Can any timber boarding be fixed into?
- Read time: 1.5 minutes
- Date: 06 Jun 2023
- Sheeting & Cladding
- Rainscreen & Façades
Whether or not you can fix into timber sheet material, such as OSB or plywood, is determined by the application. If the application is non-safety critical, such as fixing flashing, you can usually fix into timber sheet material. However, if you need to fix a significant load, such as a façade panel or other structural components, it is good practice to fix into the substrate behind the sheet. Failure to do so can cause the fastener or fixing system to fail.
Why don’t manufacturers publish pull out values for timber sheet material?
There is no calculation route given in the design code for fixing into timber sheet. Design values, such as pull out values, are not required (even optionally) for timber boarding by European harmonised standards.
This is because there are too many variables, such as how the wood has grown, the manufacturing methods, moisture conditions, and type of fastener, to be able to calculate reliable performance values.
Reputable fastener manufacturers can provide application specific pull out test data which can be used by structural engineers.
