General Description

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. is one of the largest producers of pressure treated wood in the United States, specializing in government specifications, high retention, and treatment of plywood. Hoover also specializes in kiln drying after treatment, which produces wood that is stronger, lighter, and pre-shrunk. CCA, the clean waterborne preservative choice for 60 years, is used by Hoover because it has an excellent performance record against termites and decay, excellent environmental qualities, and it's economical.

Hoover engineers and fabricates the Plywall Permanent Engineered Wood Barrier System for noise abatement and aesthetic screening. The Plywall panels have been tested in accordance with ASTM E-90, resulting in a measured Sound Transmission Class (STC) of 38. Shipment is by truck and can be delivered to any point in the United States and Canada. A local contractor or a maintenance crew usually performs the installation. The cost includes shipment and all required materials delivered, ready to install.

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Engineering

PLYWALL is engineered for any specified wind load, expressed as pounds per square foot. Typical design wind loads range from 20 to 40 PSF. PLYWALL can be adaptable to different heights, soils, climates and terrain. It is aesthetically pleasing and well received by the public because of the warm, natural appearance of wood. The economical advantages are beneficial in comparison to competitive barriers that are constructed with other materials such as concrete and steel.

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Design Detail

PLYWALL Post and Panel consists of prefabricated pressure treated wood "sandwich" panels supported between pressure treated Parallam® PSL engineered timber posts. The panels are 2-3/4 inches thick and they are secured to the posts in channels created by pressure treated 4X4 cleats that are spiked or lagged to the posts.

Prefabricated panels are 8, 12, or 16 feet wide, covered on both sides with pressure treated, exterior rated 4' by 8' Texture 1-11 plywood siding. Interior framing is sandwiched between the plywood faces to provide a stiff structural "skin" to enable the panels to resist high wind loads. Fabricated height of the 1-piece panels is variable, depending on the job requirements and panel width. Pressure treated Parallam® PSL engineered timber posts support the panels at exposed heights to 24 feet.

Posts are embedded in the ground to a depth roughly equivalent to half the exposed height of the barrier and back-filled with crushed stone or concrete.

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Applications/Usage

Highways Roadways Industrial Sites Commercial Sites Strip Malls Shopping Centers Zoo Facilities Amusement Parks

School/Recreational Facilities Residential Developments Racetracks Airport Noise/Jet Blast Fence Zoning Restrictions Fast-Food Restaurants Railroad Areas Utility Sub-Stations Permanent/Temporary Barriers

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Installation Suggestions

PLYWALL is shipped complete and ready-to-install, including posts, panels, cleats and spikes (or lag bolts). Installation is done by a local contractor, often a commercial fence contractor. PLYWALL is also well suited for installation by general contractors or maintenance personnel. No special skills are required.

A truck-mounted auger often works well for digging the postholes. Hole diameters can be as large as 24 inches or greater for the largest posts. Recommended backfill is crushed stone, which provides excellent lateral support and allows easy removal for future relocation. Concrete footings are not required at lower heights.

Parallam® posts are set on center to center spacing of the panel width plus the post width, plus one inch. The unique panel-to-post attachment method, using spiked or lagged 4X4 cleats to create a channel, provides an expansion joint and utilizes the exposed post face to add extra linear coverage per panel.

Individual panels are lifted into position by a crane using the built-in loops at the top of each panel. One cleat is spiked or lagged to each post with the provided hot dipped ring shank spikes or lag bolts, and then the panel is swung into position and fixed by attachment of the opposing cleat. Panels do not have to be lowered from the top of the posts. Holes are predrilled in each cleat for the spikes or lag bolts. The finishing touches are added by simply sawing off the excess post tops and cutting off the nylon web lifting loops with a utility knife.

Field cuts and modifications are easily made to PLYWALL panels to accommodate odd span widths or other field conditions where a standard panel will not fit.

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Maintenance & Finishing

PLYWALL requires minimal maintenance due to the coloration and UV resistance provided by the CCA preservative, which gradually ages during the first few years from light green to gray. CCA also provides decades of protection against decay and termites.

If a special finish is desired, the rough texture enhances finish adhesion. Neither staining nor painting is required, however, due to the permanent protection and coloration provided by treatment. PLYWALL is easily repaired if traffic damage occurs. Repairs can usually be made with ordinary carpentry skills and new panels can be shipped in a short period of time.

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Benefits to Installers & Residents

PLYWALL is "neighborly" because it is identical in appearance and attractiveness from either side with no unsightly backside. In spite of its lighter weight, PLYWALL's installed noise reduction is just as good as solid concrete or masonry.

Installers like its complete prefabrication, relatively light weight, minimal skilled labor requirements, and its simplicity.

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Plywall is a Hoover Treated Wood Product. Hoover has developed a reputation for quality service and innovation specializing in high quality products. For more information on the PLYWALL Engineered Wood Noise Barrier - Contact the PLYWALL Sales Department