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[CCMC 14090-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

From: National Research Council Canada

In most jurisdictions this document is sufficient evidence for approval by Canadian authorities.

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Compliance opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated product, when used as exterior decking in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this evaluation, complies with the following code:

National Building Code of Canada 2015

ID Code provision Solution type
09-04-02-00-00-0-009.4.2. Specified LoadsAlternative
09-04-03-01-00-0-009.4.3.1. DeflectionsAlternative
09-08-09-01-00-0-009.8.9.1. Loads on Stairs and RampsAlternative
09-23-15-05-00-0-009.23.15.5. Subfloor Thickness or RatingAlternative

The above opinion(s) is/are based on the evaluation by the CCMC of technical evidence provided by the evaluation holder, and is bound by the stated conditions and limitations. For the benefit of the user, a summary of the technical information that forms the basis of this evaluation has been included.

Product information

Product name

FORESTAR WPC DECKING

Product description

The product is a wood-thermoplastic composite decking material made from equal parts reclaimed wood fibres and recycled clear plastic bottles. The decking product is manufactured in planks with a hollow cross-section and a nominal dimension of 22.5 mm × 138 mm wide and 2.44 m long. The decking must be installed to the wood joist with the manufacturer’s proprietary interlocking clip system. The product is available in several colours. The product is intended to be used as exterior decking installed over traditional structural wood framing spaced at 300 mm on centre (o.c.).

Isometric profile drawing of the deck boards; the deck boards, spacing between sides of planks, minimum joists per plank, maximum joist spacing, fasteners and minimum spacing between ends of the planks.
Figure 1. FORESTAR WPC DECKING
  1. FORESTAR WPC DECKING
  2. 3 mm or 4 mm spacing between the sides of the planks, depending on the temperature at installation
  3. Minimum of three joists per plank
  4. Maximum joist spacing of 300 mm on centre (o.c.) for 25 mm × 136 mm planks
  5. Joist designed to support applicable loads
  6. Two 25-mm-long fasteners in “T” clips per plank at each intersecting joist
  7. 5 mm minimum spacing between ends of the planks, depending on the length of the plank and temperature at installation

Manufacturing plant

This evaluation is valid only for products produced at the following plant:

Product nameManufacturing plant
Xuangcheng, China
FORESTAR WPC DECKINGProduct evaluated by the CCMC

Product evaluated by the CCMC Indicates that the product from this manufacturing facility has been evaluated by the CCMC

  Conditions and limitations

The CCMC’s compliance opinion is bound by this product being used in accordance with the conditions and limitations set out below.

  • The product must be installed with supports spaced no greater than 300 mm o.c. Each plank must be supported by at least three joists.
  • The product must be installed with a double joist configuration at all end-to-end plank installations.
  • The product must be installed at a minimum 150 mm height above the finished grade.
  • The products must be fastened to each intersecting wood joist with fasteners in clips conforming to Article 9.23.3.1., Standard for Nails and Screws, of Division B of the NBC 2015 that have a corrosion protection coatingFootnote (1) or are made of stainless steel. The planks must be fastened with the manufacturer's proprietary interlocking clip system. Each clip is to be fastened into the joist framing with 25.4 mm #6 wood fasteners.
  • The product must be installed according to the manufacturer's installation instructions.
  • The products must be gapped end-to-end, based on the length of the plank and the temperature at installation, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The end-to-end gapping must be > 5 mm for installations below 15ºC and ≤ 5 mm for installations above 15ºC. The width-to-width gapping must be 3.1 mm (1/8 in).
  • The products should be installed by a knowledgeable person familiar with the product installation guide.
  • The product is not to be considered an equivalent to dimensional lumber.
  • The product is not to be used as stair treads.
  • The product's label or packaging must be identified with the manufacturer's name or logo and the phrase "CCMC 14090-R".

  Technical information

This evaluation is based on demonstrated conformance with the following criteria:

