IS 5437:2020 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for marine plywood. IS 5437 covers marine grade plywood — the highest quality plywood. Must survive 72 hours boiling (vs 8h for BWP IS 303). Used for boats and extreme moisture applications.
Specification for marine grade plywood requiring extreme moisture resistance for boats, ships, and marine environments.
Overview
Status Current
Usage level Specialized
Domain Materials Science — Timber and Wood
Type Specification International equivalents
Also on InfraLens for IS 5437
Practical Notes
! Marine plywood is 3-4x the price of commercial plywood.
! Only specific hardwoods approved — check ISI mark for genuine IS 5437.
! 72-hour boiling test vs 8-hour for BWP grade IS 303.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 3 — Approved timber species
Cl. 4 — Adhesive: phenol formaldehyde (BWP)
Cl. 5 — 72 hours boiling water test
Cl. 6 — Dimensional tolerances
marine plywood BWP plywood boat building waterproof plywood
International Equivalents Similar International Standards
BS 1088:2003 BSI (UK)
High Current
Marine plywood
Both specify marine grade plywood with strict species and bonding requirements.
Key Similarities
≈ Both represent the highest plywood quality for marine use.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter IS Value International Source
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use Report Error
Key Values3 Quick Reference Values
Boiling water test 72 hours
Adhesive Phenol formaldehyde only
Species Gurjan, Keruing and other durable hardwoods
Tables & Referenced Sections Key Tables
Table 1 — Approved species
Table 2 — Physical requirements
Frequently Asked Questions1 Marine vs BWP plywood? + Marine (IS 5437): 72h boiling, approved species, boats/extreme exposure. BWP (IS 303): 8h boiling, wider species, kitchen/bathroom.
QA/QC Inspection Templates 📋
QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.