About
Working with US Wood-Based Products – Technical Resources
This resource has been developed by APA for those working with US engineered wood products in the UK and EU countries. It supports architects, specifiers, builders and end users by providing essential technical information for different structural applications.
A great starting point is our interactive plywood Specification Tool. This will help you choose the right grade for your application.
The next step is ‘Find Your Standard‘ – making it easy for you to check which plywood, OSB or LVL standards you need to comply with, including those relating to any special performance characteristics you may need. For extra reassurance on product quality, use the same tool to find out the exacting testing that US manufacturers must carry out to win a mark of approval for use in the UK and EU countries. As they have been manufactured in the US, they will also comply with US standards and the appropriate standard is marked on the panel.
Our global library provides free download for technical publications and guidelines.
Who we are
APA is a non-profit trade association based in Tacoma, Washington and our engineered wood experts are available to help you, wherever you are based. Just email your question or call +1 253 620 7400.
Our member mills produce the majority of engineered wood products manufactured in North America – including structural plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), glued laminated (glulam) timber, wood I-joists and composite structural lumber such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL).
APA is also one of America’s leading wood research centres, with extensive facilities able to handle full-scale, structural assembly testing. Rather than relying on just testing a finished product, our quality testing scheme sets standards of excellence through every stage of production.
The association is recognised worldwide as operating one of the most stringent schemes of third-party quality control testing and certification in the global structural panel industry. APA is one of several independent agencies providing these services to US manufacturers. Only when mills have successfully passed this audit can they add an official trademark to their panels – and it can be withdrawn if products fail to meet quality control requirements