DOC:STI/303/6

June 2006

SCHEME OF TESTING AND INSPECTION

FOR CERTIFICATION OF
PLYWOOD FOR GENERAL PURPOSES
ACCORDING TO IS : 303-1989 (third revision)
(Incorporating Amendment No. 1 to 4 )

1. LABORATORY – A laboratory shall be maintained which shall be suitably equipped

and staffed, where different tests given in the specification shall be carried out in accordance
with the methods given in the specification.

1.1 All testing apparatus shall be periodically checked and calibrated records of such
checks/calibration shall be maintained.

2.0 TEST RECORDS - All records of tests and inspection shall be kept in suitable forms
approved by the Bureau.

2.1 Copies of any records and other connected papers that may be required by the Bureau
shall be made available at any time on request.

3. QUALITY CONTROL – It is recommended that, as far as possible, Statistical Quality

Control (SQC.) methods may be used for controlling the quality of the product during production
as envisaged in this Scheme [See IS 397(Part I):2003, IS 397(Part 2):2003 and IS 397 (Part
3):2003].

3.1 In addition, effort should be made to gradually to introduce Quality Management system
in accordance with IS/ISO 9001: 2000

4.0 STANDARD MARK – The Standard Mark, as given in Column (1) of the First
Schedule of the licence, shall be legibly and indelibly marked or stamped on each plywood
board, provided always that the plywood board which this Mark is applied conforms to on every
requirement of the specification.

4.1 MARKING - In addition the following information should be legibly and indelibly
marked or stamped on the face of each plywood board near one corner.

(a) Name of the manufacturer or his recognized trade mark;

(b) Grade and Type of plywood;
(c) No. of plies in the board and its dimensions (1xbxth);
(d) Control unit number (See clause 6.1);
(e) Year of manufacture and
(f) CM/L No……………
(g) The criteria for which the product has been labeled as ECO Mark.

4.2 For ECO Mark the material used from packaging of the plywood shall be recyclable,
reusable or biodegradable.

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5.0 The processing and use of various raw materials going into the production of plywood
shall be as follows.

5.1 TIMBER – Any species of timber may be used for manufacture of plywood. A list of
species for manufacture of plywood is given in Annex B of the standard for guidance.

5.2 The veneers cut from the timbers of non durable species marked with a dagger (+ ) in
Annex B of IS: 303-89 and those cut from the sapwood of all species shall be subjected to the
preservative treatment as laid down in clause 7.1.1 of the specification. A suitable record
shall be maintained of all these preservative treatments (See Form IV Annexed).

5.3 The veneers shall be dried to a suitable moisture content before bonding. Samples of the
dried veneers shall be tested for moisture content before bonding.

5.4 ADHESIVES – The adhesives used for bonding the veneers in different grades of plywood
shall be the corresponding type of adhesive as specified in IS 848 . Extenders, if used shall
satisfy the requirements of cl 6.2.1 of the specification.

6.0 LEVELS OF CONTROL - The tests, as indicated in Table 1 attached and at the levels
of control specified therein, shall be carried out on the whole production of the factory which is
covered by this scheme and appropriate records and charts maintained in accordance with
paragraph 2.0 above. All the production which conforms to the Indian Standards and covered by
the licence shall be marked with certification mark of the Bureau.

6.1 CONTROL UNIT - For the purpose of this Scheme, the total number of plywood boards
of similar construction and type pressed under similar conditions continuously with same mix
of adhesive shall constitute a control unit (Plywood Boards in which the arrangement of veneers
is similar as regards thickness and species of timber on both sides of central ply shall be
considered to be of similar construction).

6.2 MOISTURE CONTENT - A sample from every control unit shall be tested for its
conformance to the requirement of moisture content as laid down in clause 11.3 of the
specification. In the event of the failure of this sample, the plywood in the entire control unit
shall be suitably reconditioned. Such reconditioned material when tested again shall conform to
the requirement of the specification for moisture content.

6.3 GLUE ADHESION AND STATIC BENDING STRENGTH TEST - A sample from
every control unit which has passed the requirement of moisture content as given in clause 6.2
above, shall be subjected to test for glue adhesion and static bending strength test for its
conformance to these requirements of the specification for the relevant grade as laid down in
clauses 11.2.1 and 11.4 of the specification. If the samples selected are found not complying
with the requirements, another sample shall be taken from the same control unit and subjected to
the above tests. If any of the samples in the second set fails to conform to the requirements all
the material in the control unit represented by samples shall be rejected.

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6.4 INSPECTION OF FINISHED PRODUCT

6.4.1 VISUAL DEFECTS AND FINISH - All finished plywood boards, passed as in 6.2 and
6.3 above, shall be examined for visual defects and surface finish for conformance to the relevant
type in accordance with the requirements laid down in clause 5.2, Table 1 & 9.2 of the
specification. Only those plywood boards which are satisfactory in all respects shall be marked.

6.4.2 DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES - The dimensions of all the plywood boards
shall be measured and those found to be not conforming to the requirements as laid down in
clause 8 of the specification shall not be marked.

6.4.2.1 The plywood boards found defective as in 6.4.1 and 6.4 .2 above may, however, be re-
dimensioned to the next smaller sizes to remove the defect(s). Such boards when examined
again shall satisfy the requirements of visual defects, finish and dimensions.

