapour permeability (except non-structural)
      EN ISO 12572 specifies how to determine water vapour resistance 
      EN 13986 specifies relevant characteristics and test methods for wood-based panels
    • Release of formaldehyde(Class E1)
      EN 717-1 & EN 717-2 specify how to determine formaldehyde emission
      EN 120 specifies how to determine formaldehyde content 
      EN ISO 12460-5 specifies how to determine formaldehyde content
    • Biological durability
      EN 335 defines the Use Classes representing different service situations
    • Content of pentachlorophenol
      CEN/TR 14823 specifies how to determine the pentachlorophenol content
  • What other essentials do I need to check for structural use?
    Strength and stiffness for structural use
    EN 789 specifies how to determine some mechanical properties
    EN 1058 specifies how to determine five percentile values for mechanical properties and 50 percentile values for physical properties from test data
    EN 12369-1 provides characteristic values for use in design

    Mechanical durability
    EN 1156 specifies how to determine duration of load and creep factors
    EN 1995-1 explains how to design of timber structures

  • Are there further structural checks I need to do on floors and roofs?
    Impact resistance for structural use
    EN 1195 specifies how to determine the performance of structural floor decking
    EN 12871 specifies how to determine performance characteristics for panels used in floors, walls and roofs
    EN 596 explains how to test for soft body impact on timber framed walls

    Strength and stiffness under point load
    EN 1195 specifies how to determine the performance of structural floor decking
    EN 12871 specifies how to determine performance characteristics for panels used in floors, walls and roofs

  • Wall sheathing is being installed as part of my project – is there anything specific I need to test it for?
    Impact resistance for structural use
    EN 1195 specifies how to determine the performance of structural floor decking
    EN 12871 specifies how to determine performance characteristics for panels used in floors, walls and roofs
    EN 596 explains how to test for soft body impact on timber framed walls
  • How do I determine thermal insulation requirements?
    Thermal Conductivity
    EN 12664 specifies a method to determine thermal conductivity
    EN 13986 (Table 11) specifies relevant characteristics and test methods for wood-based panels
  • Acoustic sound is an important part of my building project – what do I need to test for?
    Airborne sound insulation
    EN 13986 (Clause 5.10) specifies relevant characteristics and test methods for wood-based panels 

    Sound absorption
    EN ISO 354 specifies how to measure sound absorption
    EN 13986 (Table 10) specifies relevant characteristics and test methods for wood-based panels

  • I am installing industrial shelving and other ‘non-construction’ features – what standards do I need to meet?
    Strength and stiffness for structural use
    EN 789 specifies how to determine some mechanical properties
    EN 1058 specifies how to determine five percentile values for mechanical properties and 50 percentile values for physical properties from test data
    EN 12369-1 provides characteristic values for use in design

    Strength and stiffness under point load
    EN 1195 specifies how to determine the performance of structural floor decking
    EN 12871 specifies how to determine performance characteristics for panels used in floors, walls and roofs

    Impact resistance for structural use
    EN 1195 specifies how to determine the performance of structural floor decking
    EN 12871 specifies how to determine performance characteristics for panels used in floors, walls and roofs
    EN 596 explains how to test for soft body impact on timber framed walls