The Benefits of OSB in Construction

The need for more sustainable building materials to be used in construction has never been more important in light of the climate crisis. Timber is cited to be one of the most sustainable as it’s renewable and captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and locks it in. Engineered wood panels such as OSB, made from timber sourced from sustainable forests, provide builders and contractors with a resilient, durable material that contributes to the sustainability goals of the project.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is commonly used in construction for applications such as roofing, flooring and wall sheathing in residential and commercial buildings. It’s a popular product for these applications because of its structural strength.

SMARTPLY produces a wide range of versatile, cost effective and environmentally conscious OSB panels for the market. There are two grades of SMARTPLY: OSB/3 (which includes a flame retardant specialist panel) and OSB/4. SMARTPLY OSB is manufactured by compressing precisely engineered strands of woods with resins at high temperature to create an incredibly strong and versatile panel. All panels are manufactured in accordance with EN 300 performance standard and are suitable in service class 1 or 2 applications. Here are some of the benefits of using SMARTPLY OSB in your construction project:

SMARTPLY OSB panels provide greater strength and durability. The panel is manufactured by compressing precisely engineered strands of woods with moisture resistant resins at high temperature to create an incredibly strong and versatile panel.

SMARTPLY ULTIMA OSB/4 panels were used to help transform barns into state-of-the-art homes for a regeneration project in Solihull. Chris Watson, Quantity Surveyor for Nobles Construction found it to be extremely beneficial: “I would definitely recommend using SMARTPLY ULTIMA panels. Not only are they FSC® Certified, but they are also ideal for timber frame and construction projects with large spans,” Chris explains. “We have really felt the benefit of SMARTPLY ULTIMA’s increased strength, high load-bearing capacity, and overall improved rigidity; all pluses for this type of project.”

Using SMARTPLY OSB is also more sustainable. According to the Future Homes Standard, by 2025, CO2 emissions produced by new homes are required to be 75-80% lower than those built to present standards.[1] In addition, major housebuilders have agreed to deliver net zero and sustainable production and construction methods by 2025.[2] MEDITE SMARTPLY is committed to move towards carbon neutrality by 2030, through scopes 1 & 2, with the ultimate aim of being a net zero manufacturing company by 2050. This means that sustainability is core to all levels of our business, and we are committed to manufacturing environmentally conscious products that add value throughout the supply chain. Carbon is stored in our products and remains locked inside throughout the lifespan of the product.

SMARTPLY OSB is made from FSC® certified timber from sustainable, fast-growing pine and spruce, which includes the tops that are not used to make any other wood-based product. Because OSB is made of wood strands the whole tree is used, and nothing is wasted. Unlike other alternative wood products that require large, slow growing trees, and because layers are stripped off, not all the tree is used.

There is also less waste with engineered wood panels compared to traditional construction materials because the panels are cut to size in the factory. This makes products such as the SMARTPLY OSB range suitable for traditional building and for modern methods of construction (MMC).

Garvan de Bruir used SMARTPLY MAX OSB/3 to create unique prototype dwellings designed for sustainable modular building uses in Kildare Ireland. “It was important to me that locally sourced materials were used for the project,” explained Garvan. “I’m based in Kildare, and I like that the MEDITE SMARTPLY factories are relatively close, and that they use timber from sustainably managed forests right here in Ireland.”

Additionally, SMARTPLY OSB panels are also easier to work with. The panels have no structural defects such as knotholes and core voids unlike alternative wood products. Those working with the product can be sure of achieving consistent results as the panels cut easily and will not delaminate.

If you need stronger, more sustainable panels for use in construction, choose SMARTPLY OSB.

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/956094/Government_response_to_Future_Homes_Standard_consultation.pdf

[2] https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/major-house-builders-agree-to-sector-wide-net-zero-plan-71848