IS 13958 : 1994

BAMBOO MAT BOARD FOR GENERAL

PURPOSES - SPECIFICATION

UDC 677545419

@ BIS 1994

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

April 1994 Price Group 3

Wood Products Sectional Committee, CED 20

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized by
the Wood Products Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division
Council.
Bamboo mat board is made of two or more bamboo mats bonded with an adhesive. The mat
used is made by weaving thin, uniform strips of bamboo. In the present scenario, where availa-
bility of conventional timber has been reduced to considerable extent, the bamboo mat board
is expected to find extensive use in future. The product is now being produced and marketed in
India. This standard has therefore, been formulated to guide the manufacturers and users of
bamboo mat boards.
In the preparation of this standard, considerable assistance has been. renderd by Indian Plywood
Industries Research and Training Institute, Bangalore.
The composition of the technical committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is
given at Annex C.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied
with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be
rounded off in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised).
The number of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of
the specified value in this standard.
 IS 13958 : 1994

Indian Standard
BAMBOO MAT BOARD FOR GENERAL
PURPOSES - SPECIFICATION
1 SCOPE 4 MATERIALS
This standard covers the method of manufac- 4.1 Bamboo
ture and the requirements of bamboo mat board
used for general purposes. Any suitable species of bamboo may be used
for making bamboo mat board,
2 REFERENCES 4.2 Adhesive
The Indian Staridards listed in Annex A are Adhesive for bonding bamboo mat board shall
necessary adjuncts to this standard. be of phenolic type conforming to B&R type
specified in IS 8~8 : 1974.
3 TERMINOLOGY
3.1 For the purpose of this standard, the defi- 5 MANUFACTURE
nitions given in IS 707 : 1976 and IS 687: : 1973, 5.1 Bamboo Mats
and the following shall apply.
Bamboo mats required for the manufacture of
3.1.1 Bamboo bamboo mat board shaI1 be woven from slivers
of uniform thickness and width. Thickness of
Bamboos are tall perennial grasses found in slivers shall not be less than 0 5 mm and width
tropical and sub-tropical regions. They belong shall be in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm. Care
to the family Poaceae and subfamily Bambu- shall be taken to exclude the slivers with
soidae. epidermal layer.
3.1.2 Sliver 5.1.1 Prophylactic Treatment
Slivers are thin uniform strips of bamboo pro- If transport or storage time of one month or
cessed from bamboo culm. more is inevitable, mats shall be given prophy-
lactic treatment as per Group 9 in Table 2 of
3.1.3 Mat IS 401 : 1982.
Mat is a woven sheet using thin slivers. 5.2 Application of Adhesive
3.1.4 Interslivers Bamboo mats shall be applied with the adhesive
The overlaping area of the slivers in the mat. either by soaking or by spreading using mecha-
nical spreader.
3.1.5 Bamboo Mat Board
5.3 Conditioning of Adhesive Coated Bamboo
A board made of two or more bamboo mats Mats
bonded with an adhesive.
Adhesive coated mats shall be allowed sufficient
3.1.6 Discolouration ( Sound ) length of open assembly time and/or passed
through a band dryer at elevated temperature
A change from the normal colour of the bamboo in the range of 80C to 90C to bring down the
which does not impair the strength of bamboo moisture content of adhesive coated mats to 8
mat board. to 12 percent.

3.1.7 Discolouration ( Unsound ) 5.4 Assembly

Adhesive coated and conditioned mats shall be
A change from the normal colour of the assembled between two aluminium caul plates
bamboo which may have some effect on the whose surfaces are coated with releasing agent.
strength of bamboo mat board.
5.5 Hot Pressing
3.1.8 Delamination
Assembly of the adhesive coated mats shall be
Separation of mats through failure of glue. hot pressed at not less than 140C at a specific

1
IS 13958: -1994

pressure of 1.5 N/mm2 to 2.0 N/mm2. Hot 7 WORJUKANSHIP AND FINISH

pressiT,g time shall depend on the thickness of
7.1 The ba:!,b:-; m::t boar:is shall be of uniform
the board.
tkickne:>e w;r11in rhc toler,ance limit specified
5.6 Moisture Content of Bamboo Mat Board in 6.4.

