[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66734-66735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No.: 101006483-0483-02]


Proposed Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-10, Structural Plywood

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

[[Page 66735]]


ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is 
soliciting public comment on a proposed revision to Voluntary Product 
Standard (PS) 2-04, Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Use 
Panels. This revised standard, PS 2-10, was prepared by the Standing 
Committee for PS 2 and establishes requirements, for those who choose 
to adhere to the standard, for the structural criteria to assess the 
acceptability of wood-based structural-use panels for construction 
sheathing and single-floor applications. It also provides a basis for 
common understanding among the producers, distributors, and the users 
of these products. Interested parties are invited to review the 
proposed standard and submit comments to NIST.

DATES: Written comments regarding the proposed revision, should be 
submitted to the Standards Services Division, NIST, no later than 
November 29, 2010.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy (an Adobe Acrobat File) of the proposed 
standard, PS 2-10, can be obtained at the following Web site: http://gsi.nist.gov/global/index.cfm/L1-5/l2-44/A-355. This site also includes 
an electronic copy of PS 2-04 (the existing standard) and a summary of 
significant changes. Written comments on the proposed revision should 
be submitted to David F. Alderman, Standards Services Division, NIST, 
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2150, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2150. Electronic 
comments may be submitted to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David F. Alderman, Standards Services 
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, telephone 
(301) 975-4019; fax: (301) 975-4715, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-10 
establishes structural criteria for assessing the acceptability of 
wood-based structural-use panels for construction sheathing and single-
floor application, and provides a basis for common understanding among 
the producers, distributors, and the users of these products. After 
conducting a review of the current standard, PS 2-04, the Standing 
Committee for PS 2 determined that updates were needed to reflect 
current industry practices, and developed this proposal through 
meetings to review the standard and propose needed changes. The 
proposed standard does not address non-structural issues such as 
resistance to biological agents. Applications for structural plywood 
other than construction sheathing and single-floor sheathing may 
require additional engineering considerations that are not covered by 
this document.
    The proposed revision of the standard has been developed and is 
being processed in accordance with Department of Commerce provisions in 
Title 15 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, part 10, Procedures 
for the Development of Voluntary Product Standards, as amended 
(published June 20, 1986). The Standing Committee for PS 2 is 
responsible for maintaining, revising, and interpreting the standard, 
and is comprised of producers, distributors, users, and others with an 
interest in the standard. Committee members voted on the revision, 
which was approved unanimously. The Committee then submitted a report 
to NIST along with the voting results and the draft revised standard. 
NIST has determined that the revised standard should be issued for 
public comment.
    The revision includes the following changes:
     Panel thickness: In order to resolve the inconsistency 
with NIST standards used by ``weights and measures'' regulators, PS 2 
will require labeling with both a ``Performance Category,'' which is a 
fractional label such as 15/32, and a decimal thickness declaration, 
such as ``THICKNESS 0.438 IN.'' The Performance Category will maintain 
consistency with the panel thickness specifications required in the 
U.S. model codes. The Performance Category panel labeling will permit 
the abbreviations ``PERF CAT,'' ``CAT'' or ``Category.'' The decimal 
thickness declaration will help assure that panels are compliant with 
weights and measures regulations.
     Two nonmandatory appendices were added to provide guidance 
on NIST Handbook 130 ``Packaging and Labeling Regulations,'' and to 
provide suggested thickness labeling.
     Nonmandatory appendices on attributes related to Green 
Building and Formaldehyde were added.
     A nonmandatory appendix on the history of PS 2 was added.
     The moisture content specifications for the ``dry,'' 
``wet/redry'' and ``wet'' test conditions were clarified in various 
sections of the standard.
     The tables containing performance requirements were 
modified to provide clarity and references to the sections of the 
standard that provide the test methods and pass/fail criteria used 
during the qualification process.
     The original fastener holding requirements for sheathing 
were based on thin plywood panels made with Group 4 species. Those 
panels are not representative of current sheathing panels. In addition, 
some U.S. model code requirements for wall sheathing were made more 
stringent, such that the existing nail holding requirements may not 
justify certain wind load conditions. Therefore, a test program to 
characterize the nail holding properties of current production was 
conducted by two testing agencies. Based on those test results, some 
requirements for nail holding performance of sheathing were increased.
    All public comments will be reviewed and considered. The Standing 
Committee for PS 2 and NIST will revise the standard accordingly.

    Dated: October 22, 2010.
Harry S. Hertz,
Director, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-27433 Filed 10-28-10; 8:45 am]
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