SPECIFICATION FOR

BLOCKBOARD
AND LAMINBOARD

BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION

Incorporated by Royal Charter

2 PARK STREET, LONDON W1A 2BS

Telex: 266933 Telephone: 01-629 9000
BS 3444 : 1972
THIS BRITISHSTANDARD, having been approved by the Timber Industry Standards Committee and
endorsed by the Chairman of the Building Divisional Council, was published under the authority of
'
the Executive Board on 25 August 1972.

OBritish Standards Institution, 1972.

First published, December, 1961.

Metric edition, August, 1972.
ISBN: 0 580 07365 3

The Institution desires to call attention to the fact that this British Standard does not purport to include
all the necessary provisions of a contract.

In order to keep abreast of progress in the industries concerned, British Standards are subject to periodical
review. Suggestions for improvements will be recorded and in due course brought to the notice of the
committees charged with the revision of the standards to which they refer.

A complete list of British Standards, numbering over 5000, fully indexed and with a note of the contents
of each will be found in the British Standards Yearbook, which may be purchased from BST Sales
Department. It may also be consulted in many public libraries and similar institutions.

British Standards are revised, when necessary, by the issue either of amendment slips or of revised editions.
It is important that users of British Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest
amendments or editions.

CO-OPERATING ORGANIZATIONS
The Timber Industry Standards Committee, under whose supervision this British Standard was prepared,
consists of representatives from the following Government departments and scientific and industrial
organizations :
*British Door Association "Institution of MunicipaI Engineers
*British Plastics Federation *Institution of Structural Engineers
*British Woodwork Manufacturers' Association National Federation of Building Trades
Department of the Environment Employers
Building Research Establishment National Sawmilling Association
Fibre Building Board Development "Royal Institute of British Architects
Organization Ltd. Softwood Agents and Brookers Association
Princes Risboroug Laboratory
Forestry Commission *The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Hardwood Flooring Manufacturers' Timber Container Confederation
Association *Timber Research and Development Association
Institute of Wood Science *Timber Trade Federation of the United
Institution of Civil Engineers Kingdom

The Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations marked with an asterisk in
the above list, together with the following, were directly represented on the committee entrusted with the
preparation of this British Standard:
Association of British Plywood and Veneer British Wood Preserving Association
Manufacturers Department of the Environment
British Furniture Manufacturers' Federated Department of Trade and Industry
Associations Incorporated Association of Architects and
British Railways Board Surveyors

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:

Committee references TIBI7. Draft for approval 7111 1560

Printed in England by Waterlow & Sons Limired , London and Dunstable (6587571L) (2.5 k)
 BRITISH STANDARD SPECIFICATION FOR

- BLOCKBOARD AND LAMINBOARD

FOREWORD
This British Standard has been revised under the authority of the Timber Industry Standards Committee and in accordance
with the metrication programme in the construction industry. The Standard has been amended to give values in terms of
S1 units but there is no significant difference from the technical content of that in the 1961 edition. It specifies requirements
for blockboard and laminboard, materials consisting of a wood strip core faced on each side with wood veneers. It does
not cover materials with cores of particle board, expanded plastics or of honeycomb construction, nor material already
faced with decorative veneer or plastics overlays.
Blockboard and laminboard covered by this standard are intended for general purposes inside buildings, such as the
manufacture of furniture, panelling, partitions and doors. They are not suitable for exterior application. The system of
classifying the ',bonding ' by reference to its weather resistance is that used in the plywood specification, BS 1455, and
is retained for convenience and uniformity, but the classification is used here merely to indicate the type of adhesive employed
in the manufacture of the board, rather than its suitability for a particular exposure. Whilst boards suitable for exposure
to weather or other severe conditions can be manufactured by special arrangement not only must the appropriate type
of adhesive be employed in their manufacture, but also the wood component must be of a suitable and durable species or
be treated with fungicidal or insecticidal preservatives, paints or other surface coatings according to circumstances.
The standard neither specifies nor gives advice upon the species of the timbers for the manufacture of blockboard and
laminboard. Sources of supply and supplies themselves vary considerably over short periods, and any list of ' approved '
timbers would not only have to be long to be comprehensive, but might well, by the omission of their names, prejudice
the introduction of additional kinds. Purchasers and manufacturers should agree between themselves on the species that are
to be used, having regard to the purpose for which the board is intended, particularly where immunity to insect attack is essential.
Blockboard and laminboard are normally painted or veneered or, exceptionally, used in the natural state. Where
decorative veneer is applied, the grain of the decorative veneer should be at right angles to that of the face veneer of the
board and there should be a balancing veneer on the back of the board. In special applications, where a very high gloss
finish would, under oblique lighting, render even the smallest surface irregularities objectionable, the manufacturer should
be informed of the intended use so that precautions can be taken. For the general and less exacting uses of blockboard,
the requirements of the specification are adequate to provide a reasonable standard of surface stability, which is defined
in 10.
The standard includes requirements for the moisture content at the time of leaving the factory. The attention of the
user is drawn to the necessity of protecting the boards to ensure that this moisture content is maintained.
Some of the tests for the compliance of the blockboard with the bonding requirements (6 and the appendices) are of
necessity somewhat lengthy and troublesome to make. The warranty described in 15 does not necessarily mean that the
manufacturer has carried out all the tests set out in the appendices, but in cases of doubt or dispute, these appendices
enable the purchaser or an arbitrator to satisfy himself that the warranty is substantial or otherwise.
Since blockboard and Iaminboard are used for many applications other than b~iildingno size has been specified in this
standard, but some guidance to sizes available may be obtained from BS 3583. When blockboard or laminboard is manu-
factured for use in dimensionally co-ordinated buildings designed in accordance with the requirements of BS 4330, the
sizes of the boards should be as recommended in BS 4606.