After ho; p:cssi g the finished bamboo mat 7.2 The f;tccs of bamboo mat boards shall be
boarc! slr::ll jc canditionrl! to a moistrrre con- rcason;,bly sm:? lh :i;id un:f.>i.rn in colour.
tent not it: ;X than 5 pr:-cent and not more than
8 SAMPLTNG
15 peicent.
5.7 Preservative Treatment 8.1 The :;rithod of drawilng representative
samples air:1 t!:e critcris Y.,r conformity shall be
5.7.1 For ban:b:o :nat board manufactured by as presc;ibpd in 1s 7638 : 1986 for BWR grade
applying the rzsi 1 by sI:::king method, preser- plywood for general pui-poszs ( IS 303 ).
vative treatment shall be done by incorpora-
ting th,- pres! lvativcs like boron ( octaborate 9 TESTS
or tetraborajs j in;o -the resi,t before soaking
9.1 Test Specimen
the mats. ?he p;;servative becomes non-l-ach-
able during h,)t pressing. 9.1.1 Speci~n
s (if size 50 mm x 50 mm in full
thick!:-; shal:
be cut fr,.m different positions
5.7.2 For bamboo mat board manufactured by of rh: b.)a.,.\ s~..l~cled as pe: 8.1.
applying ihe resin by passing th-: mats :hrough
mechanical glut spreader, the manufactured 9.2 Sp.:c:m-1~ it f:om b-nrls shall be subjec-
boards shall be treated with non-leachable te3 to th:: t ;:>. .J. hc,.t 1 st .ength. Bond strength
type prescrvativos such as Copper-Chrome- shal! b: <t.-:m 1 sa: i,,factory if the requirement
Arsenic ( CCA ), Copper-Chrome-Boro:l ( CCB ) specified cith:r in 9.3 or 9.4 is complied.
or Acid-Copper-Chrome ( ACC ) as per 5.2.2.3
of IS 5539 : 1969. 9.3 Internal Baud Strength Test

6 DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES 9.3.1 Iuternul Bo:zd Slrellgth in Dry State

6.1 The dimenj;o;rs of bamboo mat boar,1 shall Six test Si)SLiii13iS ;Tl spared per 9.1.1 when
as

be quoied in the f~~llowing order. The first tcstc 1 i,j ,.z *Orri;irlc3 with the m:rhod described
dimension sll.tli repyes:nt the length; the second ir, I; 2333 ( Pa L 5 ) : i977, shall give an average
dimension, the width; and the third dimension, and a ininim<::n ii:di:id.:al va!ue of 0.7 N/mm*
the thickness, and 0.5 N~m;n csprctivcly.

6.2 The di;-ie::.;inns of bn:nboo rnat boards shall 9.3.2 Inter.& Bond Stretzgth in Wet State
be as givc:l fo;_ piywl)od in IS 12049 : 1987.
Six test spe cirn.:ns prepared as per 9.1.1 shall be
NOTE - Any otler :im: lsio I as agreed to between subjected t.? blili!?g in water for a period of
the tnal ufnctui-cr ar;d tilt purchaser may be usetl. 3 hours. Afterwards they shall be dried in
ambient conditions till they attain a moisture
6.3 Thickness of bamboo mat boards shall be cg>ntent of LO to 12 percent. The dried speci-
specified dependi:*g upon the number of plies. mens wh!n test-d in accordance with the
The thickXress sh.:ll be measured up to o;re decr- rnet!?ijd described in IS 2380 (Part 5 ) : 1977
ma1 p!ace of millimetrc. siiali give an ave.age and a minimum indivi-
6.4 Tolerances dual value of 0.5 N/mm? and 0.3 N/mm*.

