Report on model panel racking tests to Australian Particleboard Research Institute

"This report presents the results obtained from eleven racking tests performed on 600 x 600 mm model panels to evaluate the suitability or otherwise of various particleboards as a sheathing media in dwelling construction. The panel frames were constructed of F8 Radiata Pine members 70 x 45 mm sheathed with 4 mm Fineline, 6 mm Texpan, 9 mm Texpan, 10 mm Pineboard, and 7 mm Radiata Pine plywood. A preliminary testing programme was implemented in which the sheathing was attached to the timber framiing members using nails at 75 and 38 mm centres. A final testing programme followed in which nail centres were expanded to 150 mm except for one test using 6 mm Texpan for which connection was effected by gluing using Araldite. Karri plywood sheathing was not available at the time of testing."--p. (i)