SPECIFICATION
1. SCOPE
This British Standard gives requirements for blockboard
and laminboard for general purposes manufactured from
veneers and a core constructed of strips of wood.
Where the term ' blockboard ' is used in this specifica-
tion the provision refers equally to laminboard.
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this British Standard the following
definitions apply :
Adhesive. Any material used in bonding together two
or more pieces of wood.
Back. The surface of blockboard opposite to the face.
Balanced construction. A construction such that the
forces induced by changes in moisture content will not
cause warping. In practice this means that any pair of
corresponding veneers or layers on either side of the centre
line are of the same species and thickness and are laid with
the grain in the same direction as each other.
Blister. A bulge on the surface due to a separation of the
constituent plies or veneers, usually at a glue line. If the
separation is visible at the edge(s) of the board, the defect
is termed delamination.
Blockboard. A composite board consisting of a core
made up of strips of wood, each not more than 25 mm
wide, laid separately or glued or otherwisejointed together
to form a slab, to each side of which is glued one or more
outer veneers with the direction of the grain of the core
strips running at right-angles to that of the adjacent
veneers.
Bond qualify. The quality of the bond between plies
specified in 6, and determined by the method of test in
Appendix C .
 Closed split. A split in the veneer which, during the
process of manufacture into blockboard is completely
closed, and is visible only as a fine line on the face or back
of the board.
Core. The inner layer of a piece of blockboard.
Crossgrain. A term applied to boards where the grain of
the face veneers runs at right-angles to the longer axis of
the board. Cf. Long grain.
Delamination. A separation of veneers, through failure
of the adhesive, that is visible at the edge(s) of the board.
Cf. Blister.
Endjoint. A joint made between two veneers across the
grain.
Face. That surface of blockboard on which the grade or
quality is chiefly judged. Where both surfaces are of the
same quality, both are described as faces. Cf. Back.
Gap. A void, etc. in a board. The term is normally
applied to the core. Cf. Open defect.
Gluing. The process of uniting by means of an adhesive
two or more pieces of wood. When used without qualifica-
tion the term implies a process characterized by continuity
of the union over the whole of the areas of contact.
Continuous gluing. A method of gluing, mostly
applicable to the manufacture of cores for blackboard and
characterized by a union over an area that is continuous in
length but narrower in width than the pieces that are
joined.
Spot gluing. A method of gluing, mostly applicable to
the manufacture of cores for blockboard and characterized
by the application of the adhesive in discrete spots or small
areas.
GBe line. The layer of adhesive effecting union between
any two adjoining wood layers in an assembly.
Laminboard. A composite board consisting of a core
made up of strips of wood each not more than 7 mm thick
glued together face to face to form a slab, to each side of
which is glued one or more outer veneers with the direction
of the grain of the core strips running at right-angles to that
of the adjacent veneers.
Longgrain. A term applied to boards where the grain of
the face veneers runs parallel to the longer axis of the
board. Cf. Cross grain.
Open defect. A defect, natural or otherwise, which
causes a hole or gap in a ply.
Ply. An individual layer in a sheet of blockboard either
the core or a veneer. In the case of the Jreneers, usually a
ply is a single veneer.
3-ply.A blockboard consisting of a core with one ply on
each face.
5-ply. A blockboard consisting of a core with two plies
on each face.
Rotmy cut. A term describing veneer produced in a con-
tinuous sheet by feeding a knife mounted parallel to the
axis into a log rotating in a lathe. Cf. Sliced.
Sliced. A term describing veneer cut sheet by sheet from
a stationary block-of wood, by a knife mounted approx-
imately parallel with and moving to and fro across the
longitudinal axis of the block. h some machines the
knife is fixed and the block moves. Cf. Rotary cut.
Split. In a veneer a separation of the fibres along the
grain extending through the thickness of the veneer. In the