The following tolerances on the nominal sizes

9.3.3 Mycological Test
of finished b:?ards shall be permissible: Six test spccimcns prepared as per 9.1.1 shall
Dimension be s:tbjectcd to attack by micro-organism as
Tolerance
per the method descr-ibed rn Annex B and then
a) Lcilgth + 6mm tested as per IS 2380 ( Part 5 ) : 1977, shall give
- 0 mm an avcragc a:id a mi limum individual value of
b) Width + 3mm 0.5 N/mm2 and 0.3 N/mm2 r,:spectively.
- Omm
c) Thickness 3.4 Surface Strength Test ( Alternative Test )
Less th;in 6 mm * 10 percent 9.4.1 Surface Strength Test in Dry State
6 m:n a.:d above + 5 percent
d) Squ.i:-cn,s; 0.2 percent Six test specime:!s prepared as per 9.1.1 when
e) Ej_lge strarghtness 0.2 percent tested in accordance with the method described
 Is 13958:1994

in IS 2380 ( Part 22 ) : 1981 shall give an 10 MARKING

average and a. minimum individual value of
10.1 Each bamboo mat board shall be legibly
45 N/mm and 30 N/mmz respectively.
and indelibly marked or stamped with the
9.4.2 Surface Strength Test in Wet State follo~ving:
a) Indication of the source of manufacture,
Six test specimens prepared ns per 9.1.1 shall b) Year of manufacture, and
be subjected to boiling in water for 3 hours. c) Batch No.
Afterwards they shall be dried in ambient con-
ditions till they attain a moisture content of 10.2 BIS Certification Marking
10 to 12 percent. The dried specimens when The bamboo mat board may also be marked
tested in accordance with the method described with Stzndard Mark.
in IS 2380 ( Part 22 ) : 1981 shall give an average
and a minimum individual value of 30 N/mmS 10.2.1 The use of the Standard, Mark is governed
and 2.0 N/mmz respectively. by the provisions cf Bureau of Indian Standards
Act, 1986 and the Rules and Regulations made
9.4.3 Mycological Test thereunder, The details of conditions under
which the licence for the use of Standard Mark
Six test spscimens prepared as per 9.L1 shall be may be granted to ma~ufacturers or producers
subjected to attack by micro-organisms as per may be obLained frcm the Bureau of Ii~dian
the methcd described in Annex B and then Standards.
tested as per IS 2380 ( Part 22 ) : 1981 shall
give an average and a minimum individual value 10.3 All markings shall be done on the face cf
of 3.0 N/mmz and 2.0 N/mmz respectively. the board near oile corner.

ANNXE A
( Clause 2 )
LIST OF REFERRED INDIAN STANDARDS
IS No. Title IS No. Tit[e

401 :1982 Code of practice for preser- 2380 ( Part 22 ) : Method of test for wood
vation of timber ( third 1981 particle boards and boards
revision ) from other lignocellulosic
matetials: Part 22 Determina-
107: 1976 Glossary of terms relating to tion of surface glueability test
timber technology and utili- ( jirsl revision )
zation ( second revision )
5539:1969 Specification for preservative
848:1974 Specification for synthetic treated plywood
resin adhesives for plywood
( pnenolic and aminoplastic ) 6874:1973 Method of tests for round
( jirst revision ) bamboos
7638:1986 Methods o[b:~mpling for ply-
2380 ( Part 5 ) : Methods of test for wood
wood, cardboards,
1977 particle boards and boards
from other lignocellulosic insulation boards and particle
boards ( jirst revision )
materials: Part 5 Determina-
tion of tensile strength per- 12049:1987 Dimensions and tolerances
pendicular to surface ( first relating to wood based panel
revision ) materials

