| BS 1088 Marine Plywood standard to be withdrawn |
| It is a requirement of the
British standards authority that standards be reviewed and updated on a regular
basis for appropriateness in the current marketplace (B/541 Technical
Committee). Changes in production and suitability in the standards criteria are
typical areas for consideration. However the responsibility for this review is in the hands of the Timber industry who have had little encouragement from the Marine Trade as to the benefits of the reviewing this 1966 standard. Does the Marine Trade still require high quality plywood which has third party criteria and standards procedures for production? Will the Marine Industry contribute towards the costs of a review to procedures? Would Lloyds issue Type Approval to plywood produced to another standard of lesser integrity? What are the options? In Holland producers have opted for a "guaranteed" plywood for marine or construction use. This can give a 10 - 20 year guarantee which is insured and will have an additional cost (20%+) depending on the lengh of guarantee required. This guarantees, in effect, against delamination and replacement but not consequential loss (this would cost considerably more If available). It would indicate that the product is "guaranteeable" suggesting a well produced plywood but would not indicate its production criteria or comparability with other "guaranteed" panals. This could lead to a wide range of plywood products being offered, from many countries with a multitude of different production methods with no standard for reference. The "guarantees" could be placed with a host of Insurance companies without any real assurance of how that guarantee will perform in the event of a claim. You pay your money, you take your choice. It is now the time for the marine industry voice to be heard. Do you want BS 1088 or will you accept "guaranteed" marine grade plywood? Please email your comments to the editor@marineply.com. Editors comment - The Marine Industry needs the assurance that plywood produced for boatbuilding is of the highest standard to meet the exacting requirements of this speciality market. Whether "guaranteed" plywood will replace the accepted integrity that BS1088 offered is questionable and should be debated by the industry and its representative trade associations. If it is decided that BS1088 should not be reviewed and updated then the marine trade will need to work closely with its suppliers to establish a new criteria for boatbuilding plywood without the discipline of a British Standard.
NPPD will not fund revision - Timber and Wood Products 27 May 2000 The BSI Technical Committee B/541 - Wood Based Panels, comprising of the Ministry of Defence, Lloyds Register of Shipping, British Plywood and Veneer Manufacturers Association, British Marine Industries Federation, BRE, TRADA, APA, COFI have now received the response from the NPPD Timber Trade Federation. "The NPPD executive has decided not to fund a revision" stated NPPD chairman Malcolm Cowley. "This standard will probably be made obsolete" claimed Cowley, "but it will still exist as a historical document for those who may wish to produce, supply and use plywood to this standard. Specifiers and users of any product should ensure that they are fully protected by assurances, standards and warranties from known and respected sources."
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