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OSB panels. This significant cost savings is passed on through the channel from dealer to builder to homeowner.

OSB is currently manufactured to several thicknesses and performance values that allow specifiers and contractors to achieve what they need for certain applications, as well as allowing wholesale and retail lumber dealers to broaden their inventories to solve explicit needs. For instance, upgrading from a nominal l/2-inch to a 5/S-inch OSB subfloor panel creates a stiffer floor assembly. In addition to the variety of thicknesses, OSB also offers flexibility in panel size from the standard 4x8-ft. panel, to panels manufactured in sizes up to 12x24 ft., accommodating an even greater variety of uses, including recreational vehicles and other factory-built structural components.

OSB panels are engineered to withstand job site conditions and exposure to the elements. The most reliable brands of OSB, such as Structurwood Edge Gold. achieve a minimum "Exposure l" rating, in which the panels are designed and manufactured to endure limited exposure to rain and moisture before they are eventually covered by flooring, roofing, siding, and finish materials.

Premium panel products often have even higher exposure ratings. The TJPerformance Plus Panel, a component of Trus Joist's Frame-Works Floor System, for example, is specifically designed for performance with proprietary design values. By using this system, a builder can achieve a stiffer, more solid floor without using a thicker panel.

Other grades are designed for industrial uses, such as cabinets, cladded window and door components, shelving, or furniture in which no exposure to the weather or to excessive moisture is expected.

Product Improvements

For the thousands of engineers, architects, contractors, and suppliers who increasingly rely on OSB panels in various construction applications, manufacturers continue to make improvements that address specific conditions.

From floor systems to shear walls, OSB panels are the structural panel of choice to achieve what architects and builders tout as a "systems" approach

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manufactured to several thicknesses and perlormance values that allow wholesale and retail dealers to broaden their inventories to solve explicit needs.

to residential design and construction; that is, a home that provides better comfort. requires less maintenance. and provides improved long-term durability by virtue of the way its properly installed parts work together and impact the performance and reliability of other products in the home.

This "systems" approach to building has become more popular, especially with regard to structural assemblies. as the issue of moisture control continues to be a hot button among homebuyers. While Exposure 1-rated OSB panels are manufactured to resist the effects of water and moisture. manufacturers have upgraded the OSB panel's ability to shield itself (and thus the floor assembly) From moisture infiltration and potential damage, specifically damage from swelling along the edges of the panel. Structurwood is also among a few brands in which the tongue-andgroove design of the panel's long (8foot) edge is self-spacing, thus saving time and labor costs while ensuring proper installation.

Additional product enhancements that address ease-of-use include prestamped grid lines on the panels in common construction measurements to simplify and hasten measuring and cutting chores. Other improvements to OSB over the years include: improved orientation of the layers of the strands which increases the strength of the panel; edge seal which aids in the prevention of water absorption on the job site; and treated panels to protect from wood-destroying insects.

Panels such as Weyerhaeuser's Structurwood RBS (Radiant Barrier Sheathing) also feature a layer of perforated foil that reflects up to 97Va of the sun's heat and radiant energy. Used as roof sheathing, this product can reduce heat build-up in attics, translating into energy savings and increased property value for the homeowner.

Industry Challenges

Although OSB has traditionally been an affordable building product, the industry's drive to continually broaden its applications and improve its products has fostered a demand that, at times, puts it at near-capacity production causing price fluctuations. Current production is at an estimated 90Eo capacity -the highest percentage since 1998-99-and prices have risen sharply since 2003.

With demand not expected to slacken any time soon, OSB providers are working to add capacity. Six new manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada are on the boards and expected to go online during the next four years, resulting in a net gain of more than 2.4 billion sq. ft. of North American production capacity.

This new capacity will help meet the 9Vo growth in housing starts projected during this decade, while stabi- lizing prices and availability.

Along the entire building materials supply chain, OSB has become the staple of the structural panel market. From its beginnings in the 1980s to its continued growth in capacity and market share, the OSB industry remains committed to evolving its products to suit a variety of construction and industrial applications.