Understanding Australian Standards for STRUCTAply

What to Consider When Specifying STRUCTAply

STRUCTAply is used across a range of building applications, from bracing and flooring to roofing, structural substrates and engineered timber systems.

Although plywood sheets can appear similar, their performance requirements can be very different. Across the building and construction industry, understanding the relevant Australian Standards is an important part of selecting STRUCTAply for its intended application.

At the centre of this is AS/NZS 2269 - Structural plywood , which establishes requirements for plywood manufactured for structural applications.

Starting with the Application

A project may require structural plywood across several areas of a building. However, the same product may not be appropriate for every location.

Selection should begin by understanding exactly what the plywood is required to do. From there, the appropriate thickness, structural grade, panel construction and other performance requirements can be considered.

What is AS/NZS 2269?

AS/NZS 2269 is the Australian and New Zealand Standard covering structural plywood. The standard provides a common framework for plywood manufactured for use in structural applications and establishes requirements relating to manufacture, structural performance, bond quality and identification.

The standard provides an important reference point when assessing whether a plywood product is appropriate for a structural application. However, specifying structural plywood involves more than simply looking for a reference to AS/NZS 2269. The requirements of the individual application must also be considered.

Understanding Structural Grade

One of the important characteristics of structural plywood is its structural or stress grade.

STRUCTAply is manufactured to standard F-grades F8, F11 and F14, depending on the product. These grades communicate structural properties used in engineering design, including characteristics associated with bending, tension, shear and compression.

This means two sheets of structural plywood with the same thickness and dimensions may not necessarily provide the same structural performance. For example: 12 mm structural plywood does not provide the same level of specification detail as 12 mm F11 structural plywood complying with AS/NZS 2269.

The appropriate specification will ultimately depend on the application and the requirements established by the designer or structural engineer.

Bond Quality Matters Too

Structural performance isn't determined by stress grade alone. STRUCTAply is manufactured by bonding individual timber veneers together, making the quality and durability of that bond another important consideration.

Bond quality forms part of the requirements of AS/NZS 2269. This helps ensure the veneers continue to perform together as a structural panel. The intended application and exposure conditions should therefore be considered when selecting plywood.

Looking Beyond Thickness

Two plywood products may have the same nominal thickness and sheet dimensions and both be described as suitable for construction. However, they may differ in structural grade, panel construction, technical properties, certification and supporting product information.

Rather than asking, "Is this plywood the same size", ask "Does this plywood provide the structural performance required for the application".

Equivalent dimensions do not automatically mean equivalent structural performance.

Identifying Structural Plywood

Selecting the appropriate STRUCTAply product is one part of the process. Being able to identify the product supplied is another.

AS/NZS 2269 includes branding requirements intended to provide information about the structural plywood.

Depending on the product, sheet markings can identify information such as:

• the manufacturer or trademark
• identification as structural plywood
• reference to AS/NZS 2269
• face and back veneer grade
• bond type
• structural or F-grade
• panel construction code
• formaldehyde emission classification

This information is particularly valuable when different plywood products are used on the same project or when sheets will be concealed within the completed building.

From Specification to Site

Consider the plywood through the selection and supply process:

Application - Understand what the plywood is required to do.

Specification - Define the required standard, thickness, structural grade and other performance requirements.

Verification – Confirm the product meets the specification, especially when considering an alternative.

Identification - Check that the product supplied matches the product selected.

Traceability - Maintain confidence in the product from manufacture and supply through to installation.

Together, these steps can help reduce uncertainty when selecting STRUCTAply and provide greater confidence that the product is appropriate for its intended application.

Where Australian Made Fits In

For projects considering Australian-made structural plywood, product origin provides another factor to consider alongside structural performance.

Australian manufacturing can offer benefits such as local supply, access to technical support and product traceability, while also supporting local industry. However, Australian Made and compliance with an Australian Standard are two different considerations.

A product manufactured in Australia does not, by itself, establish compliance with AS/NZS 2269. Likewise, compliance with AS/NZS 2269 does not mean a product was manufactured in Australia.

Where an Australian-made structural plywood product also provides the required structural grade, performance information and evidence of compliance with AS/NZS 2269, customers can consider both product performance and product origin as part of their specification.

This provides a more complete picture of the product being selected - where it comes from, what it is designed to do and the information available to support its use.

Building Confidence into STRUCTAply Selection

Australian Standards provide an important framework for structural plywood used in Australian construction. But effective specification starts with understanding the application. Determine what the plywood is required to do, identify the structural performance needed and then verify that the proposed product provides the appropriate information to support its use.

For Australian-made structural plywood, this can also provide an opportunity to combine clearly defined structural performance with the benefits of local manufacturing and supply.