The plywood industry needs to mount a user education campaign covering plywood in flat roofing applications, Nexfor sales director Maurice Fitzgibbon has claimed.
His suggestion follows research by his own company which revealed ‘total confusion’ among roofing contractors as to which grades are appropriate.
In May, the panel products manufacturer sent mailshots to around 9,000 roofing contractors on the use of uncertified plywood in structural applications, as well as to 10,000 RIBA architects and to local authority officials.
According to Mr Fitzgibbon, feedback on response-paid cards indicated that, in many instances, ‘contractors thought they were getting certified plywood when in fact they were not’. Evidence suggested that ‘distributors are not asked for and do not give the right advice’, he added.
Nexfor plans to continue its campaign by running a two-page update article on the use of uncertified Brazilian elliottii pine plywood in a forthcoming issue of its Agenda magazine, which will be sent to roofing contractors. But Mr Fitzgibbon also insisted: ‘The plywood industry should do it as a whole.’
Some local authorities responding to the Nexfor mailshot have called for seminars on appropriate use of board materials, particularly plywood and OSB. Mr Fitzgibbon believed that a board products roadshow might be appropriate but added that his company needed the help of industry bodies in delivering a ‘more focused’ campaign.
Mr Fitzgibbon has also written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the inappropriate use of uncertified materials. While declining to discuss details, he described the response as ‘less than positive’ and stated his intention to pursue the matter.