Just give me a WBP plywood". The opening line of the craftsman ordering plywood from his trusted dealer. "WBP" has just about become synonymous with the best quality. But what does WBP actually mean?
80% of the market is convinced that WBP stands for "Water-Resistant Plate," which is not even that crazy. The term WBP merely describes the glue between the veneers of a plywood panel. It means that the adhesive can withstand 72 hours in boiling water without the veneers separating from each other. Hence the designation "Weather and boil proof", internationally the highest bonding class.
Over time, the term WBP has unwittingly evolved from a bonding class to a commercial quality label. Architects, craftsmen and tradesmen use this term en masse to describe the quality of plywood. Manufacturers have also picked up on this trend and are using the label WBP, often for lower bonding grades as well. The WTCB describes this trend as one of the causes of plywood delaminating in humid conditions. *
Thus, for use in a humid context, it is best to choose a plywood with warranty. Only in this way can you be completely sure that WBP stamping also effectively confirms quality bonding.
