Thin Plywood Bracing Systems Withdrawn
from
Structural Plywood Wall Bracing Manual
The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) has recently revised its ‘Structural Plywood Wall Bracing’ manual. This manual explains to designers and builders how to utilise EWPAA certified plywood to brace building framing in accordance with the Building Code of Australia and AS1684 “Residential Timber-Framed Construction.’ The revised manual is available for free download by clicking on the link to the bottom left of screen.
The most significant change to the manual has been the removal of bracing systems using plywood less than 6 mm thick. Thus the EWPAA has withdrawn technical support for these thinner plywood systems, such as 4 mm or 4.5 mm F22 and F27 hardwood bracing. This is due to the fact that EWPAA members no longer produce thin bracing plywood, and the EWPAA has received legal advice that by continuing to provide support for these products, the EWPAA could be exposed to legal action in the event of failure of imported, non-certified product.
As a result of the trend to more efficient home building designs it was important to verify the plywood bracing systems promulgated by the EWPAA. The ‘Structural Plywood Wall Bracing’ manual has been updated to ensure the safety of design and construction of all EWPAA certified bracing systems. The structural properties and wind racking design values of the common bracing systems have been retested and reconfirmed. In addition, the revised manual now has a viable new system utilising 7 mm F8 structural plywood.
It should be noted that in instances where designers and builders have applied the information contained within the EWPAA manual to bracing systems utilising thin, imported, non-certified bracing plywood, the EWPAA does not and will not accept responsibility in the event of product or design failure.
The EWPAA stresses that information contained within the manuals, brochures and other literature provided by the EWPAA is applicable only to EWPAA certified products, which can be identified by the following label: |
