composite / Timber-Based Composite / Veneer-Based Panel
Plywood, structural, marine & formply grades (3mm-25mm)
Cross-laminated veneer panels used for structural sheathing and formwork, with properties dependent on species and grade.
Atlas code
COM-TBC-VBP-001
At-a-glance signals
Cross-laminated veneer panels used for structural sheathing and formwork, with properties dependent on species and grade.
Overview
Executive summary
Plywood is an engineered wood panel made from thin veneers bonded with alternating grain directions. Structural and marine grades are manufactured to performance standards and provide consistent strength and stiffness for sheathing, flooring, and formwork.
Best when…
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Excellent panel shear strength
- Cross-laminated stability
- Carbon negative (stores CO₂)
- 100% renewable resource
- FSC/PEFC certified options
- Wide thickness range available
- Suitable for all BAL zones with appropriate density
Top advantages
- 01 High strength-to-weight ratio
- 02 Excellent panel shear strength
- 03 Cross-laminated stability
- 04 Carbon negative (stores CO₂)
- 05 100% renewable resource
Top limitations
- 01 Requires edge sealing for exterior use
- 02 Preservative treatment needed for durability
- 03 Combustible material
- 04 Limited acoustic performance alone
- 05 Moisture sensitive without treatment
Technical
Physical ·8
- Density
- 400-600 kg/m3 Derived from specific gravity 0.4-0.6 in USDA FPL wood handbook.
- Specific gravity
- 0.4-0.6 USDA FPL wood handbook Table 12-1.
- Porosity
- 15 %
- Water absorption
- 12 %
- UV resistance
- low
- Chemical resistance
- moderate
- pH tolerance
- 5-9
- Surface roughness
- smooth µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 13 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 18 MPa
- Flexural strength
- 33.72-42.61 MPa USDA FPL wood handbook Table 12-1.
- Shear strength
- 2.2 MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.3
- Impact resistance
- high
- Creep resistance
- good
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·6
- Embodied carbon
- -3.18
- Carbon footprint
- -3.18
- Embodied energy
- 150 MJ/kg
- Recycled content
- 0
- Renewable content
- 100
- Circular score
- 85
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·4
- Combustibility class
- combustible
- Ignition temp
- 300 °C
- Flame spread index
- 7
- Smoke dev. index
- 4
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 24-54 // $/m²
- Material cost (per unit)
- 35
- Lead time
- 1-3 days stock
- Lifecycle cost
- 85
- Annual maintenance
- 2
- Market availability
- excellent
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 30
- Maintenance interval
- 5
- Warranty period
- 5
Layer D
Where it's used
Structural flooring systems
Shear walls and bracing
Roof sheathing
Concrete formwork
Marine construction
Furniture and joinery
Portal frame gussets
Temporary structures