Product advisories provide critical, fact-based guidance on emerging issues affecting engineered wood products and their use in construction.
Product advisories often address:
Performance concerns
Material variability
Improper applications
Misunderstandings related to testing and code compliance
Topics such as flexible structural sheathing, imported plywood (including Brazilian plywood), and fire-retardant-treated (FRT) products have raised questions in the marketplace that require clear, technical clarification.
APA grounds its advisories in standardized testing, field performance data, and established code provisions to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Product advisories can help to help designers, builders, code officials, and specifiers make informed decisions.
Advisories can clarify misinterpretations of building codes or product standards that can lead to improper use or unnecessary restrictions. These resources protect both structural performance and market confidence in engineered wood products.
APA actively monitors industry trends, product performance issues, and regulatory developments to identify when the industry needs formal guidance.
APA develops technical advisories through in-house research, third-party testing, and collaboration with manufacturers that address specific concerns with clarity and authority.
APA has conducted testing on flexible structural sheathing applications to better understand stiffness, bracing contributions, and code compliance limitations.
APA evaluates imported products, such as Brazilian plywood, to assess equivalency with U.S. product standards and performance expectations.
APA provides guidance on fire-retardant-treated (FRT) wood products and the implications of treatment on structural capacity and durability.
APA regularly updates these advisories to reflect evolving codes, standards, and research findings.
APA engages with code bodies and industry groups to ensure sound science and practical application inform policies and regulations.
Vice President, Market Access and Development
With a Master’s in Civil Engineering and extensive field experience, Mary Uher leads APA's field services team, helping professionals specify and apply engineered wood products effectively.
Product Advisory - SP-1186
This publication discusses overstated published lateral load design properties of eight flexible structural sheathing products
Product Advisory - SP-1185
This publication provides test results for imported plywood panels from Brazil, evaluated for conformance to U.S. Product Standard PS 1
Product Advisory - SP-1172
This product advisory contains results of testing to measure the shear wall performance of Thermo-Ply® sheathing
Standards - L870
This publication is the national standard for performance requirements and marking plywood for construction and industrial uses.
Standards - S350
Performance requirements, adhesive bond performance, panel construction and workmanship, dimensions and tolerances, marking and moisture content of wood structural panels.
Technical Note - K320
Discusses fire-retardant-treated plywood specifications, code-compliant applications, testing standards and structural requirements for commercial and residential construction.
Flexible structural sheathing manufacturers claim equivalency to 7/16 wood structural panels for shear strength and bracing capacity – claims that APA and other independent laboratories have been unable to replicate.
Not necessarily. Imported plywood may not meet U.S. product standards (e.g., PS 1 or PS 2) or APA performance ratings unless it is specifically certified. Verification of compliance and testing data is essential before use in structural applications.
