GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD

Type of Plywood: FILM FACED SHUTTERING PLYWOOD

Designation: CSFF as per IS 4990 : Plywood for Concrete Shuttering Works - Specification

CHECK IF FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FURNISHED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY:

S.No. Parameter Details to be checked & Requirements

1 Manufacturer's test certificate (MTC)
2 Lot or batch number
3 Size of plywood
4 Density or mass per sqm of plywood
5 Type of adhesive used in the manufacture
6 Type of preservative used
7 Type of material used for surface coating
8 Proof of product certification or license from BIS
9 Thickness of face veneer
10 Proof of BIS certification for ECO-Mark, if opted for
Check if is for delivered lot/batch no.
Note & check if plywood from same lot/batch is
delivered to any other project in the region
Check if it is as given in our purchase order
Minimum density in dry condition: 650 kg/cum
It shall be hot press synthetic resin (phenol form-
aldehyde) type & confirm to BWP type as per IS 848
It shall have a copper-chrome-arsenic (CCA), copper-
chrome-boron (CCB) or acid-copper-chrome (ACC)
composition with a minimum retention of 12 kg/cum
It shall be phenol formaldehyde resin, applied at a
minimum of 100 gm/sqm, subsequently cured with
heat & pressure
Product must be certified with ISI mark on each board
It shall be a minimum 1.2 mm
Note for records

Stores Incharge shall check if all above information is furnished by the vendor for each lot received at the site and
whether it is in line with above requirements.

If all parameters are not in line with above requirements, Regional QA/QC Head be contacted for further guidance.

If all parameters are in line with above requirements, Stores Incharge will inform the QA/QC Manager/Engineer, who
shall initiate further inspection and testing as per the guidelines given below:

FREQUENCY OF SAMPLING FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD (AS PER IS 7638):

Min. No. of Boards Min. No. of Boards Max. Allowed Defective No. of
S.No. No. of Boards in a Lot/Batch
as a Sample as a sub-sample Boards in the Lot/Batch

1 Upto 50 5 1 0
2 51 to 150 8 2 0
3 151 to 300 13 2 0
4 301 to 500 20 3 0
5 501 to 1000 32 4 1
6 1001 to 3000 50 5 2
Note: 1. A sample constitutes the no. of boards drawn from the lot/batch for visual & physical inspection
2. A sub-sample constitutes the no. of boards drawn out of the sample for laboratory testing
3. A method of simple random sampling as given in IS 4905 may be followed to extract representative no. of samples
from the lot/batch. If boards are stacked properly, systematic sampling can be done wherein every R th board will
constitute a sample. R = N / n, where N is the total no. of boards in the lot and n is the no. of boards required in a
sample.
4. Board/s, not meeting a single characteristic/ requirement in these guidelines, shall be considered 'Defective'

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 GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD
INSPECTION FOR WORKMANSHIP AND FINISH:
Every board drawn as a sample from the lot/batch shall be visually and physically inspected to ensure compliance
with following requirements specified in IS 4990.
Visual inspection:
a. Surface Finish: The plywood shall be of uniform color, smooth & dense. It shall not have blisters or patch marks
b. Edges: Edges shall be of smooth uniform finish
Physical Inspection:
a. No. of plies vis-à-vis thickness of the board:
Thickness in mm Minimum No. of Plies
Upto 5 mm 3
6 to 9 mm 5
12 mm 7
16 to 19 mm 9
22 mm & above 10 or more

b. Size & Dimensions: Size of the boards shall be as given in the purchase order
Dimensions shall be within tolerances given below:
Dimension Tolerance
Length - 0 to + 6 mm
Width - 0 to + 3 mm
Thickness
Plywood thickness upto 5 mm + / - 10 %
Plywood thickness of 6 mm & above +/-5%
Edge Straightness 2 mm / 1000 mm or 2%
Squareness 2 mm / 1000 mm or 2%

A lot/batch, having higher no. of defective boards than the limits above, shall be rejected.

