This document specifies test methods for determining some mechanical properties of commercial wood-based panel products for use in load-bearing timber structures. These properties are intended for the calculation of characteristic values for use in obtaining material design values.
For each type and grade of load-bearing panel product, as defined in the Harmonised Standard for wood-based panels (EN 13986), it is necessary to determine characteristic values of mechanical properties to enable it to be used for structural purposes. This document details the testing required to establish characteristic values. The tests need only be carried out once for each product, unless there is a reason to suspect a significant change has occurred in the properties of the product.
NOTE For certain types and grades of panel, characteristic values are given in EN 12369 and these may be used for appropriate panels without further testing to this document.
This document is not intended to be used for quality control testing, for which smaller test pieces than specified herein, are adequate.
Due to the limited experience in use, the test method for compression perpendicular to the plane of the panel (bearing) is included in Annex D (informative).