1-.
1s 13958 : 1994

ANNEX B
( Clauses 9.3.3 and 9.4.3 )
MYCOLOGICAL TEST
B-l OBJECT with dry sawdust, it is usually necessary to add
three times its mass of water.
B-l.1 This test is intended to evaluate the resis-
tance of glue line to attack by micro-organisms B-2.2 The sawdust shall then be charged with
in addition to the durability of bamboo from the spores of commonly occurring wood destroy-
which the board is manufactured. ing fungi and loosely compacted. The test
specimens shall be pressed down into it so that
B-2 PROCEDURE their upper surfaces are level with the top of
the sawdust layer.
B-2.1 A flat rectangular dish of enamelled iron,
glass or porcelain ( such as a photographic B-2.3 The dish shall then be covered with a
developing dish ) of a minimum depth of 50 mm, sheet of glass and the edges of the dish sealed
shall be filled to a depth of about 25 mm with a against the glass with modelling clay or a simi-
layer of sawdust obtained from the capwood of lar suitable material so that the atmosphere
a perishable timber, like semul ( Bombax ceiba ) round the test specimens shall remain saturated
in its natural condition. The sawdust shallhave with water vapour.
previously been moistened with water contain-
ing 15 g of sucrose ( normally sugar may be B-2.4 The dish and the contents shall be main-
used; but if not available, 30 g of commercial tained at a temperature of 27 f 2C for a
malt extract may be substituted ) to a litre of period of three weeks, after which the test
water so that it is saturated with moisture; but pieces shall be removed, washed in water and
not so wet that free water is squeezed out of allowed to dry to a moisture content of 10 to
it by hand pressure. To at&in this condition 12 percent is; ambient conditions.

4
 IS 13958: 1994

ANNEX C
( Foreword )
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
Wood Products Sectional Committee, CED 20
Chairman Representing
DR P. M. GANAPATHY Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,
Bangalore

Members
SHRI B. S. ASWATHANARAYAN ( Alternate to
Dr P. M. Ganapathy )
SHRJ K. K. BARIJA~X Forest Department, Government of Assam, Guwahati
SHRI T. K. DAS ( Alternate )
SHRI N. M. CHACHAN Plywood Manufacturers Association of West Bengal, Calcutta
SHRI R. B. ROY ( Alrernate )
SHRI A. K. CHATTERJEE Directorate General of Technical Development, New Delhi
SHRI 0. P. SHARM~ ( Afternate )
JOINT DIRECTOR STANDARDS ( CARRIAGE-~ ) Ministry of Railways ( RDSO ), Lucknow
SHRI A. K. KADARKUTTY The Western India Plywood Ltd, Cannanore
SHRI D. K. KANUNGO National Test House, Calcutta
DR YOGESH CHANDER NIJHAWAN (Alternate)
SHRI A. K. LAL National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI A. G. DHONGADE ( Alternate )
SHRI K. S. LAULY The Indian Plywood Manufacturing Company Limited, Bombay
SHRI P. T. S. MENON ( Alternate )
SHRIMATI P. MEENAKSHI Engineer-in Chief Brarrch, Army Headquarters, New Delhi
COL N. A. KUMAR ( Alternate )
DR A. N. NAYER In personal capacity ( C-59 kzderpuri, New Delhi IIOOI2 )
PRESIDENT Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry, New Delhi
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ( Alternate j
SHR~ RAVINDER KUMAR Ministry of Defence ( R & D )
SHRI S. K. SANGANERIA Assam Plywood Manufacturers Association, Tinsukhia
SHRI K. SANKARAKRISHNAN South Indian Plywood Manufacturers Association, Trivandrum
SHRI S. N. SANYAL Forest Research Institute, Forest Product Division, Dehra Dun
SHRI N. K. SHUKLA ( Akernate )
SHRI S. N. SANYAL Indian Academy of Wood Science, Bangalore
SHRI K. S. SHUKLA ( Alternate )
SHRI F. C. SHARMA Directorate General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi
SHRI N. M. WALECHA ( Alternate )
DR Y. SINGH Central Building Research Institute ( CSIR ), Roorkee
DR L. K. AGARWAL ( AIternate )
SHRI J. K. SINHA Ministry of Defeuce (DGQA )
SHRI RAMA CHANDRA ( Ahmtc )
SUPERINTENDINGENGINEER ( S & S ) Central Public Worlcs Department, New Delhi
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER ( S 8~ S ) ( Alteraa te )
SHRI N. K. UPADIIYAY Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals, New Delhi
SHRI M. ZAFRULLA Sitapur Plywood Manufacturers Ltd, Sitapur
SHRI TRIDIB SEN (Alternate )
SHRI J. VENKATARAMAN, Director General, BIS ( Ex-officio Member )
Director ( Civ Engg )
Member Secretary
SHRI SANJAY PANT
Assistant Director ( Civ Engg ), BIS

