Article from Timber and Forestry E-News, Issue 94

BUILDERS, designers and specifiers have been alerted to the dangers of using non-compliant structural plywood.

The building codes division of the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning says the use of non-compliant structural plywood is not permitted in buildings in Queensland in applications governed by the Building Code of Australia.

A research report released by the Productivity Commission, an independent federal research and advisory body, indicates non-compliant structural plywood products are being used in building work in Australia.

Under the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volume 1, two timber standards are referenced: AS1720.1–1997 Timber structures, design methods and AS1684–2006 Residential timber framed construction.

Both standards reference AS/NZS 2269-2004 Plywood-structural which specifies the requirements for the manufacture, grading, finishing and branding of structural plywood as well as other qualities for nominated stress grades.

These two timber standards are also referenced in BCA Volume 2, along with a direct reference to AS/NZS 2269-2004 in relation to structural plywood used as a cladding and as a water-resistant floor substrate.

When structural plywood is used in building work, to comply with the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the BCA, the building certifier must be satisfied that the plywood complies with AS/NZS2269 and that it is labelled to show this compliance. Suitable evidence should also be provided to support the use of the product in accordance with BCA Part A2 or 1.2.

If the plywood product does not satisfy these BCA requirements, and suitable evidence is not provided, it is not permitted to be used for building work.

A full copy of the report can be obtained from the Productivity Commission’s website.