about marine plywood

Marine plywood
COMPENSATI TORO S.p.A. via Piverone, 4 - 10010 AZEGLIO (TO) - ITALY
tel.: (+39)0125687999 - fax: (+39)0125687979 – e.mail: info@compensatitoro.com - web: www.compensatitoro.com
To be classified as "marine” plywood must satisfy both the following
requirements:
1. a natural durability of the wood that makes it sufficiently resistant to
fungal decay, namely the agents of biodegradation most dangerous and
diffuse in the service conditions where the panel is normally used;
2. a bonding quality that can withstand the negative consequences of
any changes in moisture and climatic/environmental stresses related to
its installation.
On request, panels can be overlaid with decorative sliced veneers (also
in thicknesses up to 25/10 mm) or can be made with holly inlay (in white
painted wood or black rubber stripes).
There are also available composite panels (in sandwich structure) made
with core of PVC, polystyrene or other materials with higher thermoinsulating properties, which presents good stiffness and very low
density. These panels are an adequate solution for realizing floors, walls,
partitions, doors and ventilated roofing systems.
The first property is determined by specific test protocols and it is
expressed by the assignment of a class that can range from 1 (for the
most durable timbers) to 5 (for those easily perishables). The standard
EN 350-2 gives the classification of natural durability for the solid wood
of the main timbers used in Europe.
Bonding quality is instead ensured by the adoption of a melamine or
phenol-formaldehyde adhesive and is checked through specific
laboratory tests (according to the methods specified in EN 314) after a
pre-treatment of the specimens of 72 hours in boiling water.
Typically, the marine plywood is also characterized by a high number
of layers that improves the dimensional stability and makes it more
uniform in terms of resistances in the plane of the panel and in its two
main grain directions.
All of these special features give to the panel the ability to be used for
furniture and other components in the marine industry and for several
applications in construction.
The wood species most commonly used in the production of marine
plywood are the Okoumé, the African mahogany (Khaya, Sapele and
Sipo) and Teak (this latter is mainly used as decorative sliced veneer,
for overlaying panels of the above species).
Marine plywood manufactured at
Compensati TORO is certified by
RINA (the Italian Shipping Register),
with document N. DIP060908CS.
Its technical properties are also
certified by Lloyd’s Register (with
document n° 05/00038) according to
BS1088-1:2003, which is the best
known international reference for
this type of product.
Moreover this plywood complies
with the standard EN 13986 relating
to the CE marking of wood-based
panels for construction.
All marine plywood are made by
thermo-setting resins with very low
formaldehyde emission, and are
then suitable for use in confined
environments or service situation
that promote its release.
The certification of the Quality Management System acquired by the
company in accordance to ISO 9001:00 is an additional guarantee of
reliability for the plywood supplied.
Marine plywood with faces on rotary cut or sliced veneers of Okoumé, Sapele and Teak
The Okoumé (Aucumea klaineana) is easy to work, has a rosy color, is a
light wood and presents a natural durability of class 4.
Khaya (Khaya sp.) and Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) are
African timber belonging to the group of mahogany; they show a nice
decorative appearance (the Sapele also a specific smell), are reddish in
color and have a natural durability relating to class 3.
The manufacturing process concerns the entire production cycle, starting
from logs suitable for rotary cutting. This allows the factory to realize
panels with different size, in order to satisfy special requirements of the
customers. It is also available a wide stock of veneers and other semifinished wood-based materials, that are particularly important for
reducing the delivery time of standard panels.
Marine plywood manufactured by Compensati TORO consists of selected
veneers: those used for the external layers are of the classes I-II/II
(formerly AB/B) of surface appearance (according to the standard EN
635), while those that compose the inner layers have their longitudinal
edges glue joined, so that the final panel do not shows any gaps or
discontinuities. The thickness ranges from 4 to 50 mm.
In some cases the panels can be either produced in a mixed composition
with different wood species or with Okoumé faces and the inner plies of
other rotary cut veneers but at least of the same class of durability. When
the weight is a critical factor, that combination may be specifically
targeted to obtain a panel of lower average density.
Marine plywood is one of the
wood-based
panels
most
technically interesting, valuable
and durable. Its performances
make it particularly suitable for all
exposures in which severe and
moist operating conditions are
such
as
floors,
expected,
partitions, curtain walls and
furniture of pleasure craft. For its
specific
features
and
nice
appearance this plywood is also
a suitable material for windows,
doors or other components for
construction. A specific example
is the use of marine plywood to
realize
the
typical
external
shutters which are very popular
in the area of Venice in Italy.