finished article a split becomes a gap or an open defect.
Tape. Gummed paper or similar material used to hold
the free edge of a joint or split during the manufacture of
blockboard.
Work size. A size of plywood board specified for its
manufacture, to which its actual size shouId conform
within specified permissible deviations.
Veneer. A thin sheet of wood produced by rotary cutting
or slicing.
3. VENEER
a. Grade. Blockboard shall be graded according to the
appearance of the face and back, each being assessed
separately after the board has been made, and not when
in the form of veneer as defined in 2.
Grades of veneer are de£ined as follows:
Grade S veneer. Specially selected grade to be the
subject of agreement between the manufacturer and
the purchaser.
Grade 1 veneer. Grade 1 veneer shall be of one or
more pieces of firm, smoothly cut veneer. When of
more than one piece, it shall be well jointed and
matched for colour at the joints. The pieces shall be
equal in width subject to a deviation of f 10 %
and not less than 250 mm wide. Slight discoloration
and an occasional closed split shall be permitted.
The veneer shall be free from knots, worm and beetle
holes, splits, dote, glue stains or other defects. No end
joints are permitted.
Grade 2 veneer. Grade 2 veneer shall present a solid
surface free from open defects. When jointed, veneers
need not necessarily be matched for colour, or be of
equal width. A few sound knots shall be permitted,
with occasional minor discoloration and slight glue
stains, isolated pin worm holes not along the pIane of
veneer and occasional closed splits not longer than
one-tenth of the length of the panel. This grade shall
admit neatly made repairs of wood inlays which
present solid, level, hard surfaces and are bonded with
an adhesive equivalent to that used for bonding the
veneers. No end joints are permitted.
Unless otherwise specified the veneers shall bp Grade 2.
Grade S and Grade 1 veneers may be supplied by agree-
ment between the manufacturer and purchaser.
b. Thickness of veneer.
3yly construction. Ln 3-ply boards the thickness of
the veneers shall be not less than 2.5 mm nor more
than 3.6 mm.
S-ply construction. Where two veneers on the same
side of the core are laid with their grain parallel to each
other, their total thickness shall be not less than 2.5 mm
nor more than 5 mm. Where two veneers on the same
side of the core are laid with their grain at right angles
the thickness of the inner veneer shall be not less than
1.5 mm nor more than 3.6 mm. The thickness of the
face veneers, unless othei-wise agreed between rnanu-
facturer and purchaser, shall be not more than 2.5 mm.
4. CORES
Cores shall consist of strips of wood of the same species
throughout any one board. Random conversion of the
solid planks into strips is permitted; the direction of the
growth rings relative to the face of the core is not important.
Strips may contain sound knots.
 In blockboard the width of each strip shall be not less
than S mm and not more than 25 mm, and in Iaminboard
it shall be not more than 7 mm.
The strips shalI be dried to a moisture content (deter-
mined by the method described in Appendix A) of 10f2 0/,
and laid side by side with the grain parallel, Unless
otherwise agreed between the manufacturer and purchaser,
the strips shall run in the longer direction of the board.
Strips need not be in one continuous piece through the
required length of the core, but may be butted end to end
provided there is no gap at the butt and that the butts in
adjacent strips are staggered by at least 150 mm.
The strips shall be assembled in such a manner that
the finished board is the equivalent of a solid slab and free
from all voids. The joints between strips shall not be
taped, nor shall any metal clips or similar fasteners be
used. The surface of the core shall be free from ridges and
hollows, smooth and suitable for bonding to the overlying
veneers.
5. ASSEMBLY OF CORE AND VENEERS
The veneers forming any one ply' and the cor~esponding
ply on the opposite side of the core of the board shall be
of the same thickness and species or of species known to
bo similar to one another in physical characteristics. All
corresponding veneers shall be cut by the same method,
i.e., all rotary-cut or all sliced.
The grain of each veneer shall be parallel to that of the
corresponding veneer, and that of the veneers next to the
