AC265 - Composite Wood Products

Composite wood products are engineered wood materials made by combining wood pieces (like fibers, chips, or veneers) with adhesives or resins to form a new, solid material. Examples include plywood (thin wood veneer layers glued together), oriented strand board (OSB, wood strands pressed with resin), particleboard and fiberboard (wood particles or fibers bonded into sheets), and even wood-plastic composite decking that mixes wood fibers with plastic.

These products make efficient use of wood resources and can be designed for specific strengths or uses. They are widely used in construction and furniture because they are uniform, stable, and can be made to resist issues like warping or moisture better than some solid wood, as long as they meet the necessary quality standards. See related guidelines for wood structural panels (AC266) for sheathing applications.

This acceptance criteria provides a basis for evaluating composite wood products that may not be directly covered by existing codes. It establishes testing protocols, structural performance requirements, and quality standards needed for code approval of these engineered wood materials.

• Nationwide acceptance by building officials for engineered wood products
• Streamlined approval process for composite wood materials
• Third-party verification of structural performance and quality
• Enhanced marketability for plywood, OSB, and other composite products

• ICC Evaluation Service