OSB board is one of the most popular materials for construction market. Let's figure out what this material is, what it comes in and where it is used.

When studying building materials, we often come across the name OSB board - also OSB, OSB. This abbreviation stands for ooriented strand board, or oriented strand board.

OSB has a reasonable price, good technical characteristics - and is used in both external and internal decoration during construction. But what exactly is this material?

OSB is made from natural wood chips and consists of three main layers. Thin wood chips are treated with an adhesive composition and laid longitudinally on the bottom layer, transversely on the inner layer, and again longitudinally on the top outer layer. After this, the finished slab is pressed at very high high temperature, and as a result, the glue hardens, turning the material into a thin and dense homogeneous surface.

Oriented strand board was invented in America several decades ago, when during the mass construction of frame housing it became clear that neither ordinary tree, nor chipboards do not allow the construction of inexpensive but high-quality houses.

The coating fits perfectly on this surface, which combines the advantages of ceramics and linoleum.

OSB has become a successful intermediate option between conventional wood board and chipboard. Oriented strand material has high strength, but a reasonable price, and at the same time retains fairly good resistance to deformation - due to its transverse-longitudinal structure.

• At the moment, there are many varieties of OSB, differing, among other things, in appearance. Laminated, varnished, corrugated - the material is convenient for execution exterior finishing and beautiful enough to create a budget interior design.
• OSB weighs little, lasts a long time, it is very easy to work with - the material is easy to cut and drill, paint, wallpaper, tiles and plaster fit well on its surface.
• OSB board remains quite resistant to temperature influences and high humidity, and also reduces noise levels in rooms and retains heat.

And of course, all these advantages are complemented by the main advantage of the OSB board - it is inexpensive. There are both very cheap and more expensive options on the market - but even “luxury” material remains affordable from a financial point of view.

Types of OSB and technical characteristics

Boards made by pressing wood chips are divided into several varieties. They differ in their characteristics - with the main parameters being strength, moisture resistance and thickness.

There are four types in total - from OSB-1 to OSB-4. Let's briefly look at the characteristics of each of them.

• OSB-1. This is the least durable variety, which is practically not used in construction and interior decoration. Possesses low level strength and moisture resistance. When immersed in water for twenty-four hours, its swelling coefficient is 25%. The strength indicator for longitudinal bending is 2500 N per square millimeter, for transverse bending - 1200 N per square millimeter.
• OSB-2. The next type of particle board has slightly greater strength - 3500 and 1400 N per square millimeter with longitudinal and transverse forces, respectively. However, the material's resistance to moisture remains low - the swelling level is 20%.
• OSB-3. This variety belongs to a higher class. Its strength indicators are the same as those of the previous variety - however, moisture resistance is much higher. With constant contact with water, the material swells by only 15%. OSB-3 is the most popular type of particle board among buyers, since with good performance the material maintains an affordable price.
• OSB-4. This is the highest quality of oriented strand boards - it can even be used when creating load-bearing structures. It has a strength of 4800 and 1800 N per square millimeter at longitudinal and transverse pressure; per day of contact with water, its swelling is only 12%. True, the price of such material is almost twice as high as the cost of the previous OSB board.

In addition to strength and moisture resistance, great importance has thickness. It can range from 8 to 26 millimeters. Typically, the thickness indicator directly depends on the class; the stronger the slab, the thicker it is in diameter.

Another important parameter is the flammability index of OSB. Unfortunately, oriented particle boards belong to class G-4 - that is, they are a highly flammable material. This is not surprising - after all, they are made of natural wood chips. To give the material greater fire resistance, manufacturers treat the slabs with special compounds and impregnations. However, it is necessary to understand that in the event of a fire, OSB will ignite one way or another - and even the most quality material

cannot be completely non-flammable.

