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IS 14616:1999 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for laminated veneer lumber - specification. This standard specifies the requirements for Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), an engineered wood product used for structural applications. It covers materials (veneers, adhesives), manufacturing, dimensions, physical and mechanical properties, testing procedures, and marking.
Laminated veneer lumber - Specification
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Structural Engineering — Wood and Other Lignocellulosic Products
Specifies requirements, test methods, and conformity control for structural LVL used in buildings.
AS/NZS 4357.0:2005Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand, Australia/New Zealand
HighCurrent
Structural laminated veneer lumber, Part 0: Specifications
Details material, production, and performance requirements for LVL intended for structural use.
JAS 233:2019Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS), Japan
MediumCurrent
Laminated Veneer Lumber
Provides quality and performance criteria for LVL within the Japanese grading and certification system.
Key Differences
≠IS 14616 is largely a prescriptive standard that defines minimum properties for set grades, whereas standards like ASTM D5456 are performance-based qualification standards, allowing manufacturers to establish proprietary design values through extensive testing.
≠IS 14616 explicitly mentions timber species prevalent in India (e.g., Rubber wood, Poplar), while international standards like EN 14374 and ASTM D5456 are species-agnostic, focusing on the final performance of the product regardless of the wood species used.
≠Adhesive classification in IS 14616 uses Indian terminology ('WBP Type' per IS 848), while European standards refer to EN 301 (Type I/II) and US standards reference ASTM D2559, reflecting different testing protocols and terminologies for bond durability.
≠ASTM D5456 covers a broader category of Structural Composite Lumber (SCL), which also includes Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) and Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL), whereas IS 14616 is exclusively focused on Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL).
Key Similarities
≈All standards are based on the same fundamental definition of LVL: an engineered wood product made from graded veneers laminated together with adhesive, with the grain of most veneers oriented parallel to the length of the member.
≈The primary mechanical properties used for structural evaluation, namely Modulus of Rupture (MOR) for bending strength and Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) for stiffness, are central to all standards.
≈All standards mandate rigorous testing of adhesive bond durability under severe moisture conditions, typically involving boiling water or cyclic soak-dry tests, to ensure long-term performance in service.
≈Control of physical properties such as moisture content, density, and dimensional tolerances is a mandatory requirement across all standards to ensure product consistency and predictable performance.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Moisture Content at Manufacture
6% to 14%
Mean moisture content of a production batch shall be between 6% and 15%.
EN 14374:2004
Bending Strength (MOR) - Parallel
≥ 40 N/mm² (for Grade I)
No prescribed minimum; characteristic values are determined by manufacturer via qualification testing and stated in the declaration of performance.
EN 14374:2004
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) - Parallel
≥ 8000 N/mm² (for Grade I)
No prescribed minimum; established by the manufacturer through qualification. Typical product values often start at 9,500 N/mm².
ASTM D5456-21
Adhesive Type Specification
Phenol Formaldehyde (PF) conforming to WBP type of IS 848
Adhesives must be 'Type I' (weatherproof) as specified in EN 301 for most structural applications.
EN 14374:2004
Thickness Tolerance (for 40 mm thick board)
± 2.0% (±0.8 mm)
± 0.8 mm (Tolerance Class 1)
EN 14374:2004
Bond Quality Test Method
Glue line shear strength test (dry and boiled) as per IS 13745
Delamination test as per ASTM D2559 and bond quality provisions in the standard.
ASTM D5456-21
Density (for Rubber Wood LVL)
≥ 600 kg/m³
Density is not a compliance requirement but a characteristic property to be determined and declared by the manufacturer.
EN 14374:2004
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Moisture Content Range5 to 15 %
Required Adhesive TypeBoiling Water Proof (BWP) conforming to IS 848
Minimum MOE (Grade E12, edgewise)12000 N/mm²
Minimum MOR (Grade S45, edgewise)45 N/mm²
Thickness Tolerance (up to 50mm)±1.0 mm
Maximum Swelling in Water (24h)12 %
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Physical and Mechanical Properties of Laminated Veneer Lumber
Table 2 - Tolerances on Dimensions of Laminated Veneer Lumber
Boiling Water Proof (BWP) type synthetic resin adhesive conforming to IS 848 is mandatory. (Clause 4.2)
What is the acceptable moisture content for LVL?+
The moisture content must be between 5% and 15% at the time of manufacture. (Clause 6.2)
How is LVL graded?+
LVL is graded by its Modulus of Elasticity (e.g., Grade E12) or its Bending Strength/Modulus of Rupture (e.g., Grade S45), as specified in Table 1.
What is the main advantage of LVL over solid timber?+
LVL is an engineered product with more uniform and predictable strength properties, and it can be manufactured in larger dimensions than is typically possible with solid sawn timber.