An industry standard has been published specifying requirements and test methods for non-construction boards.
The standard IS(WPIF) 1/2002, published by the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF) in consultation with FIRA International, is aimed at particleboards, fibreboards and OSB supplied for the manufacture of free-standing furniture, kitchen and bedroom units and shop fittings.
It is designed to relieve manufacturers and suppliers of the need to observe the essential requirements of the European Construction Products Directive, which will usher in CE marking for construction panels from March 2003.
The standard provides a framework to ensure the product is fit for its intended purpose, using a simpler quality control system than the European standards stipulate for building products.
WPIF says the standard is voluntary and producers of both construction and non-construction panels may find it inconvenient to manage two specification and control systems in the same factory.
“Those whose systems lend themselves to a differentiation of product lines for the separate market sectors will find simplification benefits in the new industry standard,” it says.
The standard is also applicable to other panel applications such as packaging, toys, coffins or incorporation into vehicles.
