Ideal for creative applications such as routing, moulding and general purpose work.
MDF Specifiers Guide
Click the image below to view our MDF Specifiers Guide:
MDF/ HDF
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is a very smooth, high quality board with an equal density across all of the panel with no ‘natural defects’ such as knots as seen in other panel products.
As a panel, its biggest strengths are that it is very easy to machine and easy to laminate or veneer onto. As a result of this, MDF has often replaced solid timber in a lot of construction and furniture-based applications.
High Density Fibreboard is produced in a similar fashion but contains more wood fibre per cubic metre. It is often used as a core component in laminate flooring and is commonly associated with the thinner thicknesses.
Hanson Plywood Ltd are one of the largest stockists of MDF in the North of England and offer products from all major manufacturers. A full range of MDF types, sizes and thicknesses are available immediately ex stock.
Hardboard
Hardboard is a wet process fibreboard (in contrast to MDF which is a dry process fibreboard).
Hardboard is differentiated from other wet processed fibreboards (softboard & mediumboard) by its higher density of ≥900 kg/m3 and is usually bonded together by the adhesive properties of the wood fibres (although oil or wax or other synthetic resins can sometimes be used).
Quick Reference Guide - MDF
Please note: Under EN 622-5, ‘General Purpose’ refers to products suitable for ‘use in non load-bearing applications’.
Trade Term
Class
Typical Average Density
Application & Climatic Condition
Use Class (EN 335)
General purpose joinery
Simple designs with minimal profile
Humid Conditions
Architectural mouldings - skirting architraves
Deep routed profiles (e.g. membrane pressed PVC doors)
Designs with advanced deep routed profiles and painted finishes
Standard
MDF
650 Kg/m3
General purpose boards for dry conditions
Use Class 1
Yes
Yes
Yes
Trade
L.MDF
625 Kg/m3
Light MDF boards for dry conditions
Use Class 1
Yes
Yes
Ultralight
UL2.MDF
520 Kg/m3
Ultra-light MDF boards for dry conditions
Use Class 1
Yes
Yes
Moisture Resistant
MDF.H
720 Kg/m3
General purpose boards for humid conditions
Use Classes 1 & 2
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Exterior
MDF.H-2
770 Kg/m3
General purpose boards for exterior conditions
Use Classes 1,2 & 3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Quick Reference Guide - Hardboard
Please note: Under EN 622-2, ‘General Purpose’ refers to products suitable for ‘use in non load-bearing applications’.
Hanson Plywood’s stocks of Hardboard are suitable for HB – General purpose boards for use in dry conditions.
Type
Application & Climatic Condition
Use Class (EN 335)
HB
General purpose boards for use in dry conditions
Use Class 1
HB.H
General purpose boards for use in humid conditions
Use Classes 1 & 2
HB.E
General purpose boards for use in exterior conditions
Use Classes 1,2 &3
HB.LA
Load-bearing boards for use in dry conditions
Use Class 1
HB.HLA1
Load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions
Use Class 2
HB.HLA2
Heavy Duty Load-bearing boards for use in humid conditions
Use Class 2
