| Structural Plywood | Approximately 400–700 kg/m³; cross-laminated veneer plies, commonly 5–21 plies depending on thickness. | High strength-to-weight ratio, good screw holding, dimensional stability, and strong panel shear performance. Exterior durability depends on veneer grade and adhesive system. | Roof and wall sheathing, flooring, transport packaging, furniture components, concrete formwork, and engineered timber assemblies. | Check face/back grade, core gaps, thickness tolerance, moisture content, bonding class, formaldehyde emissions, bending strength, and panel squareness. | For construction use, verify EN 636 performance class and EN 314 bonding quality where applicable. CE/DoP requirements may apply under EN 13986 and the Construction Products Regulation framework. | Verify PS 1 or PS 2 qualification where structural plywood is specified. Check applicable building-code design values and TSCA Title VI or CARB Phase 2 formaldehyde compliance. | Check AS/NZS 2269 for structural plywood in Australia/New Zealand. For Japan, confirm applicable JAS grade, strength classification, and F☆☆☆☆ or required emissions category. |
| OSB/3 and OSB/4 | Approximately 550–680 kg/m³; oriented strands arranged in cross-directional layers. OSB/4 generally offers higher structural capacity than OSB/3. | Efficient structural performance, consistent thickness, good racking resistance, and reliable industrial production. Edge swelling can occur when exposed to prolonged moisture. | Wall, roof, and floor sheathing; modular construction; packaging; and load-bearing applications where engineered strand board is approved. | Check EN 300 class, thickness swelling, internal bond, bending strength in both principal directions, edge straightness, moisture content, and formaldehyde class. | Use EN 300 classification for OSB/3 or OSB/4 and verify EN 13986 documentation for construction products. Confirm reaction-to-fire classification where required by the project. | North American structural-panel projects commonly require performance documentation under PS 2 or an accepted code evaluation. Confirm span ratings, exposure classification, and TSCA Title VI compliance. | Check local structural-panel standards and engineering acceptance. For Japan, confirm JAS requirements and the specified formaldehyde emissions category before import or installation. |
| Moisture-Resistant MDF | Approximately 600–800 kg/m³; refined wood fibres bonded into a homogeneous panel. Available in moisture-resistant grades for humid interior conditions. | Excellent machining, smooth surface, consistent profile quality, and good paintability. It is not automatically suitable for exterior exposure or continuous wet service. | Cabinet doors, mouldings, shelving, shopfitting, interior partitions, and furniture components in kitchens, bathrooms, and other humid interiors. | Check thickness swelling, screw withdrawal, surface density, machining quality, moisture content, formaldehyde emissions, and whether edges require sealing. | Verify EN 622-5 MDF type, including moisture-resistant classifications where relevant. Construction use may require EN 13986 documentation and applicable CE/DoP information. | Confirm ANSI A208.2 MDF grade and moisture-resistant designation where specified. Check TSCA Title VI or CARB Phase 2 emissions documentation for regulated composite wood. | Check AS/NZS 1859.2 requirements in Australia/New Zealand. In Japan, verify JIS/JAS requirements and the required F☆☆☆☆ emissions grade for interior use. |
| Standard MDF | Approximately 600–800 kg/m³; uniform fine-fibre structure with a smooth, paint-ready surface. | Very good routing, profiling, laminating, and finishing performance. Moderate dimensional stability; vulnerable to swelling if unsealed and exposed to water. | Indoor furniture, decorative wall panels, doors, mouldings, retail fixtures, and precision-cut components. | Check density profile, surface smoothness, thickness tolerance, internal bond, screw holding, edge quality, emissions, and batch-to-batch colour consistency after finishing. | Verify EN 622-5 grade, formaldehyde class under applicable European requirements, and EN 13986 documentation when used in construction. | Confirm ANSI A208.2 grade, formaldehyde emissions under TSCA Title VI or CARB Phase 2, and any customer-specific indoor-air-quality limits. | Check AS/NZS 1859.2 or relevant local requirements. For Japan, confirm JIS/JAS classification and F☆☆☆☆ or the project’s specified emissions level. |
| Particleboard / Chipboard | Approximately 550–750 kg/m³; coarse wood particles in the core with finer particles near the surfaces. | Cost-efficient, flat, and suitable for laminated furniture. Lower moisture resistance and edge screw-holding performance than many plywood or MDF grades. | Ready-to-assemble furniture, worktops with suitable overlays, shelving, interior cabinetry, and non-structural fit-out applications. | Check thickness swelling, internal bond, surface pull-off, screw withdrawal, edge integrity, density profile, emissions, and laminate adhesion. | Verify EN 312 type, such as general-purpose or load-bearing grades for dry or humid conditions. Confirm EN 13986 information where the panel is used in construction. | Check ANSI A208.1 classification and TSCA Title VI or CARB Phase 2 compliance. Structural use requires project-specific engineering acceptance rather than relying on furniture grades. | Check AS/NZS 1859.1 in Australia/New Zealand. For Japan, verify the applicable JIS/JAS grade and formaldehyde emissions class, including F☆☆☆☆ where required. |
| Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) | Approximately 480–650 kg/m³; thin veneers bonded predominantly parallel to the grain for structural efficiency. | High predictable bending and tensile capacity, long-span capability, and stable engineered performance. Requires design values and connection engineering. | Beams, headers, rafters, joists, portal frames, prefabricated structures, and other engineered timber systems. | Check certified design values, veneer orientation, adhesive durability, straightness, moisture content, finger-joint details where present, and third-party conformity assessment. | Verify EN 14374 requirements, structural design values, factory production control, and CE/DoP documentation where the product falls within the applicable construction-product framework. | Confirm ANSI/APA or project-approved LVL qualification, allowable design stresses, preservative treatment if needed, and code-recognized evaluation documentation. | Check AS/NZS 4357 for structural laminated veneer lumber in Australia/New Zealand. For Japan, confirm JAS or project-approved structural documentation and emissions requirements. |
| Cement-Bonded Particleboard | Approximately 1,000–1,300 kg/m³; wood particles bound with cement-based mineral binder. | High moisture, impact, and biological resistance compared with many wood-fibre panels; heavier and harder to cut, drill, and handle. | External sheathing, wet-area lining, acoustic partitions, façade backing, flooring systems, and fire-conscious construction assemblies where approved. | Check density, bending strength, water absorption, thickness swelling, screw pull-out, fire classification, dimensional movement, and compatibility with fixings and coatings. | Verify EN 634 requirements and the applicable reaction-to-fire, moisture, and construction-product documentation. Confirm CE/DoP status when required for the intended use. | Use only where accepted by the relevant building code or evaluation report. Confirm fire, moisture, structural, and indoor-air requirements for the specific assembly. | Check local product acceptance, fire testing, and wet-area requirements. Japan-bound shipments should include the required JIS/JAS or project-specific technical evidence. |
