DOC. NO.

AGENDA ITEM

05

5.1

STATUS OF STANDARDS, TECHNICAL REGULATION, AND

CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT FOR WOOD-BASED
PRODUCTS
- MALAYSIA -

THE 3rd ACCSQ-WB PWG MEETING

Bangkok, Thailand, 15-16 December 2005

Exchange of Information on the progress report of ASEAN member countries

in the wood-based sector

MALAYSIA
1. OVERVIEW OF WOOD-BASED INDUSTRIES
The timber industry in Malaysia continues to play an important role in the socioeconomic development of the country. It is a major contributor to the countrys
export earnings and provides employment opportunities. The Malaysian timber
industry, recognised as one of the oldest manufacturing industries in Malaysia, has
grown tremendously in the past decades and now encompasses a wide range of
activities from sawmilling, secondary processing to tertiary processing.
Exports of wood and wood-based products in 2004 was RM 19.78 billion registering an
increase of 18.9 percent from the previous year. Plywood and furniture products
were the growth drivers of the industry despite increasing competition. These two
products accounted for more than half of all receipts from Malaysias timber industry
exports.
The private sectors participation, backed by the governments facilitating role has
greatly contributed to the development of timber industry in Malaysia. Nevertheless,
the industry is at threshold of a period of tremendous challenges and changes.
As the industry moves towards a global economy, the concept of standardization
has become a critical business issue with tremendous implications for enhancing
competitiveness. In this context, the Government has identified the development of
standards as one of the specific measures that has to be given priority to further
enhance the development of the timber industry in Malaysia.
2. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
The Department of Standards (DSM) under the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation Malaysia, is the national standardization and accreditation body. The
main function of DSM is to foster and promote standards, standardization and
accreditation as a means of advancing the national economy, promoting industrial
efficiency and development, ensuring the health and safety of the public, protecting
the consumers, facilitating domestic and international trade and further international
co-operation in relation to standards and standardization.
The DSM has appointed SIRIM Berhad as the national standards development
agency. Standards are developed by Technical Committees which oversee,
monitor and advise Working Groups formed under the purview of these Committees.
Members of these Committees comprise representatives from relevant-government
agencies, timber trade associations and institutions of higher learning as well as
interested parties. These Committees are responsible and report the the relevant
Industrial Standard Committees in SIRIM Berhad.
In an effort to further enhance the use of Malaysian Standards, the DSM has
formulated a National Standards and Strategy Plan (NSSAP) to provide common

approach and understanding amongst all stakeholders. Among the strategies

outlined in the document are to have a wider adoption of Malaysian Standards in
technical regulations, and to bring about greater awareness and usage of Malaysian
Standards by the Government, private sector and the consumers in procurement,
trade, production, manufacturing and provision of services.
With regard to timber industry, SIRIM Berhad had appointed the Malaysian Timber
Industry Board (MTIB) as the Standards Writing Organisation to underake
development of standards on timber and timber products. MTIB also participates
actively in various standards development activities at the international level.
Currently, there are more than 60 Malaysian standards related to timber and its
process. These standards were designed and developed in such a way that they are
in alignment and in conformity with the relevant international standards.
The wider adoption of Malaysian Standards as mandatory standards contributes
towards the protection of the safety and health of consumers and the environment
as well as the strengthening of the national standardization infrastructure. However,
for the wood-based sector, currently, the adoption or application of the
requirements of Malaysian Standards is voluntary.
3. DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS STATUS OF STANDARD AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
a. Current National Standards in the wood-based sector
Please refer to Annex 1.
b. Status of implementation for each national standards
Generally, Malaysian Standards are used in many forms eg. in procurement
documents, in specifying requirements for trade, in ascertaining quality levels of
products in manufacturing and service provision and as a vehicle for technology
transfer. They act as a strategies tool for the export of Malaysian products and
services because it is a policy that Malaysian Standards be aligned to
international standards.
The success of standardization, particularly in the area of wood-based products;
depends on the support by stakeholders.
With a strong support, the
implementation and application of standards will be enhanced.
c. Review status (revision/adoption/amendment) of each national standards
Generally, Malaysian standards are developed in alignment with international
standards.
To ensure that Malaysian Standards remain relevant, regular and
periodic reviews of standards are undertaken. Standards are subject to revision
after 5 years of publication.
d. Existing and new National policy which may influence this sector
The DSM, through the NSSAP; encourages use of technical regulations to
implement national standard. However, this idea is still at an infant stage.

4. TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
a. Name of regulation in the wood-based sector, including the status and the issuant
institutions.
Please refer to 3(d) above.
b. Brief
of
relevant
regulations,
including
implementation of mandatory standards.

reference/background

and

Please refer to 3(d) above.

c. Any regulation that affects the wood-based sector.
Some technical regulations imposed on exports of Malaysian timber such as
Japan :

Building Standard Law with regards to formaldehyde emission (the

requirements of JAS/JIS)
European Union:

Construction Product Directive, which require CE Marking of certain

products.
5. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
Malaysia is actively working with the Japanese authorities for the accreditation of
relevant agencies in Malaysia as Registered Foreign Certification Organisation
(RFCO), to facilitate and assist the manufacturers and exporters of wood based
panel products.

Annex 1
LIST OF MALAYSIAN STANDARDS RELATED TO TIMBER & TIMBER PRODUCTS
A. PANEL PRODUCTS
1.

MS 228: 1991
Specification for Plywood

2.

MS 471: Part 1: 2001

Glossary Of Terms Relating To Timber And Wood-based Panel Products
Part 1: Characteristics and properties of timber (First Revision)

3.

MS 471: Part 2 : 2003

Glossary Of Terms Relating To Timber And Wood-based Panel Products
Part 2: Wood-based Panel Products

4.

MS 471: Part 3: 2003

Glossary Of Terms Relating To Timber And Wood-based Panel Products
Part 3 : Carpentary, Joinery And Furniture

5.

MS 544: 2001
Code of Practice for The Structural Use Of Timber
Part 4 : Timber panel products
Section 1 : Structural plywood
Section 2 : Marine plywood
Section 3 : Cement bonded particleboard
Section 4 : Oriented strand board
Part12 : Laminated veneer lumber for structural application

6.

MS 908: 1984
Specification For Synthetic Resin Adhesives (Phenolic And Aminoplastic) For Plywood

7.

MS 934: 1986
Specification For Wood Cement Boards

8.

MS 1036: 1986
Specification For Wood Chipboard And Method Of Test For Particleboard (under revision WBP : Particleboard Specs)

9.

MS 1123: 1988
Specification For Blockboard And Laminboard

10. MS 1429: 1998

Specification For Medium Density Fibreboards (MDF)
(under revision WBP : Fibreboard Specifications)
11. MS 1786: 2005
Wood-based panels Fireboard, particleboard and oriented strand board Terminology
12. MS 1787: Part 1: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 1: Determination of dimensions of panels
13. MS 1787: Part 2: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 2: Sampling and cutting of test pieces
14. MS 1787: Part 3: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 3: Determination of dimensions of test pieces

15. MS 1787: Part 4: 2005

Wood-based panels Part 4: Determination of moisture content
16. MS 1787: Part 5: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 5: Determination of density
17. MS 1787: Part 6: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 6: Determination of swelling in thickness after immersion in
Water
18. MS 1787: Part 7: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 7: Determination of dimensional changes associated with
changes in relative humidity
19. MS 1787: Part 8: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 8: Determination of moisture resistance under cyclic test
conditions
20. MS 1787: Part 9: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 9: Determination of surface soundness
21. MS 1787: Part 10: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 10: Determination of modulus elasticity in bending and of
bending strength
22. MS 1787: Part 11: 2005
Wood-based panels Determination of tensile strength perpendicular to the plane of the
panel
23. MS 1787: Part 12: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 12: Determination of wet bending strength
24. MS 1787: Part 13: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 13: Determination of screw holding ability
25. MS 1787: Part 14: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 14: Determination of formaldehyde content
by perforator method
26. MS 1787: Part 15: 2005
Wood-based panels Part 15: Determination of formaldehyde emission Dessicator
method
B.

FLOORING

1.

MS 432: 1976
Specification for Single Pact Varnishes For Wooden Paneling

2.

MS 544: 2001
Code Of Practice For The Structural Use Of Timber
Part11 : Recommendation for the calculation basis for span tables
Section 1 : Domestic floor joists
Section 2 : Ceiling joists
Section 3 : Ceiling binders
Section 4 : Domestic rafters

3.

MS 1170: 2000
Specification for Double-deck Flat Wooden Pallets for through Transit of Goods

4.

MS 1174: 2000
Specification For Large Wooden Pallets For Through

5.

C.

Transit Of Good

MS 1301: 1993
Specification For Single Packed Polyurethane Modified Alkyd Varnish For Wooden Floors
SAWN TIMBER
MS 822: 1983
Specification for Sawn Timber Foundation Piles

D.

OTHERS
1.

