Can Build On
Certification You
South Africa's plywood market contains a significant volume of uncertified and sub-specification product — often imported and offered at temptingly low price points. When plywood is used in structural applications, sub-standard material is not merely a quality disappointment; it is a safety risk.
Responsible specifiers, contractors, and buyers demand certified plywood. ELS Timbers holds two of the most important certifications in the industry: FSC® Chain of Custody certification for sustainable sourcing, and SANS 929 compliance verified by SATAS for structural performance.
When you specify ELS, you can back up your choice with documentation. Ask us for copies of our current certificates at any time.
WHY CERTIFICATION MATTERS
Don't Accept Plywood On Faith Alone
SANS 929 STRUCTURAL PLYWOOD
SATAS Certificate No. 395/01
Third-party verification by SATAS (South African Audit Technical Services) that ELS Timbers meets the requirements of SANS 929:2006 for structural plywood manufacture.
FSC® CHAIN OF CUSTODY
Forest Stewardship Council · SA-COC
Confirms that all timber raw material used in ELS plywood production is sourced from FSC® certified, responsibly managed forests. Independently audited annually.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is the world's most respected and widely recognised certification body for responsible forest management. FSC® Chain of Custody (CoC) certification tracks timber from the forest through every step of the manufacturing process to the final product — ensuring that material sold as FSC®-certified genuinely originates from sustainably managed sources.
ELS Timbers Products operates fully in accordance with FSC® CoC specifications. This means that our timber procurement, storage, production process, and finished product inventory are all subject to independent third-party audits to verify compliance with the FSC®'s rigorous standards. Our FSC® certificate is available for download and can be verified on the FSC®'s online public certificate database.
Sustainable Forestry
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Chain of Custody certification goes beyond verifying the forest itself. It verifies that certified timber has been kept separate from uncertified material throughout the entire supply chain, from log to finished panel. When you buy FSC®-labelled ELS Timbers plywood, the claim is demonstrably true.
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FSC®-certified forests are managed to protect biodiversity, water quality, and the rights of local communities and workers. By sourcing exclusively from FSC®-certified operations, ELS Timbers ensures that our products do not contribute to deforestation or irresponsible forestry practices.
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FSC®-certified timber products contribute towards credits in major green building rating systems, including the Green Building Council of South Africa's Green Star rating scheme. Specifying ELS plywood can support your project's sustainability credentials and green procurement policies.
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Current copies of both our FSC® Chain of Custody certificate and SATAS SANS 929 compliance certificate are available on request from our sales team. Contact us by email and we will provide the relevant documentation promptly.
STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE STANDARD
SANS 929 (South African National Standard 929) is the definitive South African standard governing the manufacture and performance of structural plywood. It specifies requirements for veneer quality, adhesive bond classification, thickness tolerances, moisture content, formaldehyde emission, and structural grading. Compliance is verified through third-party factory audits and batch testing by accredited inspection bodies.
ELS Timbers is independently certified to SANS 929 by SATAS (South African Audit Technical Services) — one of South Africa's premier accredited product testing and certification organisations. Our SATAS certificate (No. 395/01) is available on request and can be downloaded from our website. It is renewed through ongoing factory surveillance audits to ensure that our production processes remain consistently compliant.
SANS 929 — Certified Structural Plywood
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SATAS (South African Audit Technical Services) is an independent, SANAS-accredited certification and inspection body. SATAS conducts regular unannounced factory audits and product sampling to verify ongoing compliance with SANS standards — providing genuine, third-party assurance rather than self-certification.
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SANS 929 certification means that when architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors specify structural plywood to SANS 929, ELS Timbers boards comply. Certification documentation is available for inclusion in project files, municipal submissions, and structural warranty records.
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Current copies of both our FSC® Chain of Custody certificate and SATAS SANS 929 compliance certificate are available on request from our sales team. Contact us by email and we will provide the relevant documentation promptly.