Panels & Doors Guide

Glossary
Glossary
balancer
A balancing back of equal or similar density to face
veneer to prevent warpage by moisture and/or pulling.
The balancer can be of any species and grade.
bM Trada Q-MarK
By specifying or selecting a Q-Marked product
you can be assured that it has demonstrated the
required performance levels through independent
accredited testing or appraisal and that every product
manufactured offers the same level of performance
through an approved quality management system.
bre
Building Research Establishment.
breeaM
Building Research Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method. A scheme to award points for
environmental good practice in buildings other than
houses. These points result in a building rating from
Good to Excellent. This is applicable in England only.
North America has a similar scheme called LEED.
bs
British Standards is the UK’s National Standards
Body (NSB). It works with manufacturing and service
industries, businesses, governments and consumers
to facilitate the production of British, European and
international standards.
bwF
British Woodworking Federation.
carb 2 compliant
The Californian Air Resources Board CARB system
(which measures airborne emissions rather than the
amount of the formaldehyde in the board) is emerging
as the standard in the marketplace. The CARB 2
regulation will establish the toughest production
standards in the world for formaldehyde emissions
from composite wood panels.
ce Mark
Certificate European. All wood based panels intended
for use in construction must be CE-marked in
accordance with EN 13986.
ce2+
CE2+ is awarded to plywood which has normally
undergone Attestation System 2+ demonstrating
it is suitable for use in structural applications. An
independent organisation must test products to
ensure they conform to this guarantee.
ce4+
The CE4+ mark demonstrates that all tests for nonstructural
use have been conducted. No independent
organisation is involved with these tests.
chain of custody (coc)
A generic phrase for systems that allow traceability
of wood through the supply chain to the forest
of origination.
cpd
Construction Products Directive (CPD) is a European
legal framework regulating building products are
fit for their purpose in terms of their technical
performance. A product is CPD compliant if the
manufacturer has successfully completed all the
relevant performance tests.
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cpeT
Central Point of Expertise on Timber. CPET advises
the Government on timber procurement in the
public sector.
crown cut
A veneer which gives a more figured face, produced
from flat slicing.
csa
Canadian Standards Association – A North American
certification scheme.
delamination
Separation of veneers from substrate through failure
of the bond.
density
The amount of compression of boards equates to kg
per m³, e.g. 630D, 720D.
doorblank
A doorblank is a thick panel usually 45 or 54mm
thick which can be trimmed and lipped to produce a
finished door. They are normally a solid and timber
or solid chipboard core faced with either plywood or
MDF ready for finishing.
durability
Natural durability is the inherent resistance of wood
to attack by wood destroying organisms.
euroclass b
The highest level of reaction to fire performance of
which wood based panels are capable.
euroclass c
An intermediate level of reaction to fire performance
of which wood based panels are capable.
Fire resistance / Fire retardant
A measure of the ability of a product, when part of
a complete structure, to prevent the passage of fire
from one area of a building to another. Panel product
fire resistance is identified under the Euroclass B &
C system, whereas doors are normally measured in
units of half hour.
Fd30
Fire Door 30 – this identifies the door as guaranteeing
to prevent the passage of fire from one area of a
building to another for 30 minutes, when part of a
complete structure. This is certified under the BM
TRADA Q Mark Third party certification scheme.
Fd60
Fire Door 60 – this identifies the door as guaranteeing
to prevent the passage of fire from one area of a
building to another for 60 minutes, when part of a
complete structure. This is certified under the BM
TRADA Q Mark Third party certification scheme.
Fsc
Forest Stewardship Council – An international
certification scheme.
harmonised standard
A principle European standard, made by CEN in
accordance with a mandate from the European
commission, consolidating the harmonised European
requirements of a defined building product or group of
building products. In the case of wood based panels,
the Harmonised Standard is EN 13986.
iwsc
Institute of Wood Science.
leed
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The
Green Building Rating System developed by the US
Green Building Council to provide a suite of standards
for environmentally sustainable construction. This is
the equivalent to England’s BREEAM scheme.
Mr
Moisture Resistant – MR boards are treated to protect
the product against moisture and high humidity so are
suitable for use in these environments.
MTcc
Malaysian Timber Council Certification – A Malaysian
certification scheme.
peFc
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification – An international certification scheme.
Quarter cut
A veneer with a straight grain face produced by
quarter slicing.
sFi
Sustainable Forest Initiative – A North American
certification scheme.
sheet length
Dimension in the direction of the grain of the face of
the sheet.
sheet width
Dimension perpendicular to the direction of the grain
of the face of the sheet.
substrate
Base panel onto which veneer layons are applied.
Tdca
Timber Decking and Cladding Association.
The building regulations
A set of rules governing the selection of materials
and the standard of workmanship in the construction
of building in England and Wales. These rules are
regulated and enforced by the Building Control service.
Trada
Timber Research and Development Association.
wbp
Weather and boil proof plywood is suitable for
exterior environments. They are manufactured with
water resistant adhesives and can resist a certain
amount of moisture. WBP plywood requires paint or
varnish to protect the outer veneer from the elements.