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Service life prediction of wooden components – Part 2: Impact of material, exposure and design details
2010 - IRG/WP 10-20440
Dose-response functions permit to estimate the moisture and temperature induced decay potential for any wooden building component and exposure, and thus the service life to be expected. In part 1 of this series dose-response functions were established as a result of double layer field trials carried out at 24 European test sites over up to eight years. Using them makes it no longer necessary to co...
C Brischke, B Lauenstein, M Bilstein, T Bornemann, A O Rapp


The biological durability approach for wood product performance and service life prediction
2010 - IRG/WP 10-20457
The performance of wood-based products under conditions that enable biodegradation are of concern to all who envisage sustainable use of forest based products. This concern is also the basis of classification of wood species on the basis of their biological durability. Engineers are looking for options to transfer such classification into practical service life values for constructions and related...
J Van Acker, J Van den Bulcke, L De Boever


Improved analysis of field test data related to service life prediction of tropical wood species
2010 - IRG/WP 10-20458
Long field trials of wood in ground contact give valuable data on the natural durability of the material. The European Standard EN 350 gives guidance on how to perform these durability classification, but is limited to the use of averages of in-service life of a set of specimens compared to a reference set. Starting from a database of visual assessment of field stake testing, it is possible to obt...
J Van den Bulcke, A Wong, Ling Wang Choon, Yoon Soo Kim, J Van Acker


Field trials of wood preservatives in UC3 retention. Part 1. Durability results after 13 years in and above ground
2010 - IRG/WP 10-30548
In 1996 an extensive field trial program was set up in order to obtain more data on wood treated with chromium and arsenic free preservatives in Use Class 3 retention. Apart from durability in and above ground, other features were also assessed, e.g. discoloration by staining fungi, depletion of active ingredients, weathering and corrosion of fasteners in con¬tact with the treated wood. Wood spec...
M Westin, J Jermer, M-L Edlund, P Larsson Brelid, I Johansson


Analysis of phenolic extractives from various Tunisian species trees -Study of its potential valorisation
2010 - IRG/WP 10-30552
Phenol extractives are naturally synthesized compounds taken from several trees. It is well demonstrated that the presence of phenol compounds is positively correlated with the durability of wood. This property is very interesting for outdoor uses of wood with a limited treatment. Phenol compounds may also be used in the formulation of glue. In the aim to improve the knowledge on Mediterranean tr...
I Oueslati, F Charrier, K Seffah, A Moubarik, N Ayed, A Zerizer, B Charrier


Hydrothermal modification for upgrading the durability properties of soft deciduous wood
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40494
To extend the application potentialities of soft deciduous wood, upgrading the durability properties, hydrothermal modification (HTM) of aspen alder and birch wood was investigated. The treatment was conducted in a multifunctional laboratory device WTT. In the previous cases it has been found that the treatment at 160oC improves the durability insufficiently. The modification at 180oC ensured a hi...
B Andersons, I Andersone, V Biziks, I Irbe, J Chirkova, E Sansonetti, J Grinins, H Militz


Development of markers to predict decay durability of heat treated wood
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40496
Effect of heat treatment temperature on elemental composition of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris) has been investigated in the range of temperatures between 220 and 250°C. Results revealed an important increase of carbon content, while oxygen content significantly decreases. Independently of the heat treatment temperature, elemental composition is strongly correlated with the mass losses due...
Ž Šušteršic, A Mohareb, M Chaouch, M Pétrissans, M Petric, P Gérardin


Ecological methods and products for wood protection used for restoration and conservation of built heritage cultural assets to increase natural durability and duration of exposure in open air museums
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40506
Wood is a perishable material, hygroscopic and fuel, which cause attention to selecting the wood species that is going to be exhibited in relation to humidity and soil. With variable depending on its humidity and moisture from the atmosphere or soil, wood is a good living environment for fungi and insects, but suffer biodegradation processes and dimensional changes. Observations over time on wood ...
M Pruna, D Purice, D Dumitru Copacean


Direct estimation of the durability of high-pressure steam modified wood by ESR-spectroscopy
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40508
Heat generated persistent free radicals have been detected by electron spin resonance measurement of thermally modified wood, prepared by high pressure superheated steam treatment. The specific density of these radicals have been correlated with the durability against basidiomycetes, as measured by the European standard EN113 test. In the lower range of specific radical densities, the found correl...
W Willems, A Tausch, H Militz


Durability of heat treated Malaysian bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii strips
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40514
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants and can be used for various products. In tropical countries such as Malaysia bamboo is abundantly available at reasonable prices, therefore it is used for numerous purposes. However, bamboo (as a lignocellulosic material) is susceptible to fungal and insect attack and it is difficult to protect by preservative treatment. Heat treatment is an option to im...
N Kamarudin, K Sugiyanto


Moisture dynamics of WPC as basis for biological durability
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40520
The largest market for wood-polymer composites (WPCs) is currently decking. Although many products are commercially available, a proper standard for the assessment of the biological durability of WPC does not exist. Recommended standards for testing resistance against basidiomycetes should be completed with a method to bring the specimens in a worst case situation, obtaining a moisture level high ...
N Defoirdt, J Van Acker, J Van den Bulcke


