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Ainsworth Introduces OSB Concrete-Forming Panel
Until recently, oriented strand board – commonly known as OSB – was seldom used for concrete forms. Even though the engineered wood product has become a fierce competitor to plywood for floor, wall and roof panels in the residential homebuilding market since the early 1990s, OSB had yet to make its mark in the formwork market. However, Ainsworth – an international manufacturer and supplier of engineered wood products -- recently introduced the Pourform-OS™ concrete-forming panel, which is set to change perceptions of OSB for concrete applications.
 MDO Makes the Difference
Key to the success of Pourform-OS is a medium-density overlay (MDO), which helps to mask the strand pattern of the underlying OSB. The product is positioned in the marketplace as an alternative to B-B plyform.
“Pourform-OS is a concrete-forming panel that is custom-engineered with a proprietary OSB substrate and an enhanced MDO overlay designed for concrete form use,” said Mark Sutherland, manager, industrial and engineered wood product sales for Ainsworth. “It was designed specifically to improve the pour quality in low-reuse concrete forming applications.”
According to the manufacturer, Pourform-OS provides a smooth, consistent concrete appearance free of wood slivers and rough texture characteristics of B-B plyform. Because the overlay is specifically made for concrete-form use, it is designed to withstand the alkalinity of all common concrete mixes -- protection not available with non-overlaid plywood. The finished concrete has a matte finish that is uniform in color and accepts paint well.
 For contractors, Pourform-OS offers additional benefits. Primarily, the overlay makes the panel easier to strip than plywood.
“Pourform-OS releases cleanly and easily, resulting in less maintenance and time required for scraping of concrete build-up,” said Sutherland. “As such, contractors spend less on labor for stripping and remedial work.”
Applications
“If the project requires low reuse, or if the contractor is currently using B-B plyform and requires quality and supply, chances are Pourform-OS is the right product,” said Sutherland. Low re-use includes projects that typically require less than five pours. For instance, low-rise structures, bridges, culverts and other industrial, commercial and residential applications using loose form systems or site-built forms would fall into this category.
For other applications such as high-rise projects or those requiring an architectural finish, Ainsworth recommends products that are specifically designed for the purpose, such as Pourform MDO or HDO.
 Environmentally Friendly
With certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, Pourform-OS enables contractors to qualify for LEED credit when using this wood product. The product is environmentally friendly because the wood fiber comes from certified well-managed forests, company controlled sources or recycled material. In addition, the OSB substrate utilizes sustainable, fast-growing species. The Pourform-OS panel also accepts biodegradable release agents and uses less release agent than traditional panels.
About the Manufacturer
As a primary manufacturer of OSB, Ainsworth is uniquely positioned to introduce this product to the marketplace. “We’ve combined our technical expertise in overlaid concrete-forming panels with our OSB experience to engineer this product to meet market needs,” Sutherland said.
“We are the only manufacturer who can put that kind of expertise and experience together,” Sutherland said.
Pourform-OS is sold through nationwide distribution channels and is priced competitively with B-B plyform. For more information on Pourform-OS, visit www.pourform.com or call Ainsworth at 1-877-661-3200.
Benefits of Pourform OS
Positioned as an alternative to B-B plyform and non-certified imports,
Pourform-OS has numerous benefits, including:
– Cleaner and easier release when stripping form panels
– Reduced time and labor costs associated with remedial work
– Less form release agent required, further reducing costs
– Overlay resistance to alkali in concrete mix
– Better concrete finish with reduced substrate telegraphing
– Equivalent or better reuse performance than B-B plyform
– Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified |
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