core shall be at right angles to the direction of the strips
in the core.
Bonding between veneers, and between the veneers and
the core shall be BR, MR or TNT, defined as follows, and
these designatory letters shall be used in marking the
blockboard.
Bonding BR. Type BR. Boil-resistant. These adhesives
have good resistance to weather and to the boiling-water
test but they fail under prolonged conditions of full
exposure to weather for which the WBP* adhesives are
satisfactory. They will withstand cold water for many
years and are highly resistant to micro-organism attack.
Bonding hlR. Type MR. Moisture (wafer) resistant and
moderately weather-resistant. To this group belong those
glues that will survive full exposure to weather for only a
few years. They will withstand cold water for a long period
and hot water for a limited time, but fail under the boiling-
water test. MR adhesives are highly resistant to micro-
organism attack.
Bonding INT. Adhesives comply with requirements of
Bonding INT if they make strong and durable bonds
under dry conditions, and have a limited resistance to
cold water; they need not be able to withstand attack by
micro-organisms.
As stated in the foreword, the use of a durable glue
does not in itself impart durability to the wood, and it is
recognized that the description of the bonding does not
necessarily refer to the blockboard as a material.
* Weather-and-boil-proof. Adhesives which by systematic tests and
by their record in service have proved highly resistant to weather,
micro-organisms, cold and boiling water, steam and dry heat.
Such glues are more durable than the wood itself, b u t it is not
generally practicable to use them in the manufacture of blockboard.
7. DELAMINATION
The glue bond shall be adequate* and continuous over
the entire area. Any board showing delamination or
blistering does not comply with the requirements of this
standard.
8. TJZSTWG THE QUALITY O F THE ADHESION AND THE
KIND OF BONDING IN THE BLOCKBOARD
The appropriate tests for adhesion .in respect of the
three kinds of bonding are set out in Table 1, which gives
the references to the particular appendices concerned.
TABLE 1. SCHEDULES O F TESTS FOR PROVING
COMPLIANCE O F THE BLOCKBOARD WITH THE
REQUXREMENTS O F 1TS DECLARED BONDING.
The letters show the appendices giving details of the tests.
A dash indicates that the test named in the column is not
applicable.
Name of test
w e t test in 1 w e t test in MyCOlogical
Bonding Dry test
I
boiling or
hot water WS? test ~
Appendices
BR
MR
INT
When the adhesion in the blockboard is tested by the
methods described in Appendices C , D, E and F the
results of the tests shall be as follows:
Bonding BR, M R and INX. The dry test (Appendix
El). The average bond quality shall be not less than four.
Bonding BR and MR. The wet test in boiling or hot
water (Appendix E2). The average bond quality shall be
not less than four.
Bonding INT. The wet test in water at 15°C (Appendix
E3). At the conclusion of the test, none of the samples shall
show any b!istering on the surfaces or separation of the
joints between plies at the edges.
Bonding BR and MR. The mycological test (Appendix
EA.). At the conclusion of the test, none of the samples
shall show any blisters, delamination or separation of the
bond in any position.
At the time of leaving the factory, fmished boards shall
have a moisture content, determined by the method des-
cribed in Appendix A of 8 % to 12 % and shall be free: from
bow, twist and warp.
10. SURFACE STABILXTY
When tested by the method of Appendix B the boards
as supplied by the manufacturer shall maintain their
smooth surface and freedom from undulations, and at the
final. inspection of each test there shall be no noticeable
difference between any of the samples used in that test.
*The interpretation of 'adequate ' is to be inferred from Clause 8
and the appendices referred to therein.
 11. DIMENSIONS OF BOARDS AND PERMISSIBLE
DEVLATIONS
The dimension along the grain of the face veneer shall be
quoted fist, and the permissible deviations in Table 2
shall apply, unIess otherwise agreed between the purchaser
and the supplier.
13. RETESTING
In the event of failure to comply with any one of the
test requirements given in 8 and 10 the blockboard
concerned need be retested only in respect of that require-
ment. If the retest fails, the batch shall be deemed not to
comply with this British Standard.

