Photo: Kelly

Is OSB a load bearing?

OSB is a material with favorable mechanical properties that make it particularly suitable for load-bearing applications in construction. It is now more popular than plywood, commanding 66% of the North American structural panel market. The most common uses are as sheathing in walls, flooring, and roof decking.

en.wikipedia.org - Oriented strand board - Wikipedia

How do you ground and bond a metal building?

You may want to install two (2) rods, one each at opposite corners of the building. Bond the steel frame directly to the ground rods using a solid...

Last updated Nov 12, 2022

Can you install insulation wrong?

You could do it wrong If you aren't a trained insulation installation professional, there is a good chance that you could end up installing your...

Last updated Jul 21, 2018

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Engineered wood particle board

OSB is easily identifiable by its characteristic wood strands.

Oriented strand board (OSB) is a type of engineered wood similar to particle board, formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands (flakes) in specific orientations. It was invented by Armin Elmendorf in California in 1963.[1] OSB may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips of around 2.5 cm × 15 cm (1.0 by 5.9 inches), lying unevenly across each other, and is produced in a variety of types and thicknesses.

Uses [ edit ]

OSB is frequently used in light steel frame house construction.

OSB is a material with favorable mechanical properties that make it particularly suitable for load-bearing applications in construction.[2] It is now more popular than plywood, commanding 66% of the North American structural panel market.[3] The most common uses are as sheathing in walls, flooring, and roof decking. For exterior wall applications, panels are available with a radiant-barrier layer laminated to one side; this eases installation and increases energy performance of the building envelope. OSB is also used in furniture production.

Manufacturing [ edit ]

OSB in production before pressing in a thermal press

Oriented strand board is manufactured in wide mats from cross-oriented layers of thin, rectangular wooden strips compressed and bonded together with wax and synthetic resin adhesives. The adhesive resins types used include: urea-formaldehyde (OSB type 1, nonstructural, nonwaterproof); isocyanate-based glue (or PMDI poly-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate based) in inner regions with melamine-urea-formaldehyde or phenol formaldehyde resin glues at surface (OSB type 2, structural, water resistant on face); phenol formaldehyde resin throughout (OSB types 3 and 4, structural, for use in damp and outside environments).[4] The layers are created by shredding the wood into strips, which are sifted and then oriented on a belt or wire-mesh caul (a heated, ventilated support) and coated with the resin.[5] The layers thus built up are transferred to a forming line and cross-orientated so that strips on the external layers are aligned to the panel's strength axis, while the internal layers are perpendicular.[6] The number of layers placed is determined partly by the thickness of the panel, but is limited by the equipment installed at the manufacturing site. Individual layers can also vary in thickness to give different finished panel thicknesses (typically, a 15 cm (5.9 in) layer will produce a 15 mm (0.59 in) panel thickness[citation needed]). The mat is placed in a thermal press to compress the flakes and bond them by heat activation and curing of the resin that has been coated on the flakes. Individual panels are then cut from the mats into finished sizes. Most of the world's OSB is made in the United States and Canada in large production facilities.

Related products [ edit ]

What do shed kits come with?

All kits include: Floor, walls, trusses, door(s), trim, roof sheeting, roofing materials (shingles, drip edge and underlayment) and all door...

Last updated Feb 11, 2019

Can I convert my garage into a room myself?

Permission isn't usually required for a garage conversion, provided the work is internal and doesn't involve enlarging the building. However, you...

Last updated Oct 27, 2020

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Materials other than wood have been used to produce products similar to OSB. Oriented structural straw board is an engineered board made by splitting straw and formed by adding P-MDI adhesives and then hot compressing layers of straw in specific orientations.[7] Strand board can also be made from bagasse.

Production [ edit ]

In 2005, Canadian production was 10,500,000 m2 (113,000,000 sq ft) (3⁄8 in or 9.53 mm basis) of which 8,780,000 m2 (94,500,000 sq ft) ( 3⁄8 in or 9.53 mm) were exported, almost entirely to the United States.[8] In 2014, Romania became the largest OSB exporting country in Europe, with 28% of the exports going to Russia and 16% to Ukraine.[9]

Properties [ edit ]

OSB, closeup of corner

Adjustments to the manufacturing process can affect thickness, panel size, strength, and rigidity. OSB panels have no internal gaps or voids, and can be water-resistant, although they do require additional membranes to achieve impermeability to water and are not recommended for exterior use. The finished product has properties similar to plywood, but is uniform and cheaper.[10] However, in 2021 the price spiked 5 to 600% going from under $10 to near $50 per 4x8 sheet for 7/16" nominal, before correcting into 2022. When tested to failure, OSB has a greater load-bearing capacity than milled wood panels.[11] It has replaced plywood in many environments, especially the North American structural panel market. While OSB does not have a continuous grain like a natural wood, it does have an axis along which its strength is greatest. This can be seen by observing the alignment of the surface wood chips. All wood-based structural use panels can be cut and installed with the same types of equipment as for solid wood.

Health and safety [ edit ]

The resins used to create OSB have raised questions regarding the potential for OSB to emit volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde. Urea-formaldehyde is more toxic and should be avoided in home use. Phenol-formaldehyde products are considered to be relatively hazard-free. Some newer types of OSB, so-called "new-generation" OSB panels, use isocyanate resins that do not contain formaldehyde and are considered nonvolatile when cured.[12] Industry trade groups assert that formaldehyde emissions from North American OSB are "negligible or nonexistent".[13] Some manufacturers treat the wood chips with various borate compounds that are toxic to termites, wood-boring beetles, molds, and fungi, but not mammals in applied doses.

Is uPVC better than wood?

Contrary to wooden windows, uPVC windows are weather resistant. They do not rot, warp or fade and once installed they will last you for decades....

Last updated Jan 2, 2018

How can I save money building a deck?

8 Tips for Saving Money on Getting a Deck Built Type of Deck. One of the first items of business before building a deck is to ask yourself what it...

Last updated Aug 3, 2018

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Types [ edit ]

Five grades of OSB are defined in EN 300 in terms of their mechanical performance and relative resistance to moisture:[2]

OSB/0 – No added formaldehyde

OSB/1 – General-purpose boards and boards for interior fitments (including furniture) for use in dry conditions

OSB/2 – Load-bearing boards for use in dry conditions

OSB/3 – Load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions

OSB/4 – Heavy-duty load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions

en.wikipedia.org - Oriented strand board - Wikipedia

What does CDX mean?

What is CDX? CDX is veneer plywood, which is manufactured by gluing and pressing together sheets of wood. The letters C and D represent the grades...

Last updated Nov 4, 2018

What is the maximum width of a handicap ramp?

Ramp ADA Requirements Ramp Width – 48 inches of clear space between handrails. Ramp Rise – The rise for any single ramp run shall be 30 inches...

Last updated Apr 24, 2022

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

What makes a shed permanent?

Materials. A temporary structure typically uses wood-based materials, making the building easier to relocate. Stronger materials, such as steel and...

Last updated Sep 15, 2022

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Can you build a house without digging foundation?

So, Can You Build a House Without a Foundation? The simple answer is that of course, you can — as long as you don't need it to stand for long....

Last updated Sep 4, 2020