Premier Forest Products unveils world’s first fire-retardant, water-resistant plywood

Leading UK timber supplier, Premier Forest Products, has launched DryGuard FR, the world’s first plywood to combine fire-retardant and water-resistant properties.

Developed in response to customer feedback, this exclusive product is made using pioneering technology from leading European manufacturer, Paged. DryGuard FR sets a new standard by offering both advanced fire and water protection in a single plywood solution.

Building on the success of Premier Forest’s original DryGuard water-resistant plywood, launched in 2021, this latest fire-retardant upgrade is durable, safe and environmentally friendly, with low formaldehyde and VOC emissions. It also holds a Type III Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

Designed for use in roofs, floors and walls, DryGuard FR is treated with a REACH-compliant hydrophobic coating that reduces rainwater absorption while still allowing buildings to breathe, which helps prevent damp and mould for healthier indoor conditions. By repelling water, it retains structural integrity, reducing the need for remedial work and saving contractors time, money and effort. Additionally, there’s no need to cover the plywood during construction, further improving efficiency on-site.

Robust and versatile, DryGuard FR has wide-ranging applications across commercial, residential, educational, leisure and public sector buildings, as well as airports, train stations and server rooms.

The product has undergone rigorous testing and meets relevant EN standards, as well as being CE2+ and FSC® certified (FSC®-C020012).

James Pickford, Commercial Director (Panel Products) at Premier Forest Products, said: “We're incredibly proud to launch this world-exclusive product, which I'm confident will revolutionise the timber industry. DryGuard FR provides customers with the peace of mind of fire retardancy while increasing productivity and efficiency on-site with an all-weather solution.

“We’ve listened to our customers, and, together with Paged, developed something truly unique to meet their needs.”

Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation specialising in the importation, processing, machining, engineering and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products across multiple UK sites. For further information, see www.premierforest.co.uk.