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IS 851:1978 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for synthetic resin adhesives for construction work (non-structural) in wood. This standard lays down the requirements for synthetic resin adhesives intended for non-structural construction work in wood, such as joinery, doors, windows, and cabinet making. It specifies the types of adhesives, their physical properties, and standardized testing methods to ensure adequate bond strength under normal indoor conditions.
Specification for Synthetic Resin Adhesives For Construction Work (Non-Structural) in Wood
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Wood and Other Lignocellulosic Products
! These adhesives are strictly for non-structural use and must not be used in load-bearing timber members like columns or structural beams.
! Ensure the timber parts to be joined have a moisture content between 10% and 15% before adhesive application to prevent joint failure.
! Surfaces to be glued must be cleanly machined, flat, and free from dust, grease, and old finishes.
synthetic resinadhesivewoodtimberglue
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
EN 204:2016CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Classification of non-structural adhesives for joinery of wood and derived timber products
Classifies thermosetting and thermoplastic non-structural wood adhesives based on water resistance (Durability Classes D1-D4).
ASTM D3110 - 18ASTM International, USA
HighCurrent
Standard Specification for Adhesives Used in Nonstructural Glued Lumber Products
Covers performance requirements for adhesives used in non-structural wood bonding applications.
BS 1204-1:1993BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
MediumWithdrawn
Synthetic resin adhesives (phenolic and aminoplastic) for wood - Part 1: Specification for close-contact adhesives
Specified performance for thermosetting resins (UF, PF, RF) for non-structural wood bonding, similar to IS 851's types.
JIS K 6806:2018JSA (Japanese Standards Association), Japan
MediumCurrent
Urea resin adhesives for wood
Specifies requirements for urea resin adhesives, one of the primary types covered by IS 851, for general wood use.
Key Differences
≠IS 851:1978 uses a two-tier classification: Type I (Boiling Water Resistant) and Type II (Cold Water Resistant). In contrast, EN 204 uses a more detailed four-tier Durability Class system (D1, D2, D3, D4) which relates directly to specific end-use environments.
≠IS 851 specifies shear strength testing via a compression loading method on a plywood-like specimen. Modern standards like EN 204 mandate a tensile shear test on a standardized beech lap-joint specimen, which is a different test geometry and loading principle.
≠Being an older standard, IS 851:1978 has no requirements or test methods for formaldehyde emission, a critical health and environmental parameter now heavily regulated and included in the application of modern European and other international standards (e.g., via EN 717-1).
≠The water immersion cycles for testing are different. For example, IS 851 Type I requires 3 hours of boiling, while the roughly equivalent EN 204 D4 class requires a more severe 6-hour boil test.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 851 and its international counterparts like EN 204 and ASTM D3110 are specifically focused on adhesives for non-structural wood applications, clearly distinguishing them from load-bearing structural adhesives.
≈The core classification principle in both IS 851 and the international standards is based on the performance of the adhesive bond, particularly its resistance to moisture and water under different temperature conditions.
≈All standards use shear strength as the primary mechanical property to evaluate the quality and durability of the adhesive bond, both in dry and wet conditions, even though the specific test methods and specimen configurations may vary.
≈The scope of IS 851 covers thermosetting synthetic resins (like UF, PF), which are the same types of adhesives historically and currently addressed by standards like the withdrawn BS 1204 and tested under EN 204.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Dry Shear Strength
Minimum 100 kgf/cm² (≈ 9.8 N/mm²)
≥ 10 N/mm² (for D1-D4)
EN 204:2016
Cold Water Soak Strength (Type II / D3)
≥ 80 kgf/cm² (≈ 7.8 N/mm²) after 24 hrs soak
≥ 2 N/mm² after 4 days soak
EN 204:2016
Boiling Water Strength (Type I / D4)
≥ 80 kgf/cm² (≈ 7.8 N/mm²) after 3 hrs boil
≥ 4 N/mm² after 6 hrs boil + 2 hrs cold water soak
EN 204:2016
Resistance to Micro-organisms
Required for Type I. Bond strength must not be less than 80 kgf/cm² after test.
Not explicitly required; durability is assessed by climatic tests, not a specific micro-organism test.
EN 204:2016
Test Specimen
Three-ply assembly of specific wood veneers, tested in compression shear.
Beech wood lap-joint specimen, tested in tensile shear.
EN 204:2016
Formaldehyde Emission Limit
Not specified
Must allow end product to meet regional regulations (e.g., Class E1 per EN 717-1, <0.1 ppm).
EN 717-1:2004
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Can IS 851 adhesives be used for structural timber frames?+
No, this specification is explicitly for non-structural woodwork. For structural load-bearing joints, other specific adhesives and mechanical fasteners should be evaluated.
What applications are suited for these adhesives?+
They are ideal for indoor joinery, furniture assembly, doors, windows, and non-load-bearing partitions.
Does the standard specify environmental conditions for testing?+
Yes, standard conditioning and testing typically require a temperature of 27 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 65 ± 5 %.