Is the material harmful to health? OSB boards are used not only for external, but also for interior decoration

premises. There is still debate about how harmful the material is to health. Opponents of oriented strand boards argue their position by the fact that when producing the material, manufacturers use formaldehyde impregnations. Consequently, during operation, fumes must inevitably be released that are hazardous to human health. But is this really so? In general, we can say that everything depends on the specific manufacturer and its approach to environmental friendliness of products. OSB boards can have four options for environmental labeling: E0, E1, E2, E3 . Despite the fact that E3 class boards contain up to 30 milligrams of formaldehyde emissions per 100 grams of material, and E0 class boards - up to only 6.5 milligrams , extremely acceptable standards

In terms of harmful fumes, no variety exceeds. In addition, most manufacturers - especially Western ones - are trying to further reduce the presence of formaldehyde in their materials, replacing toxic impregnations with safe ones polymer compounds

. Many types of OSB are recommended for use in interior decoration - if their toxicity posed a health hazard, the material could only be “approved” for exterior use.

And finally, the environmental safety of OSB is confirmed

OSB board: application, characteristics, reviews OSB boards (OSB) are a relatively new high-tech wood-based board construction material

, which has already become indispensable in wooden frame housing construction, furniture manufacturing and decoration. Important advantages of OSB (OSB) boards are strength and elasticity.

OSB board - what is it? Oriented Strand Boards

OSB (OSB - all these abbreviations mean the same material) is a dense compressed three-layer board made from large oriented wood chips. In practice, OSB replaces plywood and chipboard. The name clearly explains the appearance - it is easy to recognize oriented strand boards by their elongated chips.

The OSB (OSB) board consists of 3 layers. In the inner layer of OSB, the chips are located transversely, in the lower and upper layers- on the contrary, longitudinally. Each layer of OSB board is pre-glued with waterproof resins and pressed under high temperature.

The main raw material for the production of OSB boards is medium- and low-quality coniferous wood, as well as small-sized wood that is not suitable for processing in plywood production and sawmilling. Wood waste do not apply here.

Did you know that the appearance of the first OSB dates back to the late 1970s and is associated with the development of wafer board production in the USA. Beginning in 1978, the material quickly began to gain popularity. By 2000, in the United States, the production of OSB boards was almost equal in volume to the production of plywood.

OSB board - dimensions and characteristics

One of the features of manufacturing OSB (OSB) boards is the elimination of crushed product and small chips. The technology allows us to significantly reduce the amount of glue used in OSB (2-3%), unlike others wood-based building materials .

This is how OSB (OSB) boards acquire water resistance, resistance to loads and tension, and elasticity. OSB boards physical properties similar to plywood coniferous species, however, the cost of OSB is much cheaper, given the low quality requirements for wood raw materials. Increased mechanical properties, in comparison with conventional chipboard, are achieved by multidirectional orientation of chips in the layers of the OSB board. With static bending, the tensile strength of OSB boards with a density of 650-720 kg/cubic. m is 40-50 MPa in the longitudinal, 20-25 MPa in the transverse directions. For comparison: plywood general purpose made of birch has a static bending strength of 55-60 MPa.

OSB boards retain everything in flat chips beneficial features solid wood, but eliminates its defects - delamination, warping, falling knots, internal cracks and voids. OSB (OSB) is distinguished by high uniformity of structure. Standard sizes of OSB boards are 2500x1250, 2440x1220 and 3660x1220 mm, with a thickness of 8-40 mm.

OSB ECO boards (OSB ECO) have the highest environmental parameters. OSB-3 is produced on the basis of polyurethane resins with minimal formaldehyde content. The environmental safety of OSB ECO boards is confirmed by certificates.

OSB (OSB) boards - application and capabilities

The characteristics of OSB boards significantly expand the scope of their application for both interior and exterior decoration. OSB is suitable as a base for many types of roofing materials. They provide good sound absorption, thermal insulation, high rigidity and are able to withstand heavy snow and wind loads.

Subfloors are assembled from OSB boards and used as a complete flooring. OSB boards(OSB) are perfectly combined with any external facing coatings when covering walls. OSB boards are also used for construction supporting structures in wall and interfloor ceilings, repeatedly - for removable concrete formwork. In addition to construction and finishing, OSB is in demand in furniture production and packaging industry.

By changing the design of OSB (OSB), for example, the thickness and number of layers, the size and orientation of wood particles, the type of binder and consumption, the boards are given different properties that determine their purpose. The surface of the OSB board can be varnished, laminated, tongue-and-groove.

OSB boards are easy to process and hold any fastenings well. The retention rate of OSB (OSB) fasteners is 25% higher than that of softwood plywood and chipboard.

OSB 3 boards: what does the marking mean?

