The datasheets provided (pdf format) are an useful resource throughout the planning and detailed construction process.

The datasheets are divided into the following categories:
_ General description
_ Technical references
_ Intend uses of products and systems
_ Commonly used dimensions
_ Mechanical properties
_ Physical properties
_ Fire properties
_ Sustainability
_ Other

The aim of the database is to allow the user to have a direct comparison between the different building materials and systems.

General description

A short description of the manufacturing processes of the most common wood-based composites and other building materials has been compiled. Possible applications of the products are also listed.

Technical references

Under the subheading 'technical references' the user will find all essential regulations and provisions regarding the fitness for use of a building material/ component. The Austrian institute of Construction Engineering (OIB) holds a list of Building materials (ÖA) deemed to satisfy fitness for purpose. For all  materials not listed in the ÖA, fitness for purpose can be proven based on the following, shown below in hierarchical order of preference (OIB-095.3-004/08):

• Harmonised European specification (i.e. harmonised standard, guideline, Common Understandig of Assessment Procedur a.k.a CUAP)
• ÖNORM EN
• Austrian technical approval
• Other approvals issued in Austria
• European standards (not harmonised)
• Approvals or national standards issued in other countries (e.g. UK)

For unregulated building materials (i.e. no attestation of conformity of the kind listed above is provided) the OIB defines a set of requirements to be met by respective building material. In case that an approval but no evaluation on the basis of an ÖNORM EN is provided for a given material, the values stated in the approval prevail over the values provided in the datasheets.

Intended uses

For unregulated building materials (i.e. no attestation of conformity of the kind listed above is provided) the OIB defines a set of requirements to be met by respective building materials. In case that an approval but no evaluation on the basis of an ÖNORM EN is provided for a given material, the values stated in the approval prevail over the values provided in the datasheets.

Common dimensions

Dimensions for building materials are taken from approvals or technical product information. Please note that these are provided for general guidance only. Due to the wide range of available products not all dimensions can be stated.

Mechanical properties

EUROCODE: EN 1995-1-1
In the Eurocode suite of documents the strength values for materials are given in tabulated form. These properties are characteristic values (i.e. determined using a statistically based evaluation) and are to be used in design following the safety concept of Eurocode EN 1995-1-1. Design values for properties of building materials contain the characteristic values X_k, together with the following factors: the partial factor for material properties (γ_M), the modification factor (k_mod) and the deformation factor (k_def), respectively. The factors as well as an introduction to the Eurocode terminology are given in the pdf document below.

Physical properties

• Values for the thermal conductivity λ and the heat capacity c have been quoted from the »Catalogue of the thermal performance of building materials and components «, (Austrian Standards Institute, 2001), the standard EN ISO 10456, resp. the particular harmonized European specification.
• The values for critical frequency f_c and the water vapour resistance factor µ have been quoted from »Determination of parameters concerning thermal, acoustic, fire performance as well as ecological drivers for wood and wood-based composites«, (Association of the Austrian Wood Industry, 2002).

Fire performance

The classes of reaction to fire performance have been quoted according to the decisions of the European Commission and the charring rates are taken from EN 1995-1-2.

Ecological properties

The sustainability rating of wood and wood-based-materials are calculated by use of the software ECOSOFT. ECOSOFT is based on the MS Office application Excel and was developed by IBO - Austrian institute for building biology and ecology.

Others

Under this heading additional characteristics of the material are listed.

Longversion (pdf, 36KB)