A lot/batch, having defective no. of boards within the acceptable limits, shall be tested further.

LABORATORY TESTING:
Laboratory testing shall be carried out only if representative sample satisfies all criteria for workmanship & finish.
Every sub-sample, extracted from the sample of the lot/batch, shall be tested to ascertain compliance as below:
Testing No. of Pieces to be
Test Requirement
Specification tested
Moisture Content IS 1734 - Part 1 3 specimen from 5 to 15 %
each board in sub-
Density IS 1734 - Part 1 sample Minimum 650 kg/Cum

After boiling for 72 hours,

IS 1734 - Part 6 6 specimen / sub- plywood should not show
(Boiling Water Test) sample softening, cracking, delamination
& deterioration of surface layer
Or
Resistance to Water Test
After applying constant steam
IS 4990 - Annex D pressure of 220 kPa for 6 hours,
6 specimen / sub-
(Vacuum Steam plywood should not show
sample
Pressure Test) softening, cracking, delamination
& deterioration of surface layer
Note: 1. Moisture content & density tests shall be carried out at project laboratory
2. Resistance to water test can be carried out either at a project laboratory or at an approved external laboratory, as
directed by Regional QA/QC Head.

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 GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD

ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF A LOT/BATCH OF PLYWOOD CAN BE ON THE BASIS OF COMPLIANCE TO THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKMANSHIP, FINISH & LABORATORY TESTS ON PAGE 2.

If plywood in the lot/batch is satisfying above requirements, specimen samples be sent to an external laboratory to
test/ ascertain other properties of the plywood as below:

1. Glue shear strength in dry state as per IS 1734 (Part 4)

2. Adhesion of plies in dry state as per IS 1734 (Part 5)

3. Tensile strength as per IS 1734 (Part 9)

4. Static bending strength in dry & wet state as per IS 1734 (Part 11)

If any of the above properties do not comply with minimum requirements specified in IS 4990, Regional QA/QC Head
be informed immediately. He/she shall then analyse test results & compare with other lots received from same
manufacturer across other projects and regions in past 6 months. Manufacturer/ supplier shall also be informed &
warned. In case of repeated non-compliance, further decision to stop procurement and blacklist such manufacturer/
supplier shall be taken after discussions with Head - Quality Assurance & Control.

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 GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD

Type of Plywood: RESIN TREATED COMPRESSED PLYWOOD

Designation: Medium Density Compreg (Grade GM/Type VI) as per IS 3513, Part 3:
Specification For Resin Treated Compressed Wood Laminates (COMPREGS) for General Purposes

CHECK IF FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FURNISHED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY:

S.No. Parameter Details to be checked & Requirements

1 Manufacturer's certificate Undertaking for conformance to IS 3513, Part 3

2 Lot or batch number
3 Size of plywood
4 Type of resin used for bonding & impregnation
5 Type of Finishing
6 Type of material used for protective coating
7 Proof of product certification or license from BIS
9 Proof of BIS certification for ECO-Mark, if opted for
Note & check if plywood from same lot/batch is
delivered to any other project in the region
Check if it is as given in our purchase order
It shall be thermosetting phenol or cresol form-
aldehyde) type & confirm to IS 848
Note if platten finished or machine finished
It shall be a varnish as per IS 524 & IS 525
Product must be certified with ISI mark on each board
Note for records

Stores Incharge shall check if all above information is furnished by the vendor for each lot received at the site and
whether it is in line with above requirements.

If all parameters are not in line with above requirements, Regional QA/QC Head be contacted for further guidance.

