IS14616:1999

Indian Standard

LAMINA~DVENEERLUMBER-
SPECIFICATION

TCS 83.14~.20.79.060.10

0 BIS 1999

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

January 1999 Price Group 4

Wood Products Sectional Committee, CED 20

FOREWORD

This Indian Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draf; finalized by the Wood
Products Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
To conserve our natural forest cover and the ecology and environment, the government, amongst several other
measures, has suggested a search for possible wood substitutes that may be produced without affecting our
natural forest system and the environment. Wood is a ligno-cellulosic material. Amongst alternative materials
that have been identified for adoption, reconstituted ligno-cellulosic products that can be manufactured from
plantation wood grown outside the natural forest system or even from ligno-cellulosic agro-residues have also
been recommended for use as environmentally friendly materials.
Wooden components used in construction, furniture, packaging and other industrial and domestic requirements
fall into two categories:
a) Panels for sheathing and diaphrams, siding, casing, partitions, panetting, shelving, topping, decking, etc.
b) Load bearing members like beams, posts, stringers, structural frame work in construction, joinery,
furniture, etc.

The use of reconstituted ligno-cellulosic products like plywood, particle board, fibre hardboard and medium
density fibreboard as substitutes of wood as panel material is already well established in the country. Till now,
however, substitution of wood for load 5earing components like beams, posts, stringers and structural frame
work in construction, joinery, furniture, etc, with reconstituted ligno-cellulosic products has not been seriously
considered in our country. Primarily, the high anisotropic (along the grain) strength of solid wood has a significant
and critical role to play in these applications.
In some advanced countries, certain reconstituted ligno-cellulosic products with the fibre oriented along a
specific direction have been developed and are gradually being adopted for such load bearing applications as
completely appropriate wood substitutes, having high anisotropic (along the oriented direction) strength like
natural wood. Such reconstituted ligno-cellulosic products are:
a) Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL).
b) Parellel Strand Lumber (PSL) along with its variant Scrimber.
c) Parellel-Fibre Oriented Strand Board (OSB).

Since direct use of solid timber from plantations is beset with problems of inherent growth stressed brittle heart,
tension wood, excessive warping and small girths, and use of conventional timbers from the natural forests has
been banned there is an acute paucity of timber in the country. The above mentioned new structural composites
(including LVL), reconstituted from plantation grown wood, are eco-friendly products. They effectively overcome
all the problems associated with direct use of plantation timber.
Being based on lamination technology, these products eliminate the adverse effects of growth stresses such as
excessive waypine. Through a re-distribution of natural defects such as knots, cross grain, etc, they can be
engineered to give more uniform strength properties, greater reliability and lower factors of safety than are
possible with natural solid wood.
Commercial manufacture of these products need to be initiated and promoted in the country on an urgent basis
and since some of them have already been developed and investigated recently by national research institutes,
like Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun and Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,
Bangalore as well as by the R&D Divisions of wood products manufacturers in the country, there is a need to
formulate Indian Standards for these products for the technical guidance of manufacturers and new entreprenuers.
The Committee responsible for the preparation of this standard is given at Annex C.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value,
observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with
IS 2: 1960 Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised). The number of significant places retained in the
rounded off value should be le same as that of the specified value in this standard.