MS 229: 1988
Nomenclature And Uses Of Commercial Timbers In Malaysia (under revision)

2.

MS 360: 1991
Specification For Treatment Of Timber With Copper/ (under revision)Chrome/ Arsenic
Wood Preservatives

3.

MS 483: 1976
Vocabulary Of Terms Relating To Pallets

4.

MS 544: 2001
Code Of Practice For The Structural Use Of Timber
Part 1 : General
Part 2 : Permissible stress design of solid timber
Part 3 : Permissible stress design of glued laminated timber
Part 5 : Timber joints
Part 6 : Workmanship, inspection and maintenance
Part 7 : Testing
Part 8 : Design, fabrication and installation of prefabricated timber for roof trusses
Part 9 : Fire resistance of timber structures
Section 1 : Method of calculating fire resistance of timber members
Part10 : Preservative treatment of structural timbers

5.

MS 491: 1977
Code Of Practice For Guarding And Safe Use Of Wood(under revision)working Machinery

6.

MS 635: 1980(p)
Specification For Woodwool Slabs

7.

MS 652:1980
Specification For Pentachlorophenol For Use In The Preservation Of Timber

8.

MS 695: 1981
Specification For Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer For The Use In Wood, Indoors

9.

MS 696: 1981
Specification For Coal Tar Creosote For The Preservation Of Timber

10. MS 697: 1981

Guide To The Choice, Use And Application Of Wood Preservatives
11. MS 733: 1992
Specification For Copper/Chrome/Arsenic Wood Preservatives (First revision)
12. MS 734: 1981
Specification For Wood Preservation By Means Of Pressure Creosoting
13. MS 758: 2001
Glued laminated timber Performance requirements and minimum production
requirements
14. MS 821: 1994
Methods For The Quantitative Analysis Of Copper/Chrome/ Arsenic Preservative
Formulations And Treated Timber
15. MS 833: 1984
Method For The Qualitative Analysis Of Wood Preservatives And Treated Timber
16. MS 834: 1984
Method For The Quantitative Analysis Of Copper Naphthenate And Treated Timber
17. MS 835: 1984
Method For Quantitative Analysis Of BIS (Tri-butyltin) Oxide Preservative Formulations And
Treated Timber : Determination Of Total Tin
18. MS 836:1984
Specification For Tri Butyltin Oxide Wood Preservatives
19. MS 837: 1985
Method For The Determination Of Moisture Content Of (under revision)Timber
20. MS 878: 1984
Specification For Copper Naphthenate Wood Preservative
21. MS 995: 1986
Specification For Boron Timber Preservatives
22. MS 1002:1986
Specification For Surface Brush-On Preservative Stains For Wood
23. MS 1030: 1986
Glossary Of Terms Used In Wood Preservation
24. MS 1043: 1986
Method For Quantitative Analysis Of Preservative Solutions And Treated Timber PCP and
PCPL
25. MS 1215: 1991
Method Of Test For Finishes For Wooden Furniture :Part 1 : Assessment of glare by measurement of secular gloss 60C & 85C
Part 2 : Assessment of surface resistance to wet heat
Part 3 : Assessment of surface resistance to dry heat
Part 4 : Assessment of surface resistance to liquids
Part 5 : Assessment of surface resistance to cold oils and liquids
Part 6 : Assessment of surface resistance to mechanical damage

26. MS 1246: 1993

Strength And Stability Of Furniture
Part 1 : Method for determination of strength of chairs and
Part 2 : Method for determination of stability of chairs and
Part 3 : Method for determination of strength of settees
Part 4 : Method for determination of stability of settees
Part 5 : Method for determination of strength of tables and
Part 6 : Method for determination of stability of tables and
Part 7 : Method for determination of strength of storage furniture
Part 8 : Method determination of stability of storage furniture

stools
stools
trolleys
trolleys

27. MS 1300: 1993

Specification For Tributylin Naphthenate Wood Preservative
28. MS 1302: 1993
Specification For Light Organic Solvent Preservative (LOSP) Treatment Of Timber
29. MS 1379: 1995
Method For Analysis Of Treated Wood And Treating Solutions By X-ray Spectroscopy
30. MS 1397: 1999
Specification For Sodium Pentachlorophenate For Use In Preservation Of Timber
31. MS 1401: 1996
Grading Rule For Dressed Timber, Door Jambs And General Mouldings
32. MS 1446: 1998
Code Of Practice For The Operation Of Timber Treatment Plants
33. MS 1506: 2000
Specification For Wooden Door
34. MS 1714: 2003
Specification For Visual Strength Grading Of Tropical Hardwood Timber