Based on strength and moisture resistance, there are four types of OSB boards. The OSB 1 marking means that the board is intended for use in dry rooms, for the manufacture of furniture, finishing and decorative elements. OSB 2 is also recommended for conditions with low humidity. OSB 2 boards are suitable for creating load-bearing structures.

Designations 3 and 4 allow the use of slabs OSB 3, 4 in damp areas. For OSB 4 boards, high mechanical loads are permissible.

When choosing OSB boards, pay attention to the type of material in terms of strength and moisture resistance - there are four in total. OSB 3 is characterized by the greatest versatility; they are suitable for both interior and exterior work.

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When there is a need to carry out construction or Finishing work, then the problem immediately arises: what material to use. After all, the work must be done reliably, and the structure must last a long time. We must not forget about financial investments; they must be fully justified. Therefore, OSB boards, which have many positive characteristics.

What is OSB or OSB? You should immediately pay attention to the variety of names that are found everywhere. Sometimes there are even disagreements on this issue. So, OSB and OSB are an abbreviation for oriented strand boards, which comes from the English OSB.

The process of manufacturing OSB boards from wood chips in several layers

Based on the name, we can conclude about the manufacturing method. For production, wood chips are used, which have different size. This is how such a board differs from chipboard and fiberboard, where the base is sawdust. Strength and elasticity are obtained due to the arrangement of layers - each of them is perpendicular to the previous one. This feature is borrowed from plywood, where the veneer has the same consistency. Of course, we must not forget about the adhesive composition, which affects the quality characteristics.

OSB is divided into types, or rather into classes. They vary in scope. It is customary to highlight:

• OSP-1.
• The material has low stability. Used for minor work.
• OSP-2. Suitable as cladding for load-bearing structures, but only inside dry rooms. OSP-3.
• The most common type that can be used for finishing and

construction work

. Withstands interaction well with humid environments. But prolonged exposure leads to gradual warping.

OSP-4.

The most sustainable option. But there is one drawback - high cost. But it must be taken into account that even with all the resistance of the slabs to a humid environment, they are susceptible to destruction.

Indoor work

For interior decoration, OSB is used in the following situations:

1. Creation of floor coverings

Slabs are an ideal material for such work. They are quite smooth (error no more than 0.3 mm) and strong. They can be laid directly on the base. For example, they are perfect for cladding concrete screed. Laminate or tiles are ideal for laying on such a surface.

OSB boards are perfect for creating flooring

But most often OSB is used for the subfloor of households. Although it is in this case that it is allowed greatest number errors. Therefore, the following parameters need to be taken into account:

• Lag location. The distance between them depends on the selected product class. If you make a mistake in this indicator, the floor will begin to sag.
• Substrate device. A typical mistake Direct location above open ground is considered. This causes the slab to begin to absorb moisture. Everything happens over a long period of time, but the result is the same - the appearance of mold and subsidence of the structure.
• OSB class.

For such work, third class material is used. Although, if the work is carried out for surface cladding, then types with lower performance can be used.

2. Use of OSB boards for installation of internal partitions The construction of internal partitions using OSB is a universal and practical solution

. It allows you to quickly obtain a flat surface that requires minimal preparation for final finishing.

Construction of internal partitions using OSB The convenience of this option is that it becomes possible to additional insulation premises. OSB is laid on a pre-built cellular frame, which is pre-filled.

mineral wool Construction of the frame and insulation with mineral wool is important stage

installation of internal partitions from OSB On a note! For such work, material of the second and third classes is used. Additional processing consists of applying paints and varnishes. And also takes into account the final decorative coating . For example, for wall cladding tiles

it is necessary to putty the surface.

Installation of slabs Exists general scheme

• At the first stage, preliminary priming is carried out. This is done with penetrating compounds. This measure allows you to reduce the absorbency of the slabs, as well as eliminate the possibility of resin release. The further process depends entirely on the decorative coatings.
• If you plan to use wallpaper, then add a little PVA to the glue.
• When coloring occurs, it is better to choose oil paints. And the surface is impregnated with drying oil.

Before using OSB boards, they must be treated with a primer.