Indian Standard
LAMINATED VENEER LUMBER-
SPECIFICATION
1 SCOPE
1.1 This standard covers Laminated Veneer Lumber
(LVL) of density range 0.6 to 0.75 in which most natural
structural wood fall.
1.2 Its applications include all the end uses to which
structural wood has been traditionally used,such as,
beams, rafters, stringers, joists, posts and framework
construction, stiles, rails and frames of doors and
windows, vehicle bodies, railways coaches, containers,
framework of furniture, cabinets, shelving, etc.
2 REFERENCES
The Indian Standards listed in Annex A contain
provisions which through reference in this text,
constitute provision of this standard. At the time of
publication, the editions indicated were valid. All
standards are subject to revision, and parties to
agreements based on this standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent
editions of the standards indicated in Annex A.
3 TERMINOLOGY
3.1 For the purpose of this standard, the definitions
given in IS 707 and the following shall apply.
3.2 Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)
A structural composite made by laminating veneers,
1.5 to 4.2 mm thick, with suitable adhesive and with the
grain of veneers in successive layers aligned along the
longitudinal (length) dimension of the composite.
4 MATERlALS
4.1 Veneers
4.1.1 Veneers of the required thickness shall be
obtained from timber logs grown in plantations outside
the natural forest system, such as rubber wood, silver
oak, eucalyptus, poplars, acacias, etc.
IS 14616: 1999
4.1.2 Veneers shall be free from knot holes,decayed
knots except pin knots, unfilled splits wider than 3 mm,
concentrated borer holes, shakes, objectionable decay
or termite attack, except that for the face veneers none
of these defects nor cross grain exceeding 1 in 10 shall
be permitted. The nominal thickness of all the veneers
used shall be identical and uniform within a tolerance
of + 5 percent.
4.2 Adhesives
4.2.1 Only BWP grade adhesive conforming to IS 848
shall be used for making LVL.
4.3 Preservatives
4.3.1 Veneers used for LVL shall be given suitable
preservative treatment before lamination, with a
preservative that is compatible with the adhesive to be
used.
4.3.2 Only fixed type of water soluble preservatives,
CCA or CCB, or non-leachable, solvent soluble
preservatives as per IS 401 shall be used for treating
the veneers.
4.3.3 Retentions of preservatives shall be as per
IS 401 depending upon the proposed end use.
5 MANUFACTURE
5.1 The veneers shall be reasonably smooth to permit
an even spread of glue. After preservative treatment
they shall be dried and conditioned to moisture content
not exceeding 10 percent before bonding.
5.2 LVL may be directly manufactured in the nominal
size of the components ultimately desired (allowing
margin for final dressing and sanding) or in planks of
larger lengths and widths from which the desired size
of components may be obtained by ripping.
5.3 Glue shall be evenly spread over the veneers, not
leaving any unglued or glue-starved areas. The glued
IS 14616 : 1999

veneers shall be assembled with the grain direction in 8 SAMPLING AND TESTING
all the layers aligned longitudinally. No overlap of
veneer ends or edges shall be permitted during 8.1 Test Samples
assembly. The requisite number of veneer layers may
be assembled to obtain the required finish. The For purposes of tests, samples shall be drawn at random
assembly shall be hot pressed under controlled from a batch as given below:
conditions of temperature, pressure and pressing time
which depends upon the thickness of the composite. Size of Batch No. ofPieces to be
The stack under press shall then be cooled down to (No. of Pieces of Any Size) Selected at Random
near room temperature by suitable cooling schedule in
order to stabilize it. Less than 50 2
51 to 100 4
5.4 The pressed components or blanks, if required to 101 to 200 5
be stored, shall be stacked flat with sufficient load on 201 to 250 6
its top. Blanks may be ripped and cross cut to the 251 to 500 7
required sizes.

NOTE - Unlike solid timber, LVL components generally 8.1.1 The pieces selected as samples for test shall
need minimum of dressing, planning and sanding to correct contain joints in case the pieces in the batch
warping, remove surface and end cracks or surface roughness. represented contain joints.

6 DIMENSIONS 8.2 Tests

6.1 Dimensions of LVL composite supplied shall be 8.2.1 Moisture Content

inclusive ofmargin required for dressing and finishing
over and above the size of finished component desired, The average moisture content of three test specimens,
unless finished components (ready for painting) are when determined in accordance with IS 1734 (Part I),
ordered. shall be between 5 to 15 percent.

6.2 The margin for dressing and finishing shall not 8.2.2 Adhesion of Plies
exceed 3 mm in the width and thickness and 12 mm in
the length. Adhesion of plies shall be tested by knife test described
in IS 1734 (Part 5) on three specimens each under the
7 WORKMANSHIP AND FINISH following conditions:

The following defects shall be permissible in the a) In the dry state,

manufactured LVL : b) After boiling in water for 72 h followed by
cooling in water at room temperature, and
c) After subjecting to attack by micro-organism
Defects Permissible Limits
as per Annex B.

Jointing gaps Not more than 3 mm wide, provided

Under each condition the fractured specimens shall
they are well staggered in their spacing
show some adherent fibres distributed more or less
and position between the successive
uniformly. Also the test should offer appreciable
plies.
resistance to the separation of layers.

Slope of grain Not exceeding 1 in 10 in the face layers.