TABLE 2. DIMENSIONS AND PERMISSIBLE

DEVIATIONS OF BOARDS.

Deviation on work size, far: 1 Permissible deviation

14. MARKING

Each board shall be marked on an edge or on the back

Length or width 1 f3 m m Y near an edge with the following particulars:
(1) Manufacturer's name or mark.
~hickrkss: +3 of the work size thickness (2) Country of manufacture.
NOTE. An additional allowance of 0.2 mm per side shall be made
(3) The number of this British standard, i.e. BS 3444.
for scraping or sanding. (4) Grade for face and back (e.g. 212 or 1/21.
( 5 ) Bonding (i.e. BR, MR or INT.) .'

(6) Work size thickness of board.

Squareness:
The length of the diagonals NOTE. Attention is drawn to certification facilities offered by
of a board shall not differ BSI; see the back cover of this standard.
by more than: 0.25 % o f thelength ofthe diagonal
15. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY

The marking of the boards by the manufacturer as set

Boards shall be sanded or scraped both sides unless other-
wise agreed between manufacturer and purchaser.
*When boards are supplied cut to special sizes ready for use it is
often desirable for their dimensions to be subject to minus deviations
only. Such deviations should be the subject of special agreement.
out in 14 itself constitutes a warranty that the blockboard
complies with the, appropriate requirements of this
standard. In cases of dispute or doubt 8 indicates the
procedure for testing the blockboard for compliance with
the requirements for bonding (6) while 10 and Appendix B
specify the method ef testing surface stability. The grade
(3) can be decided by inspection.

A k n i f e of t h i s kind can be
m a d e f r o m a 250 mm X 25 mm file

Fig. 1. Tool for the knife-testing of blockboard.

