Choosing the Right Panel Grade for Specific Applications
APA trademarked plywood panels contain vital information on use – either by identifying the end use application, such Sturd-I-Floor, or by the type of veneer grade on the face and back of the panel, such as A-C or B-B.
This guide gives you a round up of the most popular plywood APA plywood panels, indicating durability (whether they are Exposure 1 or Exterior panels) and the type of applications they are suitable for. It includes span ratings and performance categories for thickness. More on trademarks.
| APA Rated Sheathing | APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor |
| APA A-B | APA A-C |
| APA B-B | APA B-C |
| APA C-C Plugged | APA C-D Plugged |
| APA 303 Siding | |
| APA High Density Overlay (HDO) | APA Medium Density Overlay (MDO) |
APA Rated Sheathing – Veneer Grades: Face C; Inner & Back D
Unsanded panels specially designed for structural subfloor decking, wall and roof applications. Other uses are shipping crates, pallets & pallet bins, shelving and partitions, as well as a range of industrial applications.
| APA RATED SHEATHING | PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel Span Rating | Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 24/0 | 3/8 | 0.344 | 0.406 | 0.354 |
| 32/16 | 15/32 | 0.438 | 0.500 | 0.451 |
| 32/16 | 1/2 | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.483 |
| 40/20 | 19/32 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 0.578 |
| 40/20 | 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 |
| 48/24 | 23/32 | 0.688 | 0.750 | 0.703 |
| 48/24 | 3/4 | 0.719 | 0.781 | 0.734 |
Sturd-I-Floor – Veneer Grades; Exterior = Face C plugged; Inner C; Back C. Exposure 1 =Face C; Inner C, D; Back D
Specially designed floor panel with smooth surface for carpet and high impact and concentrated load resistance. Available with square or tongue-and-grooved edges. Normally touch sanded. Plywood Sturd-I-Floor may also be available with a sanded face.
| STURD-I-FLOOR | PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel Span Rating | Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 16 oc, 20oc | 19/32 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 | |
| 24oc | 23/32 | 0.688 | 0.750 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.719 | 0.781 | 0.734 | |
| 48 oc | 1-1/8 | 1.069 | 1.181 | 1.091 |
APA 303 Siding – Veneer Grades: Face B; Inner C; Inner C. Exterior
Textured, grooved or overlaid exterior panels used for cladding or fencing and made exclusively by APA member manufacturers. Available in a variety of wood species. When applied directly or through blocking to studs, the panels possess sufficient strength and shear wall racking resistance to eliminate the need for diagonal bracing.
| APA 303 SIDING | Performance Category | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel Span Rating | Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 16oc | 11/32 | 0.313 | 0.375 | 0.322 |
| 16oc | 3/8 | 0.344 | 0.406 | 0.354 |
| 16 or 24oc | 15/32 | 0.438 | 0.500 | 0.451 |
| 16 or 24oc | 1/2 | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.483 |
| 16oc (T1-11 only( 24, 32 oc | 19/32 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 0.578 |
| 24 oc or 32oc | 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 |
APA A-B – Veneer Grades: Exterior = Face A; Inner B; Back C; Exposure 1 = Face A; Inner D; Back C
Provides two solid sanded surfaces for applications where appearance of one side is less important than the other such as high appearance hoarding, signboards, shipping containers, shelving, ducts and cabinets.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 1/4 | 0.234 | 0.266 | 0.234 |
| 11/32 | 0.328 | 0.359 | 0.328 |
| 3/8 | 0.359 | 0.391 | 0.359 |
| 15/32 | 0.453 | 0.484 | 0.453 |
| 1/2 | 0.484 | 0.516 | 0.484 |
| 19/32 | 0.578 | 0.609 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.609 | 0.641 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.703 | 0.734 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.734 | 0.766 | 0.734 |
APA A-C – Veneer Grades: Exterior. Face A; Inner C; Back C
For exterior applications where the appearance of only one sanded side is important, such as soffit boards, high quality appearance hoarding, lorry cargo space linings, farm buildings and commercial refrigerators.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 1/4 | 0.234 | 0.266 | 0.234 |
| 11/32 | 0.328 | 0.359 | 0.328 |
| 3/8 | 0.359 | 0.391 | 0.359 |
| 15/32 | 0.453 | 0.484 | 0.453 |
| 1/2 | 0.484 | 0.516 | 0.484 |
| 19/32 | 0.578 | 0.609 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.609 | 0.641 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.703 | 0.734 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.734 | 0.766 | 0.734 |
APA B-B – Veneer Grades: Exposure 1 = Face B; Inner D; Back B. Exterior = Face D; Inner C; Back B.
