The UK has adopted the same EU standards for using plywood panels in construction and continues to accept the CE mark until January 2023.
There are now two overall standards – harmonised and designated – that define the panels’ performance characteristics and test methods for use in construction applications. Each currently follow the same principles.
The harmonised (EU) or designated (UK) standard (BS) EN 13986:2004+A1:2015 (Wood-based panels for use in construction – Characteristics, evaluation of conformity and marking). The standard specifying plywood is (BS) EN 636: 2012.
EuroCode 5 (BS) EN 1995-1-1 sets down the rules for timber products when used in the design of construction works. (BS) EN 335:2013 provides moisture content guidance for the new Use Classes, with an APA guide to how Use and Service Classes align, here.
APA has put together an easy-to-use checklist to help find the right standard for your application and the required performance characteristic, such as bending strength.
Other important standards are:
- (BS) EN 314-2: Plywood – Bond Quality – Requirements
- (BS) EN 717-1, (BS) EN 717-2 and now (BS) EN ISO 12460-3: Wood-based Panels – Determination of Formaldehyde Release
- (BS) EN 789: Timber structures – Test methods – Determination of mechanical properties of wood-based panels
- (BS) EN 1058: Wood-based panels – Determination of characteristic 5 percentile values and characteristic mean values
- (BS) EN 12369-2: Wood-based Panels – Characteristic Values for Structural Design – Plywood
- (BS) EN 12871- 2013: Wood-based panels – Performance specifications and requirements for load bearing boards for use in floors, walls and roofs
- PD CEN/TR 12872: Wood-based panels – Guidance on the use of load-bearing boards in floors, walls and roofs.
