SMART
SOLUTIONS
Richard Taylor, SmartPly Europe’s Marketing Manager, sheds
some light on using certified material for structural roofing
applications.
Why Use Certified Materials?
If you’re using a wood-based panel product structurally,
such as in roof decking or sarking applications, you need
to be sure it complies with the relevant building regulation;
BS5268 Part 2. If it doesn’t, you may risk liability should
any subsequent failure occur.
What is BS5268?
BS5268 (Structural Use of Timber) is a design standard that
details which sheet materials are suitable for use in structural
applications. It requires that every sheet of product recommended
for structural use is clearly marked with the appropriate
structural grade mark (examples of which are given in the
standard). Simply, any panel product being used in a structural
application that is not listed in the standard will not meet
building regulations.
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What is
SmartPly 3?
SmartPly 3 is an OSB (Oriented Strand Board), an
engineered wood panel coated with exterior grade resins and
compressed at high temperature, resulting in a load bearing
panel that achieves a reliable distribution of strength, stiffness
and spanning capacity along and across the board.
How does it compare to Softwood
Plywood?
SmartPly is as strong as an equivalent thickness
plywood and, being manufactured with engineered wood strands,
it does not suffer from the inherent defects associated with
plywood such as twisting, core-voids, knotholes, splits and
overlapping veneers, all of which can contribute to de lamination.
SmartPly is manufactured to EN300 which requires the product
to have a minimum comparable strength, stiffness and durability
to that of softwood plywood. SmartPly 3 is also less expensive
than plywood, making it the smart option for all structural
applications.
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Does SmartPly
3 conform to BS2568?
Yes - SmartPly 3 products are listed as suitable
for structural use in BS5268 Part 2 and are individually stamped
with the appropriate structural grade mark (OSB3). Anyone
using products listed in the standard can be confident that
it will meet current requirements for structural use, as long
as the correct thickness is specified and used. Not only that,
SmartPly 3 products have BBA approval and are recognised as
suitable for structural use by the NHBC.
Does SmartPly 3 meet felt manufacturers
approval for use in flat roof decking?
Yes. Major felt manufacturers will insist that the
wood decking under their products meets the necessary structural
standards, which, of course, SmartPly 3 does. SmartPly 3 is
also approved by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors
and the Flat Roofing Alliance.
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