8.2.3 Strength Tests

Tight knot Three numbers up to 25 mm diameter Six specimens each shall be tested for modulus of
in one square metre provided they are rupture and modulus of elasticity, compressive strength
spaced 300 mm or more apart. parallel to grain, compressive strength perpendicular
to grain (both parallel and perpendicular to laminae),
Not exceeding 1.5 mm per metre horizontal shear strength (both parallel and
warp
length. perpendicular to grain), tensile strength parallel to grain
 IS 14616 : 1999

and nail and screw holding power in accordance with 8.2.4 Swelling in Water
the methods given in IS 1708 (Parts 6,8,9, 11,I2 and
1.5) respectively and the average values for each test The average swelling in thickness ofthree specimens
shall conform to the requirements given under Sl No (i) due to general absorption when determined in
to (vii) of Table 1. accordance with IS 2380 (Part 17) shall comply with
the requirements given under Sl No. (viii) of Table 1.
Table 1 Requirements of LVL
(Clauses 8.2.3 and 8.2.4) 9 MARKING

SI No. Properties Requirement 9.1 Each LVL piece shall be legibly and indelibly
marked or stamped on the face near one comer with
i) Modulus of rupture (N/mm*), SO
the following:
Min

ii) Modulus of elasticity (N/m&), 7 500 a) Name of the manufacturer or trade-mark,

Min b) Thickness, and
iii) Compressive strength parallel to grain 3S c) Year of manufacture.
(N/mmz), Min
iv) Compressive strength perpendicular 9.2 BIS Certification Marking
to grain:
The LVL may also be marked with the Standard Mark.
a) Parallel to laminae (N/mm2), Min 35
b) Perpendicular to laminae (N/mm2), 50
9.2.1 The use of Standard Mark is governed by the
Horizontal shear:
provisions of Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986
v)
and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder.
a) Parallel to grain (N/mm2), Min 6
b) Perpendicular to grain (N/mmz), Min 8
The details of conditions under which the licence for
the use of Standard Mark may be granted to
vi) Tensile strength parallel to grain Sj
manufacturers or producers may be obtained from the
(N/mm), Min
Bureau of Indian Standards.
vii) Screw holding power:

a) Edge (N), Min 2 300 10 DELIVERY

b) Face (N), Min 2 700
Unless otherwise specified, the LVL shall be delivered
viii) Thickness swelling in 2 11water
soaking (percent). ASGLX
in good condition and shall be suitably packed
according to normal trade practices.
IS 14616 : 1999

ANNEX A
( Clause 2 )
LIST OF REFERRED INDIAN STANDARDS

IS No. Title IS No. Title

401 : 1982 Code of practice for preservation of (Part 11) : 1986 Determination of shear strength
timber ( thirdrevision ) parallel to grain (second revision)

(Part 12) : 1986 Determination of tensile strength

707 : 1976 Glossary of terms applicable to
parallel to grain (second revision)
timber technology and utilization
(second revision)
(Part 15) : 1986 Determination of nail and screw
holding power (second revision)
848 : 1974 Specification for synthetic resin
adhesives for plywood (phenolic
1734
and aminoplastic) (first revision)
(Part 1) : 1983 Methods of test for plywood:
Determination of density and
1708 Method of testing of small clear
moisture content (second revision)
(Part 6) : 1986 specimens of timber : Determination
of static bending strength under
(Parts) : 1983 Test for adhesion of plies (second
two-point loading (secondrevision)
revision)

(Parts) : 1986 Determination of compressive

2380 Methods of test for wood particle
strength parallel to grain (second
(Part 17) : 1977 boards and boards from other
revision)
lignocellulosic materials: Part 17
Determination of swelling in water
(Part9) : 1986 Determination of compressive
(first revision)
strength perpendicular to grain
(second revision)

