Performance Category, Panel Thickness and Span Ratings are key categories that need to be considered together.
US PS 1 specifies thickness tolerances and Performance Categories for plywood grades and requires a thickness label in 1000ths of an inch. We have listed the minimum and maximum allowable panel thickness and recommended thickness label for each relevant Performance Category.
Performance Category3 |
Thickness Requirements for Unsanded, Touch Sanded and Overlaid Grades1,2 |
||
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Thickness inches (mm) |
Maximum Thickness inches (mm) |
Recommended Thickness Label4 inches |
|
1/4 |
0.219 (5.56) |
0.281 (7.14) |
0.225 |
11/32 |
0.313 (7.94) |
0.375 (9.53) |
0.322 |
3/8 |
0.344 (8.73) |
0.406 (10.32) |
0.354 |
7/16 |
0.406 (10.32) |
0.469 (11.91) |
0.418 |
15/32 |
0.438 (11.11) |
0.500 (12.70) |
0.451 |
1/2 |
0.469 (11.91) |
0.531 (13.49) |
0.483 |
19/32 |
0.563 (14.29) |
0.625 (15.88) |
0.578 |
5/8 |
0.594 (15.08) |
0.656 (16.67) |
0.609 |
23/32 |
0.688 (17.46) |
0.750 (19.05) |
0.703 |
3/4 |
0.719 (18.26) |
0.781 (19.84) |
0.734 |
13/16 |
0.781 (19.84) |
0.844 (21.43) |
0.788 |
7/8 |
0.831 (21.11) |
0.919 (23.34) |
0.849 |
1 |
0.950 (24.13) |
1.050 (26.67) |
0.970 |
1-1/8 |
1.069 (27.15) |
1.181 (30.00) |
1.091 |
1-1/4 |
1.188 (30.16) |
1.313 (33.34) |
1.213 |
Note:1 Thickness requirements are based on a tolerance of 1/32 or ±0.8mm for panels with Performance Categories of 13/16 and less, and ±5% for panels with Performance Categories greater than 13/16. Inch units are presented as primary units due to customary practice in the United States.2Panel thickness measurements are conducted in accordance with procedures set forth in US PS 1 and based on a panel moisture content of 9%.3 Acceptable abbreviations are PERF-CAT, CAT or Category.4 Recommended thickness labels for Performance Categories less than 9/16 are 3% above the minimum. For Performance Categories greater than or equal to 9/16, the minimum values are those for sanded panels. |
Performance Category3 |
Thickness Requirements for SANDED Plywood1,2 |
||
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Thickness inches (mm) |
Maximum Thickness inches (mm) |
Recommended Thickness Label4 inches |
|
1/4 |
0.234 (5.95) |
0.266 (6.75) |
0.234 |
11/32 |
0.328 (8.33) |
0.359 (9.13) |
0.328 |
3/8 |
0.359 (9.13) |
0.391 (9.92) |
0.359 |
7/16 |
0.422 (10.72) |
0.453 (11.51) |
0.422 |
15/32 |
0.453 (11.51) |
0.484 (12.30) |
0.453 |
1/2 |
0.484 (12.30) |
0.516 (13.10) |
0.484 |
19/32 |
0.578 (14.68) |
0.609 (15.48) |
0.578 |
5/8 |
0.609 (15.48) |
0.641 (16.27) |
0.609 |
23/32 |
0.703 (17.86) |
0.734 (18.65) |
0.703 |
3/4 |
0.734 (18.65) |
0.766 (19.45) |
0.734 |
13/16 |
0.788 (20.02) |
0.837 (21.26) |
0.788 |
7/8 |
0.849 (21.56) |
0.901 (22.89) |
0.849 |
1 |
0.970 (24.64) |
1.030 (26.16) |
0.970 |
1-1/8 |
1.091 (27.72) |
1.159 (29.43) |
1.091 |
1-1/4 |
1.213 (30.80) |
1.288 (32.70) |
1.213 |
Note:1 Thickness requirements are based on a tolerance of ±0.016” (1/64”) or ±0.4mm for specified Performance Categories of 3/4 and less, and ±3% for panels with a Performance Category greater than 3/4. Inch units are presented as primary units due to customary practice in the United States.2 Panel thickness measurements are conducted in accordance with procedures set forth in PS 1 and based on a panel moisture content of 9%.3 Acceptable abbreviations are PERF-CAT, CAT or Category4 Recommended thickness labels for Performance Categories are based on the minimum permissible thickness for that category. |