[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7818-7820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3118]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 101006483-1035-02]


Correction to Notice Soliciting Comments on Proposed Voluntary 
Product Standard PS 2-10 and Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Correction to notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On October 29, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology published a notice in the

[[Page 7819]]

Federal Register requesting comments on Proposed Voluntary Product 
Standard PS 2-10. The title of the notice incorrectly gave the title of 
Proposed Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-10 as ``Structural Plywood.'' 
The correct title of the proposed standard is ``Performance Standard 
for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels,'' and appears in the body of the 
notice. NIST is issuing this notice to inform the public of the correct 
title of the October 29 notice and to reopen the comment period to 
encourage the public to submit comments on the proposed standard.

DATES: Written comments regarding the proposed revision, should be 
submitted to the Standards Services Group, NIST, no later than March 
14, 2011.

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 Group, 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 
Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology, telephone: (301) 
975-4019; fax: (301) 975-4715, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 2010, the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology published a notice in the Federal Register 
requesting comments on Proposed Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-10 (75 
FR 66734). The title of the notice incorrectly gave the title of 
Proposed Voluntary Product Standard PS 2-10 as ``Structural Plywood.'' 
The correct title of the proposed standard is ``Performance Standard 
for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels,'' and appears in the body of the 
notice. NIST is issuing this notice to inform the public of the correct 
title of the October 29 notice and to extend the period for submission 
of comments on the proposed standard.
    The deadline for submission of comments given in the October 29 
notice was November 29, 2010. Due to confusion that may have been 
caused by the incorrect title of the October 29 notice, NIST is 
reopening the public comment period. In addition, comments received 
between November 29, 2010 and publication of this notice are deemed 
timely.
    As stated in the October 29, 2010 notice requesting public 
comments, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is 
proposing to revise 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. For the public's convenience, NIST has 
reprinted below the information contained in the October 29, 2010 
notice.
    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.


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    Dated: February 7, 2011.
Charles H. Romine,
Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-3118 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P