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Durability

Wood structural panels are extremely durable and are manufactured to resist uniform loads perpendicular to their surfaces as well as high loads parallel to their surfaces. Different panel types and grades resist impact loads to different degrees. Moisture and sunlight can affect the long-term performance of all wood products, and APA recommends that untreated or unprotected structural wood panels have limited or controlled exposure to either high moisture levels or direct sunlight. While many wood structural panels have significant exposure to moisture over their service life, those periods are limited in time and followed by opportunities for the wood fiber to dry to moisture content levels below 20 percent. The service life of wood structural panels can be long term if temperatures are below 230° F, exposure to moisture and direct sunlight are minimized and loads are within design levels. See APA Technical Topic Service Life of Oriented Strand Board, Form TT-052, for more information.

Keep reading about the durability of wood structural panels.

Photo courtesy Olympic Panel.