On a note! Minor problems may arise when OSB sheets have a glossy front part. This means that wax or paraffin was previously added to the glue. Therefore, impregnation must be done with a primer containing quartz sand. This creates a roughness that will allow other materials to adhere.

Using slabs outside buildings

Excellent performance characteristics allow the use of OSB boards as a building material

It is not surprising that this material has become widely used for cladding work on houses and other buildings. Most often it can be found in the following situations.

Construction of frame structures

In this case, the use of OSB boards occurs in interaction with other materials. Namely, the sheets are used to create sandwich panels. They are ready-made blocks that are lined with particle boards. There is insulation inside this structure.

Thus, it is possible to significantly reduce the time required to construct objects. Of course, it is necessary to take into account the special climatic conditions of each territory. The main mistake is that the sandwich is assembled in violation of technologies that are quite simple.

On a note! Sandwich panels are not used for many jobs. For example, during multi-story construction.

Sheathing of external partitions

For such purposes, only OSB-3 is used. Of course, you can use a higher, fourth class, but this is unreasonably expensive.

To install OSB boards, a frame is built on the basis wooden beam

Such work is carried out using the following technology:

• The main frame is being erected. This is done using a wooden beam, which is pre-treated with the necessary compounds. It must be taken into account that for OSB applications slabs - a rigid structure is required. Special attention is given to the foundation or supports.
• Before facing the slabs need preliminary preparation. They are quite sensitive to constant exposure environment. The ends begin to suffer first, so they are thoroughly impregnated.
• The surface itself needs painting or primer. Much depends on the final type of finish.

It is important to consider that OSB boards cannot act as a final layer. They must be covered with a protective material.

Working with external walls

The use of OSB occurs according to the following scenario (when painting):

1. The ends are well processed. The sheets are laid leaving small gaps. Such seams are filled with acrylic sealants.
2. Primer mixtures are applied. If required, additional impregnation with water-based sealants occurs. It is necessary to dry and sand the surface.
3. Next is laid facade plaster, it is better to choose elastic compounds. Attention is paid to joints that are pre-reinforced.
4. Now you can paint the walls with acrylic or oil mixtures. They have good stability.

Building facades made of OSB boards look very attractive

Other OSB features

In reality, everything types of OSB are becoming increasingly popular. Therefore, the scope of their application is not limited only to finishing or construction activities. Several alternative uses:

• Manufacturing of interior items. In particular – furniture. For the most part, these are frames for sofas and armchairs. Although there are options for cabinet products.
• Various types of containers. This may be packaging for transportation.
• Vehicle finishing. Most often truck trailers.

A material such as OSB is the key to successful construction. But many people mistakenly believe that it becomes possible not to comply with the rules and technology. OSP makes the process easier, but does not make it less responsible.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB, OSB, OSB - short for English expression oriented strand board) is a modern structural and finishing material that used for various works.

OSB was conceived as inexpensive alternative plywood and, because the ability to use non-commercial wood to make chips reduces the cost of the finished product.

• what is OSB;
• what types of oriented strand boards are there;
• which regulations regulate the quality and characteristics of OSB boards;
• what sizes do chip OSBs have, and does their price depend on this;
• how much does this material cost?
• advantages and disadvantages compared to other structural and finishing materials;
• What is OSB used for?

As part of the OSB - several layers thin (0.5–1.5 mm) various forms and sizes, oriented within each layer. The sizes of wood shavings for OSB are 1–20 cm in length and 1–50 mm in width. You can read more about how chips are produced.

Clear orientation in longitudinal or transverse direction No However, the majority of all large wood chips are oriented in the desired direction with a tolerance of up to 60 degrees (in most cases, the rotation relative to the orientation does not exceed 30 degrees).

Due to the fact that most large chips are oriented in one direction, layer gains increased transverse or longitudinal rigidity and strength.

All layers are connected to each other using a mixture of various natural and synthetic adhesives, and each manufacturer uses its own recipe and keeps it secret.

As a result all layers, combined into a single carpet, react together to any bending or twisting an effort, which provides high rigidity and strength compared to chipboard.

In this case, oriented strand board is inferior to plywood in these parameters, because in plywood each layer consists of a whole sheet, so its strength and rigidity are much higher. All sheets correspond to the size accepted at the enterprise.

Regulations

In the Russian Federation, characteristics of OSB regulated by GOST 32567-2013, which you can view at this link.