Evaluation requirements
Criteria number Criteria name
CCMC-TG-067314.01-15BCCMC Technical Guide for Wood Thermoplastic Composite Lumber Exterior Decking
Material requirements
Table 1. Results of testing the physical properties of the product
Property Unit Requirement ResultTable footnote (1)Table footnote (2)
Dimensional change coefficient of linear expansion (thermal) longitudinal cm/cm/ºC < 2 x 10-5 4.0 x 10-5Table footnote (3)
coefficient of linear expansion (swelling): oven dry to vacuum-pressure soak % < 0.5 by 80% of specimens 0.0
Strength and stiffness modulus of elasticity (MOE) span-to-depth ratio within 18 to 21 MPa > 750 2 766
modulus of rupture (MOR) > 9 29
Impact resistance (Izod impact, notched) J/m > 53.4 22.8Table footnote (4)
Hardness (11.28-mm-diam ball) kN > 1.8 3.0
Creep, recovery and load duration % < 25 for creep 38Table footnote (5)
> 75 for recovery 80
No failure Pass
Strength and stiffness after aging weathering: impact resistance % > 75 of non-weathered value 102
accelerated aging MOE % > 50 of non-aged value 97
MOR 96
Fastener holding capacity metal clip fastener withdrawal strength N > 600 1 426
lateral fastener strength > 720 1 006
Flame-spread rating - ≤ 200 40
Table 2. Results of testing the durability, decay, termite, and slip resistance properties of the product
Property Requirement Result
    S-P-F lumber FORESTAR WPC DECKING
Durability MOE Mean percentage losses in MOE and MOR after UV exposure and accelerated aging must be less than or equal to spruce lumber 15.3 17.2Table footnote (1)
MOR 27.9 16.9
Decay resistance % loss in weight Mean percentage losses in weight and compressive strength after exposure to decay-causing fungi must be equal to or better than spruce heartwoodTable footnote (2) FailTable footnote (3)
compressive strength Pass
Termite resistance Rating must be equal to or better than preservative-treated wood conforming to CSA 80.1-M97 Pass
Slip resistance       Parallel to planks Perpendicular to planks
dry condition longitudinal planks > 0.5 0.2Table footnote (4) 0.2Table footnote (4)
wet condition 0.5 0.6
Performance requirements
Table 3. Results of testing the performance of the product under concentrated static loads and impact loads
Property Requirement ResultTable footnote (1)
Minimum ultimate load (kN) Maximum deflection under 0.89 kN load (mm) Ultimate load (kN) Deflection under 0.89 kN load (mm)
Concentrated static load decking at 50ºC 2.45 2.4 2.94 3.23Table footnote (2)
decking at 20ºC 3.47 2.7Table footnote (2)
decking at -35ºC 4.79 1.55
Impact load of 102 N·m decking at 50ºC 1.78 2.0 1.78 0.9

Administrative information

Use of Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assessments

This assessment must be read in the context of the entire CCMC Registry of Product Assessments, any applicable building code or by-law requirements, and/or any other regulatory requirements (for example, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, etc.).

It is the responsibility of the user to confirm that the assessment they are using is current and has not been withdrawn or superseded by a later version on the CCMC Registry of Product Assessments.

Disclaimer

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has evaluated only the characteristics of the specific product described herein. The information and opinions in this evaluation are directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents (such as authorities having jurisdiction, design professionals and specifiers). This evaluation is valid when the product is used as part of permitted construction, respecting all conditions and limitations stated in the evaluation, and in accordance with applicable building codes and by-laws.

This evaluation is provided without representation, warranty or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, and the NRC provides no endorsement for any evaluated product. The NRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use of or reliance on the information contained herein or the use of any evaluated product. The NRC is not undertaking to render professional or other services on behalf of any person or entity nor to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity.

Language

Une version française de ce document est disponible.
In the case of any discrepancy between the English and French version of this document, the English version shall prevail.

Copyright

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the National Research Council of Canada, 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the CCMC.

CCMC recognition

The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes. We are the only construction code compliance service supported and operated by the Government of Canada. Trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Most Canadian authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) consider CCMC product assessments acceptable as evidence for product approval.

CCMC assessments are recognized by construction authorities across Canada:

The CCMC provides code compliance assessments to Canadian code requirements, consulting nationwide with construction regulators to elicit regional variations in code requirements as well as provincial and local interpretations. Users are advised to review the technical information presented in CCMC assessments when making approval decisions. Learn more about how the CCMC provides a unique service for Canada.

For more information, contact the CCMC by phone at (613) 993-6189 or by email at ccmc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

NOTICE

The information presented on this webpage (in HTML format) is the most up-to-date information available from the CCMC about this assessment.

By downloading this PDF you acknowledge that:

  • this PDF is intended for record-keeping purposes only,
  • it represents the information as it was available at the time of downloading, and
  • it may not reflect the latest available information at some future date.
References to this CCMC assessment (in product literature, on websites, etc.) must be made by linking to the evaluation webpage. This PDF must not be used as a means of distributing this assessment to an audience.

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Code compliance as an acceptable solution

Code Compliance via Acceptable Solutions

If a building design (e.g. material, component, assembly or system) can be shown to meet all provisions of the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B (e.g. it complies with the applicable provisions of a referenced standard), it is deemed to have satisfied the objectives and functional statements linked to those provisions and thus to have complied with that part of the Code.

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(a)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Acceptable Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Code compliance as an alternative solution

Code Compliance via Alternative Solutions

Where a design differs from the acceptable solutions in Division B, then it should be treated as an "alternative solution." A proponent of an alternative solution must demonstrate that the alternative solution addresses the same issues as the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B and their attributed objectives and functional statements. However, because the objectives and functional statements are entirely qualitative, demonstrating compliance with them in isolation is not possible. Therefore, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) identifies the principle that Division B establishes the quantitative performance targets that alternative solutions must meet. In many cases, these targets are not defined very precisely by the acceptable solutions [...] Nevertheless, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) makes it clear that an effort must be made to demonstrate that an alternative solution will perform as well as a design that would satisfy the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B—not “well enough” but “as well as.”

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(b)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Alternative Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

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