6.5 MYCOLOGICAL TESTS - A sample each from the plywood made from different
species or combination of species of timber and of different grades shall be tested once a month
for mycological tests. In case a sample fails to conform to the requirement of mycological test
for the relevant grade as laid down in clause 11.2.2 of the specification, a thorough check shall
be made about the type of glue used and the quantity and type of preservative added to the glue
line. Marking be resumed after taking corrective actions and obtaining satisfactory result.

6.6 REQUIREMENTS FOR ECO MARK - Plywood Boards shall be manufactured from
wood from sources other than natural forests such as timber from industrial and social forestry
plantations, shade trees, from tea and coffee estates, etc, as applicable under clause 6 of the
specification and such plywood boards shall conform to the requirements of quality and
performance as specified in the standard as well as the requirements of ECO Mark for all the
referred standards.

6.7 In respect of all other clauses of the specification the factory will maintain appropriate
control and checks to ensure that their product conforms to the various requirements of this
specification.

7.0 REJECTIONS - A separate record shall be maintained giving information relating to the
rejection of the production not conforming to the requirements of the specification and the
method of its disposal. Such material shall in no circumstances be stored together with those
conforming to the specification .

8.0 SAMPLES - The licensee shall supply, free of charge, the samples required in accordance
with the Bureau of Indian Standards (Certification) Regulations, 1988, as subsequently amended,
from the factory or godowns. The Bureau shall pay for the samples taken by it from the open
market.

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9.0 REPLACEMENT - Whenever a complaint is received soon after the goods with Standard
marks have been purchased and used, and if there is adequate evidence that the goods have not
been misused, defective goods are replaced free of cost by the licensee in case the complaint is
proved to be genuine and the warranty period (where applicable) has not expired. The final
authority to judge the conformity of the product to the Indian Standard shall be with the Bureau.
The firm shall have own complaint investigation system as per IS 15400.

9.1 In the event of any damages caused by the goods bearing the standard Marks, or claim
being filed by the consumers against BIS Standard mark and not “ conforming to” the relevant
Indian Standard, entire liability arising out of such non conforming product shall be of licensee
and BIS shall not in any way be responsible in such cases.

10.0 STOP MARKING - The marking of the product shall be stopped under intimation to
the Bureau if, at any time, there is some difficulty in maintaining the conformity of their
product to the specification, or the testing equipment goes out of order. The marking may be
resumed as soon as the defects are removed under intimation to Bureau.

10.1 The marking of the product shall be stopped immediately if directed to do so by Bureau
for any reason. The marking may then be resumed only after permission by the Bureau. The
information regarding resumption of marking shall also be sent to the Bureau.

11.0 PRODUCTION DATA -The licensee shall send to BIS as per the enclosed
proforma - 1 to be authenticated by a Chartered Accountant a statement of quantity
produced, marked and exported by him and the trade value thereof at the end of each operative
year of the licence.

. Table 1……

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IS : 303-1989
PLYWOOD FOR GENERAL PURPOSES
TABLE 1 LEVELS OF CONTROL
(Para 6 of the Scheme of Testing and Inspection)

TEST DETAILS LEVELS OF CONTROL

Cl. Requirement Test Methods No. of Lot Size Frequency Remarks
Clause Reference samples
5.2 Visual Defects Visual & IS:303 Each finished The visual inspection should be carried out at a
Table and Finish Annex C (1989) plywood well lighted place. Records of tests shall be kept
1&9 Board in form 1 and II annexed. See also cl 6.4 of this
STI
8. Dimensions & IS:303 -do-
Tolerances (1989)
IS:12049
11.3 Moisture IS:1734 One Control unit Each control See cl. 6.2 of this STI
Content (Pt 1) unit
11.2.1 Glue adhesion IS:1734 -do- -do- -do- See cl. 6.3 of this STI
water Resistance (Pt.5)
Test
11.4 Static Bending IS:1734 -do- -do- -do-
Strength (Pt.II)
11.2.2 Mycological IS:1734 -do- Plywood Once a month This samples may be drawn in such a manner that
Test (Pt.II) made from all the plywood manufactured in different
each set of thicknesses are covered over a period of time. See
species of also clause 6.5 of this STI.
timber &
each grade

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June 2006

FORM I

RECORDS OF TESTS ON PLYWOOD

Date Adhesive Details of plywood boards pressed Details of samples

Mix or Constituents No. of Dimensions Species of Species of Sample No. Construction of
Control of adhesive Plywood (1 x b x th) timber for timber for plywood
unit no. Boards mm face veneers core
veneers

Test Results
Dimensions & Visual
Inspection
Moisture* Content % Glue Adhesion Water Static Bending strength No. of No. No. Types Remarks
Resistance Test plywood passed rejected and
Boards Grades
inspected of
plywood
boards
MOR MOE in the
N/mm2 N/mm2 control
Av Min Av Min unit

* When test have been carried out by oven drying method and with a moisture meter, for comparison readings obtained
by both the methods may be record.
** This is applicable if any other tests are carried out (subject to agreement between manufacturer, and purchaser)
as per clause 11.6

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FORM II

RECORDS OF TESTS ON PLYWOOD (MYCOLOGICAL TESTS ONLY)

Date Details of samples drawn Mycological test results Remarks

FORM III

RECORDS OF PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF VENEERS/PLYWOOD BOARDS

Date Serial No. Type of Veneers/Plywood boards Time of Treatment Temperature *Remarks
of preservative Details of
Treatment used Species of Thickness of Time of Time of Total time Solution
timber Veneers starting stopping of during
the the treatment treatment
treatment treatment

* Quantity of preservative added and the time of addition may be recorded here. The time at which the preservative solution is
changed may also be recorded.