6
 Fig. 3. Bond quality No. 10 in the master scale for
assessing bond quality in blockboard by the knife test.
 Fig. 4. Bond quality No. 8 in the master scale for
assessing bond quality in blockboard by the knife test.
 Fig. 5. Bond quality No. 6 in the master scale for
assessing bond quality in blockboard by tbe knife test.
 Fig. 6. Bond quality No. 4 in the master scale for
assessing bond quality in blockboard by the knife test.
 Fig. 7. Bond quality No. 2 in the master scale for
assessing bond quality in blockboard by the knife test.
 Fig. 8. Bond quality No. 0 in the master scale for
assessing bond quality in blockboard by the knife test.
Fig. 9. Knife test between core and the first veneer, i.e. where the grains are at right angles.
Top. Laminboard, gaboon strips, bond quality No. 5.
Middle. Blockboard, core strips of softwood, bond quality No. 5.
Bottom. Blockboard, obeche core, bond quality No. 2.
Fig. 10. Knife test between first and second veneer, the grains being parallel.
Top. Bond quality-No. 8.
Middle. Bond quality-No. 5.
Bottom. Bond quality-No. 2.
 APPENDIX A
METHOD OF DETERMINING MOISTURE CONTENT
A small sample is weighed and is then dried in an oven at
a temperature of 100°C to 105°C until thc weight is con-
st ant.
The moisture content is calculated as follows:
Percentage of water = --- X 100
WO
where W, is the initial weight,
and W, is the fmal weight.
APPENDIX B
TEST FOR SURFACE STABILITY
From the consignment purporting to comply with 9
and 12 and at the time the blockboard leaves the factory,
six boards* are selected such that their appearance is as
uniform as is practicable. Two of these are freely exposed
in a normally-heated store (e.g. at 25°C and 60% r.h.) to
maintain their moisture content at 8-12%
* So as to avoid the cutting of expensive material the use of full
sized boards is,suggested.Alternatively,panels of say 600mm square
could be used.
APPENDIX C
METHOD OF KNIFE-TESTING BLOCKBOARD AND LAMINBOARD
C.l Basis of the knife test assessment. The bond quality
between adjacent veneers or between veneers and core is
assessed solely by the appearance of the one remaining
after the other has been removed from it in a particular
manner. The knife test is based on the traditional belief
that a well-made joint should break in the wood rather
than in the glue.
C.2 The test piece, The knife test can be used on any size
of board but test pieces ranging from 150 mm square to
200 mm X 100 mm will be found convenient for specifi-
cation work.
C.3 The knife. A suitable type of knife is shown by
Plate I, but the form is unimportant providing is has a
sharp, curved cutting edge and is cranked to allow a
prising action. Knife-testing is tiring and a lever-assisted
unit is recommended where the number of samples is
large.
A firm bench is needed, fitted with a wooden back-stop
against which the test-piece is faid. Plate Il shows knife-
testing in operation with the hand knife and the ' lever
aid '+
C.4 Applying the knife. The knife edge is applied parallel
to the grain of the veneer under test. It is pushed down-
ward through this veneer, and then forward, every effort
being made to keep the knife in the glue line. A slight side
to side motion will assist. When the knife has penetrated
a convenient distance (say 25 mm to 50 mm) an upward
prise is given to remove the top veneer. The process can
be repeated on the veneer under examination as often as
desired, but succeeding stabs must start in a fresh part of
16
Care should be taken to prevent any change in moisture
content between the cutting of the sample and the first
weighing, or between removal from the oven and the
subsequent weighing.
Two others are freely exposed in an atmosphere of 25°C
and 30 % r.h. to reduce the moisture content to 6-8 % and
the remaining two in an atmosphere of 25°C and 75 % r.h.
to increase their moisture content to 12-14%.
When the boards have each attained approximately con-
stant weight (each in its own place of storage) the twelve
surfaces are visually in direct or oblique lighting
as is deemed necessary.
the surface, i.e. the appearance of the knifed area should
not be dehberately altered by the prising-off of broken
wood created by an earlier stab.
When the operator is satisfied that he has examined a
sufficient area of the joint, the test piece is ready for
comparison with the master scale. During this comparison
the test piece should be well lighted. It is sometimes helpful
to tilt the test piece so that the light falls obliquely on the
surface, but no special methods are required. If the knife
has gone through a glue line and made a clean cut in the
ply bcneath (as exemplified in Plate I V ) such an area
should bs disregarded in making the assessment.
C.5 The bond quality scale. The highest bond quality
obtains when, by the method of testing described in
Appendix C.4 the separation occurs only through the
breaking of the wood itself and the glue line is entirely
covered by adhering fibre. At the other end of the scale,
the veneer parts from the surface below the separation
along the glue line, to which few or no wood fibres are left
adhering. Between these extremes is an infinite number of
gradations passing from extensive wood breakagc with
occasional areas of glue line to a separation in which the
glue line shows only isolated patches of fibre.
From a large number of knife test pieces, samples can
be selected which, when arranged side by side, show a
smoothly graded decrease in wood breakage from the
maximum to zero, i.e. they present bond quality as a
visual-linear scale. From such a set, pieces taken from the
extremes and at regular intervals provide a convenient
master scale, the highest bond quality being numbered 10,
the lowest 0, with intermediates of 8, 6 , 4 and 2 (Plates ILI
to VIII).
 By visually comparing a knifed sample with those of
such a set, the glue line can have assigned to it a number
that relates its bond quality to an absolute scale of values.
