Filter.
A.
A robust evaluation system for green buildings within the Emirate of Dubai. Its primary objectives are to enhance the living environment, boost energy efficiency, optimize infrastructure, and align with Dubai's Strategic Plan for sustainable urban development.
American Society for Testing and Materials. A globally recognized standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, sy
B.
Biomass refers to the organic bio-based material that comes from plants and animals and would otherwise be diverted to the landfills and burnt.
A common laboratory procedure used to determine the boiling point of a liquid.
British standard for certifications and testing on building materials and structures.
C.
A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere than it releases. Carbon sinks are crucial for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, helping to mitigate climate change by reducing atmospheric CO₂ levels. PSB® boards act as an artificial carbon sink as they can store the carbon within their structure which would have otherwise been released to the atmosphere if their raw materials palm frond biomass was led there to decompose or burnt.
Carbon Footprint (A measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, organization, or activity. It quantifies the impact on climate change by calculating the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted.)
Carbon dioxide. A naturally occurring gas released by both natural processes (like respiration) and human activities (like burning fossil fuels). CO₂ contributes to the greenhouse effect and is a primary driver of global warming, making its reduction essential in climate change mitigation efforts.
D.
decibel, unit for expressing the ratio between two physical quantities, usually amounts of acoustic or electric power, or for measuring the relative loudness of sounds.
Is both a method of climate change mitigation and the process of significantly reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.
E.
Emirates Green Building Council. A non-government organization that promotes and educates on sustainability in the built environment.
European Standard for certifications and testing. PSB® has EN certifications for fire rating and dimensional tolerance as explained in the document.
Environmental Product Declaration (are based on ISO standards and provide transparent information about a product's environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and waste generation.)
Emirates Safety Laboratory (A leading testing and certification laboratory based in the UAE. It provides comprehensive testing and certification services for a wide range of products, ensuring their safety, quality, and compliance with local and international standards.)
Edge Squareness Tolerance (A geometric tolerance that specifies the maximum allowable deviation from a perfect right angle between two adjacent edges of a part. It ensures that the edges meet at a 90-degree angle within a specified tolerance.)
European Union Deforestation Regulation (A regulation adopted by the EU to combat deforestation and forest degradation worldwide. It aims to ensure that products placed on the EU market do not contribute to the destruction of forests.)
F.
The process of making an interior space suitable for occupation by installing necessary fixtures, furnishings, and finishes. PSB® is used extensively in the fit-out industry.
Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound often used in adhesives and resins in engineered wood products, and it can contribute to indoor air pollution, impacting human health.
Fire Rating. PSB® door cores are Fire Rated as per the EN, BS & UL10C standards for 30, 60 and 90 minutes as mentioned in this document.
H.
It is referred to as hardboard, a high-density fiberboard (HDF) is a type of flooring engineered PSB® or wood product. HDF for flooring is similar but much harder and denser than particle board or medium density fiberboard (MDF).
Hazardous Materials Regulations are a set of rules and guidelines that govern the transportation of hazardous materials by trucking, air, rail, and vessel carriers.
I.
Any of various metal and nonmetal construction material made with an I- or H-shaped cross-section
I-joists are strong, lightweight, "I" shaped engineered structural members that meet demanding performance standards. They can be made from PSB® or wooden equivalent.
International Accreditation Forum (A global network of accreditation bodies that work together to promote the acceptance of accreditation certificates worldwide. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)
The internal bond test measures the tensile strength of the material when applying a force perpendicular to the face. This testing is especially important considering that these materials are used in construction applications and many of them are formed through the adhesion of multiple layers of material.
Istituto Marchio Italiano (Certification body based in Italy, providing certification services for various products and systems. IMQ certification ensures that products and services meet international standards, enhancing their credibility and market acceptance.)
International Organization for Standardization (It is a global federation of national standards bodies that develops and publishes voluntary, consensus-based international standards. It provides specifications, guidelines, and characteristics for products, services, processes, and systems.)
J.
Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining pieces of PSB® or wood, engineered lumber, or synthetic substitutes, to produce more complex items.
L.
Lamination is the technique/process of manufacturing a material in multiple layers, so that the composite material achieves improved strength, stability, sound insulation, appearance, or other properties from the use of the differing materials, such as plastic.
Life Cycle Assessment (It is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. The goal of an LCA study is to identify and quantify these impacts.)
Refers to structural elements or components that support and transfer loads (forces and weight) from above to the foundation or lower levels of a building or structure. PSB® has high load bearing strength as explained in the document and can be used in constructional applications.
