Cabinet board cores: specify the board, not just the finish
Reviewed by Bo, Project Manager at NOVARTE · Updated
Compare particleboard, plywood and strand boards for cabinetry. Read EGGER product data with its test method and confirm the board selected for your order.
The practical answer
A cabinet core should be specified by product, grade, thickness and intended use. NOVARTE reviews particleboard, plywood and strand-board options for the agreed project; this guide does not promise one universal standard core. Request the selected board’s supplier documentation before approving production. The EGGER reference below is a supplier technical sheet released on 2 October 2013; it is not evidence that boards currently supplied by NOVARTE are certified.
Separate the core from the decorative face
Based on NOVARTE workshop practice, we identify the core, facing, edge sealing and hardware fixing together. A PET surface, painted face or wood veneer does not by itself identify the core or its emission class.
No fixed thickness or default brand is stated here. The quotation and approved drawings must name the board used for each carcass, shelf, front and exposed panel. Cabinetry requirements and structural building-product requirements are different scopes.
Three constructions to discuss
| Core | Construction to identify | Useful questions | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Particleboard | Pressed wood particles with a specified binder and grade | What is the exact product, moisture-use class, thickness and fixing detail? | A generic particleboard name does not prove emissions or suitability around water |
| Plywood | Bonded veneer layers | What are the veneer/core quality, bond class, face grade and screw fixing requirements? | The word plywood alone is not a waterproofing or structural certification |
| LSB / strand board | Supplier-named strand-based board; clarify whether it is OSB or another construction | Ask for the product designation, technical sheet, intended use and actual sample | Do not equate LSB with every OSB product, or transfer structural panel ratings to furniture without checking |
Read the EGGER sheet with its date and test method
The Nikpol-hosted EGGER Eurodekor JP F 0.3 technical sheet, released 2 October 2013, lists F★★★★ (0.3 mg/L) under JIS A 5908:2003, using JIS A 1460 desiccator testing. It also references AS/NZS 1859.1:2006 class MR for humid interior conditions. These are the references printed in that dated product sheet, not a claim that an old standard is the current requirement for your project.
F★★★★ is not directly equivalent to an E0 or E1 label: the test method and units must be considered. We do not infer FSC or PEFC status from these sheets. MR describes a specified moisture-use class, not an assurance that installed cabinetry is waterproof.
Public product information is not a batch certificate for a NOVARTE order. We must confirm the product actually selected and obtain the applicable supplier report. Supplier evidence remains attributed to the supplier; it is not presented as NOVARTE certification.
What the order should record
- Product designation, manufacturer and report or data-sheet revision.
- Core thickness and facing, backing and edge details for each item.
- Required emission class with test method and units, without unsupported conversion.
- Wet-area exposure, plumbing penetrations and who seals them on site.
- The sample and documentation approved for the actual supplied material.
Related emissions and import checks
Complete the specification
Use the same words on your drawings
Sources
- EGGER Eurodekor JP F0.3 supplier technical sheet — released 2 October 2013, hosted by Nikpol
- APA: oriented strand board construction and applications
NOVARTE supply scope is based on the owner-confirmed workshop brief of 30 October 2026. Linked technical information describes its named product or method; it is not proof of the materials supplied for your order or NOVARTE certification.
Common questions
Is F★★★★ the same as E0 or E1?+
No direct equivalence is claimed. Compare the named test, units, product and report revision. A label from one test system does not automatically establish a class in another.
Are moisture-resistant cabinets waterproof?+
A moisture-resistant board class does not make the whole cabinet waterproof. Exposed edges, cut-outs, plumbing leaks, installation and care still affect performance.
Can I rely on a supplier sheet as my order certificate?+
A public technical sheet describes a named product. Confirm the material actually quoted and the supplier evidence applicable to it; an unverified product name is not batch traceability.