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IS 710:2010 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for marine plywood - specification. This code specifies the manufacturing, requirements, and testing parameters for Marine Plywood. Engineers and architects reference this standard when specifying high-quality, water-resistant plywood for wet interiors (like kitchens), exterior construction, and marine applications.
Specifies the requirements for marine plywood suitable for applications where resistance to water, moisture, and marine organisms is essential.
! Marine plywood MUST be bonded with Boiling Water Proof (BWP) grade synthetic resin adhesives (phenol-formaldehyde). Do not confuse it with BWR (Boiling Water Resistant) grade.
! A key quality indicator is the 72-hour boiling water test. True IS 710 marine plywood will not delaminate after 72 hours of continuous boiling.
! Ensure plywood edges are properly sealed during installation on site, as exposed edges are the primary point of moisture ingress even in marine grades.
Specifies requirements for plywood manufactured from durable veneers for use in marine craft construction.
AS/NZS 2272:2006Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand (AU/NZ)
HighCurrent
Plywood - Marine
Specifies requirements for plywood intended for use in the hulls, decks, and superstructures of boats and ships.
EN 636:2012+A1:2015CEN (European Union)
MediumCurrent
Plywood - Specifications
Specifies requirements for general purpose plywood; Part 3 (EN 636-3) covers use in humid exterior conditions, which is the highest performance class.
Key Differences
≠IS 710 mandates post-manufacture preservative treatment of the entire plywood sheet with CCA or CCB compounds. In contrast, BS 1088 does not mandate chemical treatment, relying instead on the natural durability of the specified timber species.
≠IS 710 provides a prescriptive list of approved timber species for faces and cores (e.g., Dipterocarpus, Tectona). BS 1088 is performance-based, requiring veneers from timber species rated as 'durable' or 'moderately durable' according to EN 350, allowing a wider variety.
≠IS 710 requires the Phenol Formaldehyde adhesive to be 'fortified' with chemicals toxic to microorganisms (glue line poisoning), a specific requirement not found in BS 1088 or EN 636, which focus solely on the bond's durability (Class 3).
≠The primary water resistance test in IS 710 is a continuous 72-hour boil test. The equivalent test for BS 1088 (derived from EN 314-2 Class 3) involves a shorter boil (4 hours) but is part of a more complex cycle of boiling, drying, and cooling before testing bond strength.
Key Similarities
≈All standards (IS 710, BS 1088, AS/NZS 2272) mandate the use of a Weather and Boil Proof (WBP) adhesive. IS 710 specifies Phenol Formaldehyde (PF), while BS 1088 requires bonding that meets Class 3 of EN 314-2, which is functionally equivalent.
≈A core principle for all marine plywood standards is the prohibition of core voids. All standards have extremely strict limits on gaps and overlaps between core veneers to prevent water entrapment and ensure structural integrity.
≈All standards require the use of high-quality veneers with very few defects. They place strict limitations on knots, splits, and other imperfections for both face and core veneers.
≈The fundamental scope of IS 710, BS 1088, and AS/NZS 2272 is to specify a plywood product suitable for boat building and other applications involving prolonged exposure to water and high humidity.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Adhesive Type
Phenol Formaldehyde (PF) synthetic resin, fortified against microorganisms.
Must meet requirements for Bonding Class 3 per EN 314-2 (equivalent to WBP/PF).
BS 1088-1:2018
Water Resistance Test
Immersion in boiling water for 72 hours without delamination.
Test pieces must pass the EN 314-2 Class 3 test, which includes a 4-hour boil cycle.
BS 1088-1:2018
Preservative Treatment
Mandatory. Finished plywood treated with CCA (12 kg/m³) or CCB (8 kg/m³).
Not mandatory. Relies on the natural durability of timber species. Treatment is an optional extra.
BS 1088-1:2018
Timber Specification
Prescriptive list of approved species for faces and cores.
Performance-based: Veneers must be from species with durability class 'durable' or 'moderately durable' per EN 350.
BS 1088-1:2018
Moisture Content
5% to 15%
Generally between 6% and 14% at time of despatch.
BS 1088-1:2018
Minimum Face Veneer Thickness (pre-sanding)
1.0 mm
1.0 mm for panels with 4 or more plies.
BS 1088-1:2018
Mycological Test
Required to test resistance to micro-organisms.
Not required. Resistance is assumed from adhesive type and timber durability.
BS 1088-1:2018
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values8
Quick Reference Values
moisture content range5 to 15 percent
glue shear strength dry average min1350 N
glue shear strength dry individual min1100 N
glue shear strength after 72h boiling average min1000 N
tensile strength parallel to grain min42.0 N/mm²
tensile strength sum parallel and perpendicular min60.0 N/mm²
What is the acceptable moisture content for marine plywood?+
Between 5 and 15 percent at any place within the board (Clause 6.1).
What adhesive is mandated for IS 710 marine plywood?+
Boiling Water Proof (BWP) grade synthetic resin adhesive conforming to IS 848.
How is the water resistance of marine plywood tested?+
It is subjected to a 72-hour continuous boiling water test to check for delamination and retention of glue shear strength.
What is the difference between IS 303 and IS 710?+
IS 303 covers general-purpose plywood (MR and BWR grades), while IS 710 specifically covers Marine Plywood (BWP grade) which has superior water resistance and structural strength.