( Continued on page 6 )
IS 13958: 1994

(Continued from page 5 )

Wood-Based Building Boards Subcommittee, CED 20 : 6
Convener Representing
DR H. N. JAGADEESH Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,
Bangalore
Members
DR L. K. AGRAWAL Central Building Research Institute ( CSIR ), Roorkee
SHRI B. SIN~H ( Alternate )
SHRI A. K. CBATTERJEE Directorate General of Technical Development, New Delhi
SHRI 0. P. S~RMA (Alternate )
DIRECTOR Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute,
Bangalore
SHRI V. SIVANANDA ( Alternate )
DEPUTY DIRECTOR STANDARDS ( CARRIAGE III ) Ministry of Railways ( RDSO ), Lucknow
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR STANDARDS
( CARRIAGE III ) ( AIferna?e )
SHRI ARVIND JOLLY Jolly Board Ltd, Bombay
&RI N. K. PADHYE ( .4hernate )
SHRI K. P. KAMALUDDIN The Western India Plywoods Ltd, Cannanore
SHRI K. R. BIRIE ( Alternate )
SHRI S. S. KAPUR Lloyd Insulation (India ) Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
SHRI KAUSHIK DAS ( Alternate )
&RIM. L. LAHOTI Assam Hardboard Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI L. N. BAHETI ( Alternate )
SHRI A. K. LAX National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI A. G. DHONGADE ( Alternafe )
SHRIMATI P. MEENAKSHI Engineer-in-Chiefs Branch, Army Headquarters, New Delhi
C~J_ N . A. KUMAR ( Alrernate )
SHRI P. T. S. MENON The lndian Plywood Manufacturing Co Ltd, Bombay
SHRI P. N. HOSAMANI ( .4lterna te >
SHRI S. A. NAQUI Novopan India Ltd, Hyderabad
SHRI A. V. V. RAGHAVACHARYA (Alternate )
SHRI K. SANKARAKRISHNAN Kutty Flush Doors and Furniture ( Pvt ) Ltd, Madras
SHRI M. V. D. MENON ( Alternate )
SHRI H. V. SARDA Mangalam Timber Products Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI AMAR KUMAR ( Alternate )
SHRI K. S. SHUKLA Forest Research Institute. Forest Products Division I. Composite
-
DR S. P. SINGH ( Alternate ) Wood ), Dehra Dun
LT-COL G. B. SIN~H Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Port Blair
SHRI B. S. NAGRA ( Alternate )
SHRI J. K. SINHA Ministry of Defence ( DGQA )
MAJ R. N. SAIGAL ( Alternate )
DR N. SRIRAM Nuchem Limited, Faridabad
SHRI D. SRIRAM ( Alternate )
SHRI P. S. SRIVASTAVA Ministry of Defence ( R & D )
SHRI RAVINDIA KUMAR ( AIternate )
SUPERINTENDINGENGINEER( S & S ) Central Public Works Department, New Delhi
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER ( S & S ) ( Alternate )
SHRI N. X. UPADHYAY Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals, New Delhi
SHRI JIMMYA. UNWALLA Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd, Bombay
SHRI S. S. POTNIS ( Alternate )
SHRI M. ZAPRULLA Sitapur Plywood Manufacturers Ltd, Sitapur
SHRI TRIDIB SEN ( dlternate )
Burern of Indian Standards
BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standurd~ Act, 1986 to
promote harmonious development of the activities of stadardization, marking and quality
certification of goods and attending to connected matters in the country.

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in the course of implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type
or grade designations. Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director
( Publications ), BIS.

Revision of Indian Standards

Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards
are also reviewed periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review
indicates that no changes are needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken
up for revision. Users of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the
latest amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue -of BIS Handbook and Standards
Monthly Additions.

This Indian Standard has been developed from Dot : No. CED 20 ( 4955 ).

Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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