1. Plywood Both decorative and structural Sheet product suitable for
panelling
structural flooring
bracing
webs in composite beams
Standard size sheet
2700  1200 mm
2400  1200 mm
1800  1200 mm
Photo: Plywood Association Australia
Aboriginal Studies building, Curtin University, Perth, WA
Photo: Geoff Boughton

2. Manufacture
Photo: Geoff Boughton
Made by gluing and pressing thin laminates together to form a sheet
Grain in laminates in alternate directions - strength in two directions
Final plywood sheet
Seven laminates
prior to gluing
and pressing
face grain direction
grain in face laminate

3. Uses Panels (decorative, acoustic or bracing)
Sheets - plate bending (flooring, formwork)
Webs (I-beams, box beams)
Structural or appearance function for all of the above

4. Colour-matched ceiling panels
National wine Centre, Adelaide
Photo: Trevor Fox Australian Timber Design: 11

5. Chairs also feature plywood.
Sydney Opera House
Photo: Geoff Boughton
Extensive use of wall and ceiling panels with decorative and acoustic functions.
Chairs also feature plywood.

6. Decorative plywood with structural function
Exhibition buildings, Homebush, Sydney
Photos: Geoff Boughton
Observation deck, Sydney Showgrounds
Photos: Geoff Boughton
Decorative panels also have bracing function
Handrails are structural

7. Sheets Acts in minor axis bending in Flooring
Can span in two directions
High strength material can be used for low profile floors
Photo: Plywood Association Australia

8. Sheets Formwork – requires: Good surface finish
Water tight construction
Glues must be water resistant
Strength and stiffness to prevent failure and sagging under wet concrete loads
Photo: Geoff Boughton
Photo: Geoff Boughton

9. Box section portal frame
Webs and gussets
Box section portal frame
C-section purlin
Photo: Geoff Boughton
Photo: Geoff Boughton
High in-plane shear strength makes plywood ideal for webs and gussets in composite beams and portal frames

10. Plywood gussets on Glulam portal
Photo: Geoff Boughton
Photo: Keith Crews
Plywood gussets on Glulam portal
Salvation Army Church, Dural, NSW
Photo: Greg Nolan
Plywood gussets on box beam portals
Plywood as wind bracing

11. Veneer Quality Veneer Quality A Veneer Quality S Veneer Quality B
Decorative Quality A
Veneer Quality A
High quality appearance grade
Suitable for clear finishing
Specified when surface appearance critical
Veneer Quality S
Appearance grade
Natural characteristics decorative feature
Veneer Quality B
Appearance grade suitable for high quality paint finish
Veneer Quality C
Non-appearance grade with solid (filled) surface
Suitable for flooring that will have decorative overlay
Veneer Quality D
Non-appearance grade with open imperfections
Suitable for structural plywood bracing
Sports stadium floor
Photo: Plywood Association Australia

12. Service classes Type A bond Type B bond Type C & D bonds
For exterior plywood used in conditions of full exposure,
Interior plywood used in wet or damp conditions eg around sinks, vanity units, laundry tubs.
Type B bond
Suitable for applications involving up to 2 years exposure to weather eg concrete formwork
Used permanently in semi exposed applications eg exterior door skins
Type C & D bonds
Internal, dry conditions only
Non-structural

13. Properties of Plywood Low variability in properties - reliable
Usually graded as F-grade products
(see Table 5.1 in AS for plywood properties)
Specify:
Stress grade
Thickness and number of plies
Glues – interior, exterior, marine
Quality of face finishes
Species used on face and other plies