The basis of this document was international standard EN 300:2006 “Oriented Strand Boards (OSB) – Definitions, classification and specifications”. Therefore, slabs that comply with GOST will also comply with the international standard.

The document applies only to the characteristics of the finished product, allowing the manufacturer to independently choose the most suitable technology. About general technological aspects we talked about it in the article.

Types of oriented strand sheets

GOST 32567-2013 and the international standard EN 300:2006 divide oriented strand boards (OSB shown in the photo) into strength classes:

1. OSB-1 (OSB-1).
2. OSB-2 (OSB-2).
3. OSB-3 (OSB-3).
4. OSB-4 (OSB-4).

In addition, all types of slabs are divided By appearance of the front side:

• unpolished;
• polished,

and on the release of formaldehyde into the air (emission):

1. E0.5.

Strength and water resistance classes and application features

The OSB-1 class includes a material that is unsuitable for creating load-bearing structures and has minimal moisture resistance. It is used for finishing inside dry rooms, sheathing various panels. In addition, it applies for furniture making.

In terms of rigidity, OSB-1 is inferior to gypsum plasterboard and fiberglass board, so it is necessary to reduce the distance between the sheathing parts, otherwise the sheathing will be pressed through.

The OSB-2 class includes more rigid and durable boards that can act as load-bearing elements.

For example, due to its low price, OSB-2 of various thicknesses is often used for laying on subfloors.

However, they too not suitable for use in high humidity conditions, therefore they are not used to make external cladding of buildings or SIP panels.

The OSB-3 class includes slabs that differ in their technical characteristics - durable and moisture-resistant elements that have found application as structural. OSP-3 different sizes often used as a subfloor, because they successfully replace floorboard, and their price is noticeably lower.

In terms of strength, particle board OSB-2 and OSB-3 are comparable, so the main difference is the minimal ability to absorb moisture, due to which expansion due to swelling is also minimal.

Moisture-resistant oriented strand boards class OSB-4 of all sizes are distinguished by the highest price, maximum rigidity and strength, therefore they are used only as structural, and in areas with maximum load.

In addition, OSB-4 has a minimal ability to absorb water, thanks to these characteristics they have the most positive reviews and are used in the production of SIP panels, as well as external cladding frame houses.

Type of front surface and ends

The first experience of using oriented strand boards of different sizes - moisture-resistant OSB for exterior use and conventional ones for interior decoration - showed their high efficiency and significant superiority over other materials in terms of price/quality ratio.

As a result, there was a demand for higher quality products, with an even and relatively smooth surface.

This is how the first ones appeared polished slabs Sanding preserves the unique surface pattern, but eliminates all major irregularities. In addition, the tolerance for thickness deviation for sanded products is much lower and amounts to 0.3 mm, while for unpolished products a deviation of 0.8 mm is acceptable.

Most slabs have straight ends, but OSB, designed to create a continuous flooring, has locks are cut out at the ends, which allow you to lay sheets without gaps.

These oriented strand boards are called tongue and groove. You can read more about tongue and groove slabs.

Manufacturers also offer polished slabs, varnished or laminated.

The front side of the former is impregnated with waterproof and wear-resistant varnish, while the latter has front side a thin wear-resistant film is deposited. Typically, such coatings are applied to material intended for finished flooring and external waterproof finishing.

3 formaldehyde emission classes and environmental friendliness

To reduce costs and increase the strength of OSB, manufacturers forced to use adhesives containing formaldehyde. After hardening and polymerization, such adhesives have fairly high resistance to water and good strength.

The use of adhesives that do not contain formaldehyde either does not provide the required strength or greatly increases the cost finished product, depriving it of its main advantage - low price compared to plywood.

Therefore, it was necessary to divide OSB into classes based on formaldehyde emissions. Minimum class E0.5 allows up to 4 mg/100 grams of OSB. Wherein content of a poisonous drug in the air for any time should not exceed 0.08 mg/m3.

For class E1 formaldehyde content should not exceed 8 mg/100 grams, and the maximum permissible the content in the air is 0.124 mg/m3.

For class E2 the formaldehyde content in 100 grams of OSB should not exceed 30 mg, and the emission should not exceed 1.25 mg/m3.

