Testing and Evaluating Procedures for Building Boards

A need for a composite test procedure for all types of building board products–insulation board, hardboard, and particleboard–is evident because of the expanded uses and the additional classes or types of products being made. Manufacturers of building boards need quality control tests to insure their products meet minimum specifications during manufacturing. Practical tests should 1) require a minimum of time, 2) use simplified equipment, 3) be sensitive and accurate, 4) measure a particular quality and 5) be simple to make. If values from similar tests for quality control and use specifications are to be compared, they should be corrected for the hygroscopic nature of the wood particles. Specification tests for fiberboards will ultimately be used reflect their varied uses and their physical and strength properties as they become more important. Sampling procedures using statistical quality control may be used to certify certain board properties rather than using specification testing procedures. Organizations promulgating test procedures for building fiberboards are the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), and the Commercial Standards and Federal Specifications for Building Fiberboards. Pertinent standards and specifications detailing test procedures for each organization are listed. Standard testing procedures for quality control and product specification, with emphasis on engineering test procedures, are discussed in detail. The following testing procedures are discussed: specific gravity (density), static bending (flexure), tensile strength parallel to the surface, tensile strength perpendicular to surface, lateral nail resistance, direct nail withdrawal, hardness, water absorption, linear variation with change in moisture content, and accelerated aging. Other tests on fiberboard by the F.P.L. are not included in the ASTM. Some are for special properties and some require specialized equipment. These are: shear strength parallel to surface, glue line shear strength, direct screw withdrawal, nailhead pull through, compression parallel to surface, impact tests, abrasion resistance and special tests. Tests for composites are built around use requirements of the finished construction.

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