Your Ultimate Guide to YELLOWtongue®, BLUEtongue® and REDtongue® Flooring

When choosing structural flooring, understanding the differences between tongue colours is essential. Each option within the STRUCTAflor range is engineered for a specific purpose, providing strength, stability and performance to suit residential, commercial and light industrial applications.

STRUCTAflor is an Australian-made, structural-grade particleboard flooring designed for both platform and fitted construction. It’s manufactured to meet AS/NZS 1860.1 standards and is trusted by builders nationwide for its durability, strength and ease of installation.

Available in general-purpose and termite treated options, STRUCTAflor offers a complete solution for flooring systems that need to perform in real-world conditions.

STRUCTAflor® Colour-Coded System

STRUCTAflor panels are easily identified by their colour-coded tongues and coated edges. Each colour indicates the thickness of the board and its load capacity, helping builders choose the right option quickly and accurately.

• YELLOWtongue (19 mm): Suitable for residential flooring with joist centres up to 450 mm.
• REDtongue (22 mm): Ideal for larger spans up to 600 mm, perfect for residential and light commercial builds.
• BLUEtongue (25 mm): Designed for heavy-duty flooring applications in residential, commercial and industrial environments.

The thicker the board, the greater its load-carrying capacity and stability. Reduced joist spacing also increases the strength of the overall flooring system.

YELLOWtongue® Flooring

YELLOWtongue is an all-purpose structural flooring option for residential applications. It supports general imposed loads as outlined in AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 and is suitable for both platform and fitted flooring systems.

Each panel is moisture-resistant and treated with a wax coating on the edges and surface for added protection. It’s guaranteed for up to five months of weather exposure and available in multiple sizes, including 1800 x 600 mm, 3600 x 600 mm and 3600 x 800 mm.

REDtongue® Flooring

REDtongue is designed for projects requiring higher load capacity or wider joist spacing. At 22 mm thick, it supports joist centres up to 600 mm, making it suitable for residential and light commercial construction.

Available in 3600 x 800 mm and 3600 x 600 mm panels, REDtongue provides flexibility and strength for subfloors in homes and light industrial spaces. It is also available in termite-treated and foil-backed versions for extra protection and performance.

BLUEtongue® Flooring

BLUEtongue is the heavy-duty option for large-scale residential, commercial and industrial applications. At 25 mm thick, it supports greater loads while maintaining structural integrity over wider spans.

When installed over joists at 300 mm maximum centres, BLUEtongue flooring can support live loads exceeding 6.7 kN and uniformly distributed loads up to 31.5 kPa, making it ideal for gyms, warehouses and other high-load environments.

Choosing the Right STRUCTAflor® Flooring

When selecting the right STRUCTAflor board, consider:

• Load requirements: Select the appropriate panel thickness for the required loads and joist spacing.
• Application: Consider whether the flooring will be used in residential, commercial or light industrial construction.
• Termite risk: Choose termite treated where H2 termite protection is required.
• Site conditions: Consider potential weather exposure during construction, together with the required subfloor clearance ventilation.
• Installation requirements: Follow the relevant fixing, adhesive and expansion gap recommendations for the project.

With three colour coded thickness options, with each designed for different joist spacings and load required, it’s easy to select the right board for the application.

For projects in termite-treated areas, STRUCTAflor Termite Treated combines dependable structural performance with H2 termite protection. Where termite treated is not required, STRUCTAflor General Purpose provides a strong and reliable flooring solution for a wide range of building applications.

When timber, carpet, tiles or another finished flooring material will be installed above STRUCTAflor, ensure the panels are correctly installed, dry and prepared in accordance with the flooring manufacturers requirements.

Why Builders Choose STRUCTAflor?

STRUCTAflor offers versatility and reliability across the entire range. From residential homes to large-scale commercial builds, each product delivers the same level of quality, compliance and peace of mind.

Proudly Australian-made from sustainably sourced plantation pine, STRUCTAflor products are built for strength, longevity and environmental responsibility. Whatever the project, STRUCTAflor has a colour-coded solution ready to perform.

STRUCTAflor®. Trusted by builders. Designed for Australian conditions.