Ask For OSB
Building News | August 2007
FROM: Editorial Feature Building News August 2007 Issue
“One tough board, lots of uses”
Orientated Strand Board (OSB) is fast becoming the panel of choice for a variety of construction projects thanks to its versatility, strength and quality credentials, and the JOSB Done industry campaign to promote its benefits to the trade.
OSB has been available in the UK for over twenty years and figures indicate that its popularity is growing at a rapid rate, with sales figures indicating that OSB consumption has more than doubled in the past 10 years worldwide.
This is positive news but research conducted by a consortium of experts in the field of OSB - manufacturers Norbord and SmartPly, resin supplier Huntsman and the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF) – discovered that the building trade is still largely unaware of the true potential of specifying OSB as a cost effective and often superior alternative to plywood.
Enter the ‘JOSB Done’ campaign. Starting out in 2006, the initiative had the clear aim of informing the trade of the wide range of benefits and applications of OSB within the majority of building projects. With a new creative approach for 2007, the campaign has certainly caused a stir.
With a fresh new message positioning OSB as a ‘Tough B***d’ that’s suitable for lots of jobs and a dedicated website – www.josbdone.com – featuring a wide range of information, this year’s campaign hopes to further increase industry awareness about the advantages OSB has to offer.
What is Oriented Strand Board?
Oriented Strand Board is an engineered wood fibre panel designed to be super strong, hardwearing and smooth whilst offering superior structural performance and consistent quality.
OSB in Use
Boasting strength, durability and consistent quality, OSB lends itself to a multitude of building applications, including:
- Wall sheathing
- Roof cladding
- Laying single-layer and sub-flooring
- Timber frame housing
- Shop fittings
- Hoardings
Why You Should Say Bye To Ply
Suitable for both structural and non-structural applications, OSB is a superior product to most plywoods, particularly those that do not carry the correct certified credentials. Panel for panel, OSB presents a cost-effective alternative to using plywood; easy to saw, drill, rout, sand, paint, glue and stain, OSB is reliable in all conditions.
OSB is also simple to specify, with two different types of OSB readily available from stockists, depending upon the requirements. OSB2 is suitable for load bearing applications and use in dry conditions, whilst OSB3 is the load bearing board that should be specified for outdoor jobs or where moisture may be present.
A Sustainable Future
Readily available from leading merchants and stockists, OSB is manufactured from wood sourced from sustainable forests in the UK and Ireland. These are independently certified to Forest Stewardship Council criteria by accredited independent auditors, meaning that timber used in production comes from forests where smaller trees are usually cut down to allow the bigger trees plenty of room to grow.
All panels manufactured in the British Isles and Ireland are fully certified and guaranteed to perform to CE, BBA and BSI standards, which means they are suitable for structural work to levels required by building regulations.
Ask For OSB
Alastair Kerr, Director General of the WPIF, comments on this year’s campaign:
“With OSB, you have a fully certified, sustainable material that can be applied to a variety of situations. The ‘on-the-job’ benefits of OSB really speak for themselves.
“The JOSB Done campaign to date has generated a wide range of interest from all sectors of the industry which is why we have decided to take a dedicated OSB stand at this year’s Interbuild. For anyone who wants to know more about the qualities and uses of OSB, stand L75in the Timber Zone is the stand to visit!”
To find out more about OSB and the JOSB Done 2007 campaign, visit www.josbdone.com or call the helpline on 0845 053 3277.
