Some imports fail to meet

Structural Sheathing - JAS also available

3/8'.....................4x8, 4x9 & 4x1 0

1 12".....................4x8, 4x9 & 4x1 O

5/8".....................4x8, 4x9 & 4x1 O

314".....................4x8, 4x9 & 4x1 0

FOB Mill - Chehalis

!F Specialty Applications

Solid Innerplies Wood Patch Only

Veneer Composer Primed Panels Rail

UP or BN Side Loading

M UTU AL PLYWOO D CORPORATION

'143 Maurin Rd., Chehalis, WA 98532

Fax 360-740-9570

Tracy Trogden Kelly Srsen

Sandy Dembinski

(800) 562-6344

A PA is cautioning the marketplace ll,to beware of Chinese and other panel imports that in many cases fail to meet North American standards.

APA recently tested samples of non-trademarked imported concrete form panels in which the average glue bond performance of the sample did not meet the minimum standard of

U.S. Product Standard PS l. Test results also indicated that the samples had an average load capacity of approximately 407o below the level of APA PS 1 Plyform plywood and had formaldehyde emissions levels up to 500 times higher than those of domestic production.

In December 2O06 and January

Look for the APA stamp

Grading agencies in North America have clearly defined stamps. The typical APA stamp will have the following inlormation: I r, Cenifiealion agency lrademark

Exposure classificalion (Exposure 1 panels are suitable for wetting and drying under normal construction conditions; Exterior panels are designed for long4erm exposure to weather)

. Panel grade (Sturd-l-Floor, Rated 'Mill number Sheathing, Rated Siding, or : 'Product and/or Perforrn' plywood grade -A-C, C-D) Aen ance standard (PS 1'07, PS 'Span rating and thickness nr*ffi 2-92' PRP-108) le"g."i ;pin riting or eriG .@ lf vgY.hav.e concerns as to meins tnat the paier can be $p-slglgF, lltt Y1'9'.ry of .a mark,-contacl used ror a maxilnum p*;j t3l*tr l-if:iifrHy:,ffi:l3,,rt 32" on a roof and 16" on a #c';Er- llnnrl000 - may help APA determine the "ev' ..-j3P- source and course of action.

2007, APA tested overlaid plywood panels from Asia at the APA Research Center in Tacoma, Wa. The purpose of the testing was to benchmark the performance of non-trademarked, Asian plywood products relative to the performance required for North American APA-trademarked plywood (Plyform).

APA tested six sets of l1-, 12- and l3-ply 18.3 mm (23132 inch) Asian plywood panels from five retail sources around the U.S. The plywood was evaluated for mechanical properties, glue bond performance, and formaldehyde emissions. Comparative data for North American plywood was compiled from US Product

Standard PS I requirements and APA's testing experience.

The chart below summarizes the comparative results.

The results indicate that substitution of offshore plywood for North American plywood may lead to inferior structural and bond durability performance with a higher level of formaldehyde emission. Substan-dard panels often give themselves away during installation. Panels that flex excessively or break under low loads may be manufactured from species with inferior strength or with improper adhesive bonds.

The average glue bond performance of the non-trademarked Asian plywood tested by APA did nor meet the minimum performance standard of PS l, which requires a minimum of 857o wood failure as an indicator that the panels will meet the long-term expectations of concrete forming plywood in harsh jobsite environments. The higher the percentage of wood failure, the better the glue bond performance.

Policing the threat from substandard products is largely up to the the industry. Dealers, code officials, builders, specifiers, designers, engineers, and certification agencies all play a vital role in keeping substandard product off the market.