ANNEX B
[Clause 8.2.2 (c)]
B-l OBJECT
This test is intended to evaluate the resistance of glue
line to attack by micro-organism.
B-2 PROCEDURE
B-2.1 A flat rectangular dish of enamelled iron, glass
or porcelain (such as a photographic developing dish),
of aminimum depth of 50 mm, shall be filled to a depth
of about 25 mm with a layer of saw dust obtained
from the sapwood of a perishable timber, like semul
(Bombax ceiba) in its natural condition. The saw dust
shall have previously been moistened with water
containing 15 g of sucrose (normally sugar may be
used; but if unavailable, 30 g commercial malt extract
may be substituted) to a litre of water so that it is
saturated with moisture, but not so wet that free water
is squeezed out of it by hand pressure. To attain this
IS 14616 : 1999
condition with dry saw dust, it is usually necessary to
add three times its mass of water.
B-2.2 The saw rlust shall then be charged with spores
of commonly occurring wood destroying fungi and
loosely compacted. The test specimens shall be
pressed down into it so that their upper surfaces are
level with the top of the saw dust layer.
B-2.3 The dish shall then be covered with a sheet of
glass and the edges of the dish sealed against the
glass with modelling clay or a similar suitable material
so that the atmosphere around the test specimens shall
remain saturated with water vapour.
B-2.4 The dish and the contents shall be maintained
at a temperature of 27 * 2C for a period ofthree weeks,
after which the test pieces shall be removed, washed
in water at room temperature.
IS 14616 : 1999

ANNEX C
(Foreword)
COMMlTlXE COMIOSlTION

Wood Products Sectional Committee, CED 20

Chairman
SHRIV. SIVANAN~A
Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, Bangalore

Members Representing

SHRIB. S. ASWATHANARAYANA Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,

Bangalore

SHRIP. D. AGARWAL Public Works Department, Uttar Pradesh

SHRI V. S. SINGH(Alternate)

SHRIK. K. BARUAH Forest Department, Government of Assam, Guwahati

SERI T. K. DAS (Alternate)

SHRIN. M. CHACHAN Plywood Manufacturers Association of West Bengal, Calcutta

SHRI B. B. ROY (Alternate)

SHRIA. K. CHATIERIEE Directorate General of Technical Development, New Delhi

SHRI 0. P. SHARMA(Alternate)

SHRI P. G. DESHMUKH Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai

SHIU P. L. NAGARSEKHAR(Alternate)

SHRIM. GANGARAJu Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals, New Delhi

SHRIV. K. VERMA(Alternate)

SHRIM. M. JALAN Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry, New Delhi
SHRI P. V. MEHTA (Alternate)

SHRIM. KANCHAN Central Public Works Department, New Delhi

SHRIK. D. NARULA

SHRID. K. KANUNGO National Test House, Calcutta

&RI B. K. BISWAS(Alternate)

SHRIA. K. KADERKU~~Y The Western Indian Plywood Ltd. Cannanore

SHRIR. K. KAMPASI Nuchem Ltd. Faridabad

SHRI A. C. SOOD (Alternate)

SHRIPARESHKAPADIA The Indian Institute of Architects, Mumbai

SHIUDIVYAKHUSH(Akernate)

SHRIHARISHKHAITAN Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Port Blair

SHRI S. KUMAR(Alternate)

SHIURAVINDER
KUMAR Ministry of Defence (R&D), New Delhi

SHRIK. S. LAULY The Indian Plywood Manufacturing Company Ltd, Mumbai

SHRI P. T. S. MENON (Alternate)

SHRIMAnP. MEENAK~HI Engineer-in-Chiefs Branch, Army Headquarters, New Delhi

SMT AMRITARAI (Alternate)

SHRIA. MUKHERJEE Directorate of Standardization, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi

SHRI B. S. NARULA(Alternate)

(Contin;ed on page 7)

6
(Continued from page 6) IS 14616 : 1999

Members Representing

SHRIS. A. NAQUI Novopan India Ltd, Hyderabad

SHRIA. V. V. RAGHAVACHARYA
(Alternate)

DR A. N. NAYER In personal capacity (C-29 Inderpuri, New Delhi 110012)

DR K. S. RAO Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore

SHRIA. K. ANANTHANARAYANA
(Alternate)

SHRIS. K. SANGANERIA Assam Plywood Manufacturers Association, Tinsukhia

SHRIK. SANKARAKRISHMN The South Indian Plywood Manufacturers Association,

Kannur

SHRIS. N. SANYAL Forest Products Division, FRI, Dehra Dun

SHRIN. K. SHKJKLA
(Alternate)

SHRIS. N. SANYAL Indian Academy of Wood Science, Bangalore

SHRIK. S. SHUKLA(Alternate)

SHRI F. C. SHARMA Directorate General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi

SHRI N. M. WALECHA(Alternate)

DRY. SINCH Central Building Research Institute (CSIR). Roorkee

DR L. K. AGARWAL (Alternate)