If all parameters are in line with above requirements, Stores Incharge will inform the QA/QC Manager/Engineer, who
shall initiate further inspection and testing as per the guidelines given below:

FREQUENCY OF SAMPLING FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD (AS PER IS 7638 : 1999):

Min. No. of Boards Min. No. of Boards Max. Allowed Defective No. of
S.No. No. of Boards in a Lot/Batch
as a Sample as a sub-sample Boards in the Lot/Batch

1 Upto 50 5 1 0
2 51 to 150 8 2 0
3 151 to 300 13 2 0
4 301 to 500 20 3 0
5 501 to 1000 32 4 1
6 1001 to 3000 50 5 2
Note: 1. A sample constitutes the no. of boards drawn from the lot/batch for visual & physical inspection
2. A sub-sample constitutes the no. of boards drawn out of the sample for laboratory testing
3. A method of simple random sampling as given in IS 4905 may be followed to extract representative no. of samples
from the lot/batch. If boards are stacked properly, systematic sampling can be done wherein every R th board will
constitute a sample. R = N / n, where N is the total no. of boards in the lot and n is the no. of boards required in a
sample.
4. Board/s, not meeting a single characteristic/ requirement in these guidelines, shall be considered 'Defective'

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 GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PLYWOOD

INSPECTION FOR WORKMANSHIP AND FINISH:

Every board drawn as a sample from the lot/batch shall be visually and physically inspected to ensure compliance
with following requirements specified in IS 3513, Part 3.

Visual inspection:
a. Surface Finish: The plywood shall be free from warps, blisters, splits, discoloration, overlaps, gaps & open joints
b. Edges: Edges shall have smooth uniform finish with protective coating

Physical Inspection:
Size & Dimensions: Size of the boards shall be as given in the purchase order
Dimensions shall be within tolerances given below:
Dimension Tolerance
Length - 0 to + 6 mm
Width - 0 to + 3 mm
Thickness
Plywood thickness upto 5 mm + / - 10 %
Plywood thickness of 6 mm & above +/-5%
Edge Straightness 2 mm / 1000 mm or 2%
Squareness 2 mm / 1000 mm or 2%

A lot/batch, having higher no. of defective boards than the limits above, shall be rejected.

A lot/batch, having defective no. of boards within the acceptable limits, shall be tested further.

LABORATORY TESTING:
Laboratory testing shall be carried out only if representative sample satisfies all criteria for workmanship & finish.
A minimum of 3 no. of specimen of required sizes, extracted from the subsample, shall be tested to ascertain
compliance as below:
Testing
S.No. Test Requirement
Specification
1 Moisture Content & Volatile matter IS 1708 - Part 1 6 to 12 %
2 Specific Gravity IS 1708 - Part 2 0.95 to 1.25
3 Tensile Strength IS 1734 - Part 9 Minimum 59 MPa
4 Static Bending Strength IS 1998 Minimum 59 MPa
5 Compressive Strength
Parallel to Laminae IS 1708 - Part 8 & 9 Minimum 75 MPa
Perpendicular to Laminae Minimum 130 MPa
6 Hardness (Rockwell 'H' scale) IS 1586 Minimum 60
7 Impact Strength (unnotched sample)
Perpendicular to Laminae IS 1998 Minimum 0.2 kgm/sqcm
Parallel to Laminae Minimum 0.5 kgm/sqcm
Note: All above tessts are to be carried out at an external laboratory, as directed by Regional QA/QC Head.

ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF A LOT/BATCH OF PLYWOOD HAS TO BE ON THE BASIS OF COMPLIANCE TO ALL

ABOVE REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKMANSHIP, FINISH & PROPERTIES AS TESTED IN LABORATORY.
If any of the above properties do not comply with minimum specified requirements, Regional QA/QC Head be
informed immediately. He/she shall then analyse test results & compare with other lots received from same
manufacturer across other projects and regions in past 6 months. Manufacturer/ supplier shall also be informed &
warned. In case of repeated non-compliance, further decision to stop procurement and blacklist such manufacturer/
supplier shall be taken after discussions with Head - Quality Assurance & Control.
--------- End of Guidelines ---------

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