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IS 5539:1969 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for preservative-treated plywood. This specification covers the requirements for preservative treatment of plywood using fixed-type, water-soluble preservatives like Copper-Chrome-Arsenic (CCA) and Acid-Cupric-Chromate (ACC). It details the treatment process, required chemical retention levels for different end-uses (general, marine, cooling towers), and testing methods to ensure protection against fungi, termites, and borers.
Specification for preservative-treated plywood
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Wood and Other Lignocellulosic Products
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! This standard has been officially WITHDRAWN by BIS. It is superseded by various parts of IS 1734:1983. It should only be used for reference on older projects.
! When specifying treated plywood today, refer to IS 303 for the base plywood grade and specify the preservative treatment requirements (chemical type and retention level) based on the intended exposure conditions.
! The 'retention' value (in kg/m³) is the most critical parameter determining the level of protection and durability of the treated plywood.
Consolidated list per BIS. For the text of each amendment, refer to the BIS portal link above.
plywoodwoodchemical preservativesCCAACC
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
AS/NZS 1604.4:2012Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand (Australia/New Zealand)
HighCurrent
Specification for preservative treatment - Part 4: Plywood
Directly specifies preservative treatment requirements for plywood, aligning with a hazard-class system.
BS EN 351-1:2007BSI - British Standards Institution (UK) / CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
MediumCurrent
Durability of wood and wood-based products. Preservative-treated solid wood. Classification of preservative penetration and retention
Covers the classification of treatment outcomes (penetration/retention), a core component of IS 5539, but for solid wood, with principles applied to plywood.
AWPA U1-21American Wood Protection Association (USA)
MediumCurrent
Use Category System: User Specification for Treated Wood
Defines a system for selecting appropriate treatment for various applications, including plywood, but is a 'user guide' to a larger set of standards, not a single specification.
BS 6566-7:1985BSI - British Standards Institution (UK)
HighWithdrawn
Plywood. Specification for preservative treated plywood
As an older, withdrawn standard, it shared a similar all-in-one approach to specifying treated plywood before the modular EN system was adopted.
Key Differences
≠IS 5539 provides a single specification, whereas modern standards (EN, AS/NZS, AWPA) use a sophisticated 'Use Class' or 'Hazard Class' system (e.g., H1-H6) to tailor the level of treatment to the specific end-use environment.
≠The Indian standard specifies older preservative types like Copper-Chrome-Arsenic (CCA) and Copper-Chrome-Boric (CCB). Many international standards have restricted these for certain applications and list a wider range of newer, lower-toxicity alternatives (e.g., ACQ, Copper Azole).
≠IS 5539 is an integrated standard for the final product. The modern European approach is modular, using separate standards for the base plywood (EN 636), the service environment (EN 335), and the treatment process (EN 351-1).
≠IS 5539 mandates 'complete penetration of each veneer', which is an absolute requirement. Modern standards like EN 351-1 define graded penetration classes (e.g., NP1 to NP5), allowing for more nuanced specifications based on the required durability.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 5539 and its international counterparts are founded on the principle of impregnating wood veneers with chemical preservatives, typically via a pressure process, to protect against fungal decay and insect attack.
≈All standards emphasize that the plywood must be machined to its final dimensions before treatment, as any subsequent cutting or drilling would expose untreated wood and compromise its durability.
≈Preservative retention (the amount of chemical absorbed per unit volume) and penetration (how deeply the chemical permeates the wood) are the two critical performance metrics in both IS 5539 and modern international standards.
≈Both systems require the base plywood to conform to a specific quality standard before treatment (e.g., IS 303 for India; EN 636 in Europe) to ensure the structural and bonding integrity of the final product.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Treatment Classification System
A single specification with a distinction for general vs. marine use.
Hazard Class system (e.g., H1 to H6) based on end-use biological risk.
AS/NZS 1604.4:2012
Preservative Retention (CCA, Marine Use)
Not less than 24 kg/m³ of dry salts.
Minimum 25 kg/m³ for Hazard Level H5 (marine contact, non-structural).
AS/NZS 1604.4:2012
Preservative Penetration
Complete penetration of each veneer shall be obtained.
Specified by penetration classes (e.g., P1-P7). For plywood, typically requires full penetration of all veneers.
AS/NZS 1604.1:2021
Base Plywood Requirement
Plywood conforming to IS 303 (BWR grade recommended).
Plywood conforming to EN 636, with bonding class suitable for the service condition (e.g., Class 2 for humid, Class 3 for exterior).
BS EN 351-1:2007
Post-Treatment Moisture Content
The moisture content of treated plywood shall not exceed 20 percent.
Shall be dried after treatment to a moisture content appropriate for its intended end use. Often specified as ≤18%.
AWPA U1-21
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Min preservative retention for general purposes5.6 kg/m³
Min preservative retention for cooling towers12.0 kg/m³
Min preservative retention for marine use16.0 kg/m³
Min concentration of CCA preservative solution4 percent
Min concentration of ACC preservative solution6 percent
Plywood moisture content before treatment< 20 percent