SHRI J. K. SINHA Ministry of Defence (DGQA)

SHRIRAM CHANDRA(Alternate)

DIRECTOR
STANDARDS
(CARRIAGE) Ministry of Railways (RDSO), Lucknow
ASSIS-~AN~DIRECTOR(Alternnte)

SHRIANIL TALWAFC Mangalam Timber Products Ltd, Calcutta

SHRIK. SRIDHAR(Alternate)

SHRIM. ZAFRULLA Sitapur Plywood Manufacturers Ltd, Sitapur

SHR~TRIDIBSEN (Alternate)

SHRIVINODKUMAR, Director General, BIS (Ex-osficio Member)

Director (Civ Engg)

Member Secretary
SHRIT. B. NARAYANAN
Joint Director (Civ Engg), BIS

Plywood and Veneers Subcommittee, CED 20 : 1

Convener

SHRIV. SIVANANDA Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,

Bangalore

Members

SHRIP. D. AGARWAL Public Works Department, Uttar Pradesh

SWRIV. S. SINGH(Alternate)

SHRIANIL BANKA Kitply Industries Ltd, Tinsukia

SHRIF. L. SAHLI(Alternate)

MAJ S. S. BISHT Directorate of Standardization, New Delhi

SHRIB. S. NARULA(Alternate)

(Continued on page 8)

7
IS 14616 : 1999

(Continued from page 7)

Members Representing

SHRIN. M. CHACHAN Plywood Manufacturers Association of West Bengal, Calcutta

SHR~B. B. ROY (Alteryfe)

SHRI A. K. CHATTER~EE Directorate General of Technical Development, New Delhi

&RI 0. P. SHARMA(Alternate)

SHRISUD~P CHlX4NGtA Sarda Plywood Industries Ltd, Calcutta

&RI K. K. MAHXSHWARI(Alfernate)

SHRIP. G. DESHMUKH Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai

SHRIS. C. PURUSHOTHAMAN
(A-Cl

DIRECTOR Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,

Bangalore

DR R. GNANAHARAN Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi

SHRIV. K. GIIPTA Forest Research Institute, Forest Products Division (Timber

Mechanics), Dehra Dun

SHRI T. K. JACOB Veneers and Lamination (India) Ltd, Cochin

SHR~A. K. KADERKUITY The Western India Plywood Ltd. Cannanore

SHRTMA
B. S. KAMALA Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore
SHRIA. K. ANANTHANARAYANA
(Alternate)

SHRIHARISHKHNTAN Andamans Timber Industries Ltd, Calcutta

SHRIY ASH PODDAR(A/tern&e)

SHRIB.C. KHARBANDA Kerala State Wood Industries Ltd. Nilampur

SHRI M. SURESHBABU (Alternate)

SHIUS. KUMAR Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Port Blair

SHRIHARISHKHAITAN(Alternate)

SHRIK. S. LAULY The Indian Plywood Manufacturing Co Ltd, Mumbai

SHRI P. T. S. MENON(Alternate)

PRESIDENT Assam Plywood Manufacturers Association, Tinsukia

SHRIF. C. SHARMA Directorate General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi

SHRIK. S. SHUKLA Forest Research Institute. Forest Products Division

(Composite Wood), Dehra Dun
DR S. P. SINGH (Alternate)

SUPERINTENDING
ENGINEER
(S&S) Central Public Works Department. New Delhi
EXEUJXVEENGINEER(S&S) (Alternafc)

SHRIN. K. UPADHYAY Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals, New Delhi

SHRI MOIZ VACH The South Indian Plywood Manufacturers Association, Kannur

SHRIA. R. VIIAYENDRA
RAO Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR), Mysore
SHRIN. BALASUBRAMANYAN
(Altemare)

SHRIM. ZAFRULLA Sitapur Plywood Manufacturers Ltd. Sitapur

SHRITRIDIBSEN (Alternafe)

8
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Amendments arc issued Lo stnndards as thu need arises on the h:isis of comments. Standards are also reviewed
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needed; if the review indicates that changes arc uecdcd, it is taken up for revision. Users of Indian Standards
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of BIS Handbook and Standards Monthly Additions
This Indian Standard has been dcvelopcd from Dot: No. CED 20 (5572).

Ameudmeuts hued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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