HEADING 44.11 - FIBREBOARD OF WOOD OR OTHER LIGNEOUS MATERIALS WHETHER OR NOT BONDED WITH RESINS OR OTHER ORGANIC SUBSTANCES (+) .

35 COMMODITIES

- Fibreboard of a density exceeding 0.8 g/cm3 :

4411.11 - - Not mechanically worked or surface covered

4411.19 - - Other

- Fibreboard of a density exceeding 0.5 g/cm3 but not exceeding 0.8 g/cm3 :

4411.21 - - Not mechanically worked or surface covered

4411.29 - - Other

- Fibreboard of a density exceeding 0.35 g/cm but not exceeding 0.5 g/cm3 :

4411.31 - - Not mechanically worked or surface covered

4411.39 - - Other

- Other :

4411.91 - - Not mechanically worked or surface covered

4411.99 - - Other

Fibreboard is most often manufactured from wood chips which have been mechanically defibred (defibrated) or steam exploded or from other defibred ligno-cellulosic material (obtained e.g. from bagasse or bamboo). The fibres making up the board are recognisable under microscopic examination. They are bonded together in the board by felting and by their own adhesive properties generally deriving from their lignin content. Additional resins or other organic bonding substances may be used to agglomerate the fibres. Impregnating or other agents may also be added during or after manufacture of the board to give an extra property e.g. impermeability to water or resistance to rot insect attack fire or the spread of flame. Fibreboard may consist of a single sheet or of several sheets bonded together.

The three main categories of fibreboard are :

Board of a density exceeding 0.8 g/cm3 (known in some countries as " hardboard ").

These boards are used mainly for walls ceilings and floors in the door and furniture industries and also as a structural material for various building applications.

Board of a density exceeding 0.35 g/cm3 but not exceeding 0.8 g/cm3 (known in some countries as " mediumboard "). These boards are used mainly for interior and exterior walls.

A special type (known in some countries as " medium density fibreboard ") is used specifically in the door and furniture industries because of its machining properties which enables it to substitute solid wood.

Board of a density not exceeding 0.35 g/cm3 (known in some countries as " softboard ").

These boards are used mainly for thermal or sound insulation in building. Special types of insulating boards are used as sheathing or sarking materials.

The products of this heading remain classified herein whether or not they have been worked to form the shapes provided for in respect of the goods of heading 44.09 curved corrugated perforated cut or formed to shapes other than square or rectangular and whether or not they have been surface or edge worked or coated or covered (e.g. with textile fabric plastics paint paper or metal) or submitted to any other operation provided these operations do not thereby give such products the essential character of articles of other headings.

The heading does not cover :

(a)Particle board whether or not laminated with one or several fibreboards (heading 44.10).

(b)Laminated wood with a core consisting of fibreboard (heading 44.12).

(c)Cellular wood panels of which both faces are fibreboard (heading 44.18).

(d)Paperboard such as multiplex paperboard " presspan " and strawboard which can generally be distinguished from fibreboard by their layer structure made apparent on cleaving (CHAPTER48).

(e)Fibreboard panels clearly identifiable as parts of furniture (generally CHAPTER94).

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Subheading Explanatory Note.

For the purposes of classification in these subheadings sanding is not to be considered as mechanical working.