MEDITE SMARTPLY has now launched MAX FR B, the brand new Euroclass B OSB3, a market innovation bringing increased safety and reliability to an industry contingent on safety and predictability.
Smartply MAX FR B is the first Euroclass B board – the maximum Euroclass rating for a timber panel – manufactured in the UK and Ireland to feature wood flakes treated with flame retardant solution before pressing. This ensures its flame retardance is integral and maintains its structural integrity, unlike many post-treated alternatives, making it the safer choice for use within timber frame construction, or projects that will require a large amount of timber product.
“We are extremely excited to introduce this new product to the marketplace, expanding our already extensive OSB range,” comments Richard Allen, Sales Director at Medite Smartply.
“Customers can expect all the fantastic benefits of our OSB boards, with the addition of ZeroIgnition solution, a water-based and environmentally friendly flame retardant which is added during panel production.
“This is a solution that has potential in a huge range of applications and industries, encompassing many modern methods of construction such as offsite and timber frame construction, light gauge steel and modular construction systems, as well as temporary structures.
“Whatever the sector, all customers can rest assured that this board’s flame retardance will hold to Euroclass B standard, even when cut to size, which makes it different to other flame retardant boards out there.”
No added formaldehyde
The panels are manufactured using advanced resin technology which offers higher performance with no added formaldehyde. This enables specifying architects, developers and housebuilders to create safer, healthier environments.
This new technology not only benefits the built environments actively created but the natural environments left behind as the boards themselves are sustainably produced using timber from sustainably managed Irish forests.
“We want to support a safer, wider future for timber buildings, that will enable the wider construction industry to work more sustainably and more efficiently, truly building for the future. This has been one of our main motivations in developing this product,” adds Richard.
The MAX FR B panel also complies with the performance requirements in the Structural Timber Association’s FR BUILD “Design guide to separating distances during construction” for timber frame buildings above 600m² total floor area. We refer to this product as Smartply MAX FR/FR BUILD within our range.
MAX FR/FR BUILD can be used in a timber frame building when mitigation measures are required due to the distance from neighbouring buildings. There are wall and floor systems outlined within the guide which give points towards the overall building, this satisfies any mitigation that may be required.
Finally, the panel meets with the requirements of European Standards EN 300 and EN 13986, while also complying with the European reaction to fire class B-s2,d0 and Bfl-s1. Boards can be manufactured in largescale formats of up to 2.8m wide by 7.5m long, making it ideal for offsite manufacturing, alongside traditional building.