M.
Moisture content is the quantity of water contained in a material.
Medium-density fiberboard is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fiber, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming it into panels by applying high temperature and pressure.
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (It refers to the essential systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and fire protection) that provide a building's infrastructure.)
Millimeter(mm) is a unit of measurement used as a standard for measuring length.
Modulus of Elasticity, which is a measure of how stiff a material is and is often reported in pounds per square inch (psi). It is necessary to know the MOE of a material in order to calculate how much it will deflect under load.
Ministry of Interior, UAE
Refers to materials or products designed to withstand exposure to moisture without deteriorating or losing functionality. These materials help prevent mold growth, warping, and damage caused by water, making them suitable for use in humid environments or areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens. By adding moisture resistant coating, PSB® boards can be used in a variety of applications.
Modulus of Rigidity. It is defined as follows: “the shear stress-to-displacement ratio per unit sample length”. The slope of a stress-strain curve obtained during tensile testing on a sample of the material may be used to calculate the modulus of rigidity.
Mass Timber Structure, which refers to thick, compressed layers of PSB® or wood, creating strong, structural load-bearing elements.
N.
A newton (N) is the international unit of measure for force. One newton is equal to 1 kilogram meter per second squared.
O.
Oriented Strand Board. A widely used structural panel manufactured from wood. The difference between OSB and PSB® is that OSB is made from wood, which is a result of deforestation. PSB® is made from palm biomass and is deforestation free. Other differences in terms of formaldehyde, zero-emissions, strength, durability and more are mentioned in this document.
OSB3 is a high-quality, engineered wood panel that is made of small pieces of lumber that are glued and pressed together. It is an alternative to softwood and plywood, and it is made with a process called “oriented strand board” or OSB. PSB® Prime is compared to OSB 3.
OSB 4 has a higher load bearing capacity, and stiffness in comparison to OSB 3. PSB® Supreme and Ultra are compared to OSB 4.
P.
Polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate resin as a thermosetting adhesive for wood-based composites has been steadily increasing over the past decade.
Palm Strand Board
A synthetic resin made from the polymerization of vinyl chloride. PVC is used in an enormous range of domestic and industrial products, from raincoats and shower curtains to window frames and indoor plumbing.
R.
A solid or liquid synthetic organic polymer used as the basis of plastics, adhesives, varnishes, or other products.
S.
The combination of two boards with a resin, to form a thicker board.
Screw withdrawal testing aims to provide information about the wood’s physical and mechanical properties by measuring the maximum load required to pull out the screw.
Sustainability Development Goals. These are a set of 17 interconnected global goals established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals aim to address a wide range of global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
A type of PSB® or plywood that has special treatment on it to withstand the harsh conditions of construction sites. It's durable, water-resistant, and capable of supporting heavy loads. This makes it an ideal material for use in formwork or shuttering (the process of creating molds for concrete).
The E0 rating is the industry standard for ultra-low formaldehyde emissions. Super E0, however, is a step further, signifying that the formaldehyde emissions are negligible or close to zero. Super E0 is a classification for wood-based products that indicates an extremely low formaldehyde emission level. PSB® boards are Super E0.
Sustainable refers to practices, products, or processes that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable practices often focus on minimizing waste, conserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and supporting biodiversity, all while maintaining economic viability and promoting long-term resilience. The core values of DesertBoard are based on sustainable innovation.
T.
Tensile strength can be defined as the maximum stress that a material can bear before breaking when it is allowed to be stretched or pulled.
U.
United Accreditation Foundation (A non-profit organization that operates globally and offers accreditation programs for conformity assessment bodies, certification bodies, inspection bodies, and testing laboratories. It is headquartered in the United States.)
American Standard for certifications and testing for fire rating. PSB® is UL10C certified for 30, 60 and 90 minutes as explained in the document.
The process of creatively reusing waste materials or products to create new items of higher quality or value, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainability. PSB® boards are made from upcycling annually regenerative palm frond biomass.
V.
Wood veneers in the simplest of terms are thin slices of natural wood generally less than 1/40” thick. These veneers are typically pressed onto or laminated to thicker core materials such as PSB® to create structural panels to be used in place of thicker hardwood lumber.
Z.
A state in which no toxic gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂) or formaldehyde, are released into the atmosphere from a specific source, often achieved using renewable energy sources or advanced technologies that capture and store emissions. PSB® boards have zero emissions.