At the same time, the average daily concentration of formaldehyde in residential premises should not exceed 0.01 mg/m3, as stated in Appendix 2 of SanPiN 2.1.2.1002-00 “Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for residential buildings and premises.”

You can read this document by following the link. Even the conditionally safe class E0.5 releases an amount of this toxic substance that exceeds the standards, so OSB can not use For interior decoration residential premises without ventilation, since it can still be quite harmful to human body without following these safety precautions.

Dimensions and weight

Single standard that is standard sizes OSB does not exist, but most manufacturers adhere to the following length and width parameters in mm:

• 1250x2500;
• 1200x2400;
• 590x2440.

There are other sizes of OSB-1, OSB-2, OSB-3 and OSB-4. If, instead of purchasing finished products, you prefer something made to order, then they can make you any size, up to a length of 7 meters.

Sheet thickness ranges from 6 mm to 25 mm in increments of 2 or 3 mm. However most popular slabs with a thickness of 8–16 mm are considered. Also quite often Russian market There are OSB thicknesses of 9 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm and 15 mm, their cost usually increases according to the increase in their parameters.

The weight of the sheet depends on its thickness and size, because the average density of any type of board is the same and is 600–700 kg/m3. Therefore, the weight of OSB with dimensions 1220x2440 mm is 12.5 kg with a thickness of 6 mm, with a thickness of 9 mm and 12 mm it will be correspondingly greater, and with a thickness of 22 mm it will be 42.5 kg.

Marking

The general principle of marking OSB produced in Russia and abroad is the same. On one side indicate:

• variety;
• dimensions (length, width, thickness);
• formaldehyde emission class;
• type of front surface;
• manufacturer's name.

If you purchase OSB, intended for sale in America and Europe, then you need to be aware of the differences in labeling. The variety may not be specified in the same way as in EN 300:2006, but in accordance with CSA O325, that is:

• W – oriented strand board for sheathing interior walls dry rooms;
• 1F – rough flooring;
• 2F – OSB for finishing flooring;
• 1R – material for roof sheathing without creating support at the edges;
• 2R - the same, but with support at the edges.

In addition, after the letter indicate two-digit number, which means maximum permissible distance between supports in inches, for example 1F18.

If OSB is suitable for various applications, then all tolerances are listed, for example, 1F18/2R20. Moisture resistance with this marking is also indicate separately:

1. Interior– an analogue of OSB-1, with its technical characteristics suitable for use only in dry rooms.
2. Esposure Type Binder– a board with average moisture resistance. Can be used in rooms with slightly increased humidity levels, and after treatment with protective preparations can also be used for exterior decoration.
3. Exterior Bond– material with maximum moisture resistance, suitable for any application even without additional processing hydrophobic agents.

Besides, may meet and other inscriptions:

1. SHEATHING SPAN– the distance between the axes of the joists in inches, if the numbers are indicated as a fraction, then the first value refers to the roof joists, the second to the joists interfloor covering. If the number 0 is indicated instead of the second value, then the oriented strand board is only suitable for use on the roof and cannot be laid on interfloor floors.
2. THIS SIDE DOWN– bottom side mark. On outside OSB with this inscription has small grooves to drain water, so improper installation will lead to the fact that during rain the water will not drain effectively and the slab will begin to swell.
3. STRENGTH AXIS THIS DIRECTION- this inscription is always accompanied by an arrow that points in the direction perpendicular to the joists. In other words, OSB with such an inscription must be laid so that the arrow is rotated 90 degrees relative to the joist.

The marking of laminated and varnished boards is not specified in generally accepted documents, so each manufacturer designates this type of material in its own way.

The same applies to wood-oriented boards with locks on the ends.

Price

Price of slabs depends on:

• strength, water resistance and formaldehyde emission classes;
• dimensions (length, width, thickness);
• sanding, varnishing, laminating or locking the ends;
• manufacturer.