General purpose utility panel with two solid sanded sides. With B-B Exterior both sides can be used for concrete forming (Plyform) to double panel usage.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 1/4 | 0.234 | 0.266 | 0.234 |
| 11/32 | 0.328 | 0.359 | 0.328 |
| 3/8 | 0.359 | 0.391 | 0.359 |
| 15/32 | 0.453 | 0.484 | 0.453 |
| 1/2 | 0.484 | 0.516 | 0.484 |
| 19/32 | 0.578 | 0.609 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.609 | 0.641 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.703 | 0.734 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.734 | 0.766 | 0.734 |
APA B-C – Veneer Grades: Face B; Inner C; Back C. Exterior
Utility exterior panel with B-grade veneer face, sanded smooth. Suitable for use on farm service and non-permanent buildings, cargo linings for rail cars and lorries, concrete formwork and agricultural bins.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 1/4 | 0.234 | 0.266 | 0.234 |
| 11/32 | 0.328 | 0.359 | 0.328 |
| 3/8 | 0.359 | 0.391 | 0.359 |
| 15/32 | 0.453 | 0.484 | 0.453 |
| 1/2 | 0.484 | 0.516 | 0.484 |
| 19/32 | 0.578 | 0.609 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.609 | 0.641 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.703 | 0.734 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.734 | 0.766 | 0.734 |
APA C_C plugged – Veneer grades: Face C plugged; Inner C; Back C. Exterior
Provides smooth surface for applications of carpet with high impact and concentrated load resistance. For floor decking, refrigerated storage rooms, pallet bins, railcar and lorry floors and lining of their cargo areas, soffit, tile backing, concrete formwork where smooth finish is not essential and other similar uses where continuous or severe moisture may be present.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 3/8 | 0.344 | 0.406 | 0.354 |
| 1/2 | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.483 |
| 19/32 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.688 | 0.750 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.719 | 0.781 | 0.734 |
APA C-D plugged – Veneer grades: Face C plugged, Inner D; Back D. Exposure 1
For built-in storage units, walls and ceilngs tile backing, cable reels, separator boards and other interior or protected applications. Not intended for formwork or as a substitute for APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor because it lacks the required puncture resistance.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 3/8 | 0.344 | 0.406 | 0.354 |
| 1/2 | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.483 |
| 19/32 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.688 | 0.750 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.719 | 0.781 | 0.734 |
APA High Density Overlay (HDO) – Veneer grades: Face A or B; Inner C plugged; Back A or B. Exterior
Panel face and back coated with hard, semi-opaque resin fibre overlay highly resistant to abrasion. For concrete forms, cabinets, countertops, laboratory bench tops, signs, industrial tanks. Also available with skid-resistant screen grid surface suitable for pedestrian walkways.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark denotation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 3/8 | 0.344 | 0.406 | 0.354 |
| 1/2 | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.483 |
| 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 |
| 3/4 | 0.719 | 0.781 | 0.734 |
APA Medium Density Overlay (MDO) – Exterior. Veneer grades: Face, B; Inner C; Back B or C
One or both surfaces coated with smooth, opaque resin-fibre overlay, ideal base for paint, indoors or outdoors. Suitable for shelving, factory work surfaces, panelling, signs, built-in storage units. Specially manufactured MDO panels may also be used for concrete forming. Also available as APA 303 Siding.
| PERFORMANCE CATEGORY | THICKNESS REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Notation | Min Thickness (IN) | Max Thickness (IN) | Recommended Thickness INCHES |
| 11/32 | 0.313 | 0.375 | 0.322 |
| 3/8 | 0.344 | 0.406 | 0.354 |
| 15/32 | 0.438 | 0.500 | 0.451 |
| 1/2 | 0.469 | 0.531 | 0.483 |
| 19/32 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 0.578 |
| 5/8 | 0.594 | 0.656 | 0.609 |
| 23/32 | 0.688 | 0.750 | 0.703 |
| 3/4 | 0.719 | 0.781 | 0.734 |