Benefits of Membership In The SBA
Codes and Standards Monitoring
Updating, expanding and improving model codes and standards keeps OSB in the forefront of code authorities and to expand OSB's uses.
- An SBA funded test program resulted in new design values for OSB being approved in the Canadian timber design standard.
- References to OSB standards were updated in the National Building Code of Canada to expand its uses to performance rated products
- SBA was part of an industry task group reviewing accuracy of design information for OSB in the U.S., which led to some recommended modifications.
Environmental
- Through its Subcommittee on Environmental, Health and Fiber Supply Issues, the SBA monitors pending national regulations/rulemaking affecting the OSB and wood panel industries.
- Included are activities such as the development of air emissions risk assessment modeling or participation in industry consortia dealing with indoor air quality or mold.
Technical Support/Laboratory Testing
Field services inspection and product support.
- SBA staff helped two Canadian Home Builders with product claims regarding homeowner concerns about durability and bouncy OSB subfloors.
- SBA staff convinced large Canadian distributors of building products to continue promoting OSB as the structural panel of choice.
- Recent round robin tests of member mills mat weight variability led to better understanding of this key property.
Access to OSB Research
Members can visit the selected web sites of top academic and research institutions around the world to learn about latest research developments that directly impact OSB product development.
Members can access the SBA technical library catalogue for information on research reports.
- One new producing member made use of this system by requesting several relevant reports online containing tens of thousands of dollars worth of research through the SBA.
Unmatched Industry Access
Access to membership and support in:
- American Forest and Paper Association (Environmental Issues Task Group)
- American Wood Council (Environmental Issues Task Group)
- European Panel Federation
- Canadian Wood Council
- No other association offers such benefits!
Marketing and Public Relations Support
Promotion of members through:
- Participation in 12 trade shows a year in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Europe
- Continually updated OSB literature in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese
- Public relations/news releases
- SBA Weekly News Media Clipping Service