Brand	Dimensions (thickness, width, length in mm)	Manufacturer	Cost, rubles per sheet
OSB-1 E1 Unsanded	6x1250x2500	Egger (Romania)	500
OSB-1 E1 Unsanded	12x1250x2500	Egger (Romania)	650
OSB-2 E1 Unsanded	9x2440x1220	Kalevala (Russia)	530
OSB-3 E1 Varnished	18x1250x2500	Glunz (Germany)	2150
OSB-3 E1 Grooved Unsanded	12x1250x2500	Bolderaja (Latvia)	900
OSB-3 Laminated E1	18x1220x2440	Baumak (Russia)	1500
OSB-3 E1 Sanded	12x1220x2440	Kalevala (Russia)	700
OSB-3 E1 Unsanded	22x1220x2440	Kronspan (Russia)	1350
OSB-3 E1 Unsanded	12x1250x2500	Egger (Austria)	1180
OSB-3 E1 Unsanded	22x1220x2440	Egger (Germany)	1350
OSB-4 E1 Unsanded	12x1250x2500	Kronspan (Belarus)	820

The most popular strength class is OSB-3 and emission class E1 - it is quite difficult to find OSB particle boards of other emission classes, so most often they are made to order, so the price is discussed individually.

It is also worth noting that with the same length and width parameters, but with different thicknesses OSB - for example in 9mm, 12mm, 15 or 18 mm, the price for them will also differ.

Technical characteristics and comparison with other finishing materials

Here main competitors oriented strand boards:

• plywood (No. 1);
• Chipboard (No. 2) (link to chipboard);
• Fiberboard (No. 3);
• GKL (No. 4);
• glass-magnesite sheet (No. 5);
• smooth slate (No. 6);
• DSP (No. 7).

In parentheses are the numbers assigned to them, in the order in which we included them in the table where you can compare Main settings And specifications, that is:

• density;
• the possibility of use as a structural element, that is, subflooring, roofing, etc.;
• thermal conductivity;
• vapor permeability;
• flammability (ability to sustain combustion);
• toxicity under normal conditions/in case of fire.

Options	Materials
	OSB	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Density kg/m3	500–600	500–900	600–700	500–700	500–900	800–1300	900–1500	350–1500
Possibility of use as a structural element, that is, subflooring, roofing, etc.	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes for slabs with a density over 1100 kg/m 3
Thermal conductivity	0,14	0,14	0,15	0,16	0,15	0,21	0,28	0,07
Vapor permeability	0,004	0,02	0,08	0,1	0,1	0,2	0,1	0,4
Flammability high, medium, low (B, C, H)	IN	IN	IN	IN	WITH	N	N	N
Toxicity under normal conditions/in case of fire, high, medium, low (V, C, H)	I/O	I/O	S/W	N/S	N/N	N/N	V/N	N/N

Density finishing material affects the weight of the sheet and can make it difficult to climb to the upper floors and install. Therefore, the low density of OSB is serious advantage, which is further enhanced if we take into account the possibility of using oriented strand boards as a structural material.

With low OSB density has high strength, so you can do from it:

• rough and finished floors in residential premises;
• roof decking;
• steps on stairs;
• removable formwork;
• SIP panels;
• various fences.

By thermal conductivity OSB is comparable to plywood and superior to most finishing materials, second only to DSP and fiberboard. However, according to this important parameter, as vapor permeability, it is inferior to most competitors.

Because of this, in houses lined with OSB, it is necessary to take special measures to remove moisture and protect against condensation. For more information about the effect of vapor permeability on the humidity in the house and the condition of the walls, read the article (Application of OSB).

Oriented Strand Boards belong to the class of flammable fire hazardous materials.

Manufacturers are trying to reduce the level of flammability using pyrophobic preparations, but even such boards are superior to plywood and wood in this parameter.

In addition, high strength finished slabs manages to get only using formaldehyde-based adhesives, which is a strong poison, and therefore OSB is not environmentally friendly.

Therefore, covering the internal space with OSB sheets, although inexpensive, leads to exceeding the maximum permissible concentration of this substance, which negatively affects well-being and health.

However, all the significant disadvantages of this material can be neutralized by proper use. After all, even in E2 class slabs, the rate of formaldehyde release is so low that any ventilation or periodically opened window can easily cope with it.

But you still need to know - during a fire, OSB emits not only carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide, but also many toxic substances posing a threat, causing harm to health.

Installation of systems fire safety, including smoke detectors, is useful in any home. After all, during a fire, the main danger is not toxic substances, but smoke, which makes it difficult to leave the room.

