OSB stands for Oriented Strand Board - a plate from oriented chips, or OSB in Russian. This is a modern building and finishing material, consisting of 90% of wood chips, bound with synthetic waterproof resins. Plates are formed by 3-4 layers of fine chips up to 15 cm long, pressed at high pressure and temperature, and the direction of the chips in each layer is different.
OSB boards can be used for:
- production of sandwich panels and construction of frame houses,
- for flooring, ladders,
- for wall covering, ceilings, floors,
- for roofing,
- for auxiliary works( formwork, scaffolding),
- formanufacturing auxiliary structures( sheds, storage facilities), street structures, fences,
- as structural elements of furniture.
Quality OSBs comply with the standard EN 300 OSB, which requires environmental safety and technical parameters of the boards.
Types of slabs and their features
4 main types of slabs are produced:
- OSB-1 - low strength and low moisture resistance, used for interior work, furniture manufacturing,
- OSB-2 - high strength and low moisture resistance, suitable for internal partitions, bearing structures, overlappings,
- OSB-3 - high strength and high moisture resistance, optimally suited for outdoor applications,
- OSB-4 - ultra high strength and high moisture resistance, used for load-bearing elementscops, walls, roofs.
The moisture resistance of the board depends on the composition of the adhesive used, and the strength - on the number of layers and the mutual arrangement of chips in them.
In addition, there are plates with a varnished or laminated surface on one side, which, for example, can be reused for the manufacture of formwork. For laying on a horizontal surface, you can use OSB with groove-groove connections at the ends with 2 or 4 sides.
The most common are the following standard board sizes:
- 122 * 244 cm,
- 122 * 366 cm,
- 125 * 250 cm * 6 -40 mm,
- 125 * 370 cm,
- 125 * 600 cm
Pros of OSB
Manufacturers sometimes calledOSB - "advanced" wood. It is just as strong, light and easy to handle, but at the same time it lacks such flaws as fire hazard, susceptibility to putrefaction and mold, the presence of voids and knots. On the technical properties of OSB are superior to chipboard, fiberboard, MDF and even plywood.
Factory conveyor production allows to provide stable dimensions and uniform thickness throughout the board. OSB provides excellent sound insulation, heat preservation, it is not susceptible to deformation and destruction in water. For its processing, the same tools and materials are used as for wood. Large sheet sizes allow the construction of walls with a minimum number of joints. The service life of structures made of such boards is practically unlimited.
OSB
Lately, there are a lot of materials about the harm and negative impact on the health of the OSB.All criticism is associated with the use of phenol in the composition of synthetic resins, which are used to join the splinters and secrete carcinogens. To date, most European manufacturers have switched to polymer resins without including formaldehyde and completely safe, such slabs are usually labeled ECO-, Green-.
For internal work and furniture production, it is only possible to use OSB intended for internal work, and if there is any doubt about its quality, it is good to insulate with plasterboard, finishing materials and floor coverings and take care of ventilation in the room. OSB-3 and -4 can only be used for out-of-home work.
The products of Russian manufacturers are also gradually coming to a decent level, but it is necessary to study the certificates, the origin of tar and other details. OSB of Chinese origin combines a low price with the same quality, as most often it is made from low-grade wood and doubtful pitches, it can be used, perhaps, for auxiliary works in the open air.