The master scale itself has steps of 2, but interpolations
to the nearest whole number can readily be made.
The master scaIe of Plates IH to V111 shows adjacent
layers at right angles. This always obtains in blockboard
between the core and the first veneer. There is, however,
the possibility that subsequent veneers may be laid with
their grain parallel, and further, the joint between core and
first veneer is one between virtually solid timber and
veneer. Neither of these cases invalidates the knife testing
method, nor the applicability of the master scale once the
operator has accustomed himself to the changed conditions.
Assistance towards this is provided by Plates D< and X
APPENDIX D
SELECTION OF THE SAMPLES FOR TESTING PURPOSES
D.1 The dry test. (Bondings BR, MR and TNT). Each
test piece is of a convenient size, such as 150 mm square
or 200 mm X 100 mm. When the consignment to which
the tests refer contains one hundred boards or less, the
tests are made on a minimum of twelve glue lines taken
from not less than three separate boards. If the consign-
ment contains more than one hundred boards, the mini-
mum number of glue lines is twenty and of boards five.
D.2 The wet test in boiling, or hot water. (Bondings BR
and MR). The number of test pieces is selected as set out
in Appendix D1. After the prescribed wetting treatment
has been carried out (see Appendix E2) the knife test is
made on all glue lines.
APPENDIX E
METHOD OF MAKING THE TESTS AND ASSESSING THE RESULTS
E.1 -The dry test. (Bondings BR, MR and IMT). The test
pieces prepared in accordance with Appendix D1 are
knife-tested and the bond quality assessed by the methods
of Appendix C.
E.2 The wet test in boiling or hot water. (Bondings BR and
MR). The test pieces prepared in accordance with
Appendix D2 are subjected according to their type, to
the conditions set out in Table 2. During the treatment,
water has full access to the surface and edges of every
TABLE 2. SCHEDULE OF TESTS IN BOILING OR
HOT WATER APPLICABLE TO BONDlNGS BR
AND MR.
Bonding Conditions
Water boiling under normal atmospheric 3h
conditions.
MR Water at 67 + 2.C
l 3h
NOTE. The water is at the prescribed temperature at the time when
the test pieces are first immersed.
which show respectively knifed joints between core and
veneer, and between parallel veneers.
C.6 Continuing the test. The bond quality of all glue
lines between core and veneer and between veneers is
tested.
C.7 Evaluating the bond qudity. Suppose twelve glue
Iines have been tested and the individual assessments are:
7, 8, 8, 6, 8, 4, 6, 8, 3, 9, 7 and 7. The average quality is
the arithmetic mean, namely 6.7, which is preferably
stated as 7, i.e. to the nearest whole number.
C.8 Dry and wet test. Appendices C1 to C7 apply to the
testing of blockboard both in the dry state and after the
wetting treatment prescribed by this specification.
D.3 The wet test in water at 15 'C. (Bonding INT). The test
pieces are selected as set out in Appendix D1. After the
prescribed wetting treatment has been carried out (see
Appendix E3) the test pieces are examined at every glue
line.
D.4 The mycological test. (Bondings BR and MR). The
test pieces are not less than 100 mm X 50 mm in size, and
two are taken from each of the boards used in the pre-
paration of the samples for the dry test (Appendix Dl).
After the prescribed mycological treatment has been
carried out (see Appendix E4) the test pieces are examined
at every glue line.
piece, which are without any form of coating or seaIing
likely to prevent or reduce the entry of water into the wood,
At the conclusion of the treatment, the test pieces are
immersed in water at normal room temperature until cool.
They are then knife-tested and the bond quality assessed
in accordance with Appendix C.
E.3 The wet test in water at 15°C (Bonding INT).
The test pieces prepared in accordance with Appendix D3
are immersed in water at normal room temperature for
not less than 16 and not more than 24 hours. During the
treatment, water has access to the surfaces and edges of
every piece, which are without any form of coating or
sealing likely to prevent or reduce the entry of water into
the wood.
E.4 The mycoIogical test. (Bondings BR and MR). The
test pieces prepared in accordance with Appendix D4 are
subjected to the treatment described in Appendix F. The
samples are without any form of coating or sealing on the
surfaces or edges, and have not either during or subsequent
to the manufacture of the blockboard been intentionally
put in contact with any substance likely to inhibit the
action of micro-organisms.
 APPENDIX F
MYCOLOGICAL TEST
A flat, rectangular dish of enamelled iron, glass or porcelain containing 13 oz domestic sugar (sucrose) to 1 litre of
(such as a photographic developing dish), is filled to a water so that the sawdust is saturated, but not so wet that
suitable depth with a layer of sawdust obtained from a free solution can be squeezed out of it by hand pressure.
perishable timber in its natural condition.* Immediately To attain this condition with dry sawdust it is usually
before use this sawdust is moistened with sugar solution necessary to add three times its weight of water.
The layer of sawdust is loosely compacted and the dry
*The following table gives short lists of suitable and unsuitable
timbers from which sawdust could be made: test pieces are then pressed down into it so that their
upper surfaces are level with the top of the sawdust layer.
Suitable 1 Unsuitable
The dish is then covered with a sheet of glass and the edges
of the dish sealed against the glass with a strip of material
Ash Chestnut such as modelling clay so that the atmosphere round the
Beech Gaboon test pieces will remain saturated.
Birch Larch
Obeche Oak The dish and contents are maintained at 25 1 "C
Poplar Teak for four weeks, after which the test pieces are removed,
Ramjn Western Red cedar
Willow ! washed in cold water until cool and examined immediately
by the method described in Appendix E.4.