In addition, many pieces of furniture and Appliances During a fire, toxic substances are released in large quantities. That's why in case of a small fire OSB sheathing poses no threat, if the fire safety systems work properly and extinguish the fire. If the systems do not work and the fire gains strength, then there will be enough smoke and toxic substances even in houses without such cladding.

Video on the topic

Briefly and concisely about the main properties, advantages and disadvantages, benefits and possible harm of OSB in the video presented:

Conclusion

OSB boards are a good and modern structural and finishing material that has both advantages and disadvantages. However, all the disadvantages are compensated by the correct use of boards, and the advantages make OSB more attractive than other materials.

After reading the article, you learned:

• what is OSP, and how to decipher this abbreviation;
• about the characteristics and properties of OSB boards;
• what is the difference, for example, between OSB-2 and OSB-3 and other types of oriented strand boards;
• about the price of chip OSB;
• about the features of their use and other parameters.

In contact with

Construction companies, as well as furniture manufacturers, often indicate OSB boards or simply OSB as the materials used. This abbreviation usually means nothing to the average consumer. So, OSB - what is it, what is it used for, what advantages or disadvantages does it have?

The name OSB is simply deciphered - these are the initial letters of the words orient strand board, which are translated as oriented strand board. The boards can also be called OSB panels, OSB sheets, or simply OSB or OSB.

The boards are made from flat wood shavings or wood chips. For the production of OSB boards, raw materials from coniferous trees are most suitable, but aspen, poplar, etc. are also used. Unlike other particle boards (chipboard, for example), in OSB chips are laid in a given direction. That is why such particle boards are called oriented. Since OSB boards consist of several (usually three) layers, the direction of the chips in the layers alternates, making these boards more durable.

To connect wood chips together, resins consisting of urea, melamine, waxes and other substances are used. The resin content in the composition is less than 10%, which makes OSB panels a conditionally natural material. Panels can be laminated or varnished for added protection.

OSB boards are widely used in house construction. In particular, they are part of the material used for.

OSB board is sheets measuring approximately 2.5 by 1.25 m. The thickness of the boards can be different, it varies from 6 to 38 mm. For ease of installation, the slabs can have machined ends using the tongue-and-groove principle.

Types of OSB

There are 4 types of OSB, all of them are divided by strength and water resistance:

Pros and cons of OSB

The advantages of oriented strand panels include the following properties:

• price;
• strength;
• moisture resistance;
• ease of processing;
• no delamination;
• excellent holding capacity - fasteners in OSB hold much better than in chipboard.

What about security? There are misconceptions about human health. Someone says this toxic material that it cannot be used indoors, that OSB emits formaldehyde, etc. The vast majority of such misconceptions are complete fiction and have nothing to do with the true state of affairs. Firstly, all panels are certified. An international standard E1 has been developed for materials used in house construction. OSB boards that are marked accordingly are safe for humans. Secondly, conventional primer and painting completely blocks the release of any substances from the slabs. Thus, they are as safe as possible for health and there are no obstacles to using them indoors.

There are completely safe OSB boards. The binders used in the production of EUROSTRAND® OSB 3 E0 boards from Egger do not contain formaldehyde at all. The binding element is not phenol-formaldehyde resin, but a paraffin-wax emulsion and polyurethane resin.

Process of laying OSB chips

Comparison of OSB and plywood

OSB boards can be compared with other materials and, above all, with plywood. They are similar in their qualities, but if you have a choice between plywood or OSB, then you should pay attention to the following facts:

• For the production of OSB, shavings of fast-growing species are used; for plywood, more “noble” raw materials are needed - as a result, the cost of OSB is lower due to the price of raw materials;
• OSB boards do not delaminate;
• OSB has a more uniform structure and the shear strength of OSB is higher than that of plywood;
• the strength of plywood and OSB is approximately the same, but OSB's strength characteristics do not depend on humidity;
• OSB sheets can be produced in any size, the manufacturing process is easy to customize to specific needs;
• OSB boards can be easily processed with any tools;
• In terms of weight and strength ratio, OSB boards are more profitable than plywood.

So, OSB is a lightweight and durable building material, superior in many respects to such famous competitors as plywood. At the same time, the cost of OSB is lower, which makes this material the most promising on the market.