Biological degradation of acetylated wood after 18 years in ground contact and 10 years in marine water
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40522
This paper addresses the resistance to biological degradation of acetylated wood. Firstly, it presents results from an EN 252 test after 18 years’ exposure. The test is still running in Nordic NWPC test fields, Simlångsdalen in Sweden and Viikki in Finland. Results from this test were presented after 5 years’ exposure ( IRG/WP 97-30139), and showed that the resistance of acetylated wood wit...
P Larsson Brelid, M Westin


Testing of decay resistance of sapwood and heartwood of thermally modified Scots pine and Norway spruce
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40523
Thermal modification at elevated temperatures changes the chemical, biological and physical properties of wood. One of the main targets of thermal modification is to increase the biological durability and decay resistance of wood. Although the effects of thermal modification on wood have been widely studied, the significance of sapwood and heartwood on the resistance of thermally modified wood has...
H Viitanen, S Metsä-Kortelainen


Effect of Coatings on the Durability of Birch and Spruce Plywood. Part 1: Weathering Performance
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40526
Several different coated birch and spruce plywood types were investigated in Finland using outdoor weathering. The weather performance of the tested coated birch plywood was good compared with uncoated birch and spruce plywood. The paint base film coated and painted birch plywood performed well in outdoor testing at VTT's test site. Phenol film coated plywood was sensitive to UV light, but on...
A Nurmi, H Viitanen


Effect of Coatings on the Durability of Birch and Spruce Plywood. Part 2: Biological Durability
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40527
Several different coated birch and spruce plywood types were investigated in Finland using the combination of outdoor weathering and decay test EN 12038. The most important factor to affect on the biological performance of birch plywood, coated and uncoated, was edge sealing. For spruce plywood edge sealing had a smaller effect. However, in spite of positive effect against decay, edge sealing did ...
A Nurmi, H Viitanen


Deterioration of wooden heritage in outdoor exposure in Romania
2010 - IRG/WP 10-40535
The paper contains a study of the deterioration of wooden heritage in Romania, in outdoor exposure. Romania belongs to the few countries having a rich heritage of this kind. A quantitative image of this heritage reveals the 1,350 objectives transferred and reconstructed in 16 open-air museums, over 1,500 wooden churches, more than 4,000 buildings and technical facilities, historical monuments ...
L Bucşa, C Bucşa


Natural durability of wood tested in different environments in Northern Europe
2011 - IRG/WP 11-10747
Moisture is often recognised as a key factor regarding the long time performance of wooden products, and one of the main challenges for timber products is to predict accurate service life in use class 3 (not covered above ground) and use class 4 (in soil or fresh water contact). A range of durability classification studies have been performed both in field and laboratory. But for several wood spec...
P O Flæte, G Alfredsen, F G Evans


Durability testing of coconut shell according to ENV 807
2011 - IRG/WP 11-10761
Coconut shell was tested in the laboratory according to the European standard ENV 807 with three different soil types: compost soil, brown rot/soft rot rich soil and white rot/soft rot rich soil. Mass losses between 14 and 16 % were achieved with all three soils, indicating that the decay type is of little importance in the degradation process. Somewhat higher mass losses, 19-22 % were obtained fo...
J Jermer, A H H Wong, K Segerholm, T Nilsson


Decay hazard mapping for Europe
2011 - IRG/WP 11-20463
In this study, two different dose-response models for above-ground decay as well as a model transferring macro climate data to wood climate data are presented. The models base on data from field trials, which had been conducted at 28 European test sites, and were used to calculate the relative risk for decay caused by climate variability in Europe. The two dose-response models give coherent result...
C Brischke, E Frühwald Hansson, D Kavurmaci, S Thelandersson


Service life prediction of wooden components - Part 3: Approaching a comprehensive test methodology
2011 - IRG/WP 11-20464
This paper is the third in a series on 'service life prediction' of wooden components and should be considered as a discussion paper. The authors tried to analyze the topic with a look from a distance and comment sometimes with a smile on the current controversial discussion about SLP issues. Nevertheless, the viewpoints of different groups, such as natural scientists, engineers, approva...
C Brischke, C R Welzbacher, L Meyer, T Bornemann, P Larsson Brelid, A Pilgård, E Frühwald-Hansson, M Westin, A O Rapp, S Thelandersson, J Jermer


Methods of field data evaluation - time versus reliability
2011 - IRG/WP 11-20466
Field testing of wood and wood-based products is so far the most reliable way to get information on performance with respect to durability and expected service life. However, field trials are extremely time and cost consuming. The main objective of the present study was to investigate possible correlations between early stages of decay, preferably during the first 5 years, and the actual service l...
P Larsson Brelid, C Brischke, A O Rapp, M Hansson, M Westin, J Jermer, A Pilgård


Improving our understanding of moisture and other durability-related properties of wood in building envelope performance prediction
2011 - IRG/WP 11-20468
Building science has become an increasingly important field in recent years with rapid changes in construction methods, building materials and consumer expectations. The field has also been brought to prominence by a few large-scale premature building envelope failures in a few regions across the world. Considerable effort has been put into developing hygrothermal models to simulate heat, air, vap...
Jieying Wang, P Morris


Performances of Douglas fir in real outdoor use conditions
2011 - IRG/WP 11-20472
The European standard EN 350-2 classifies Douglas fir as moderately resistant to fungal decay on the basis of standardized laboratory and field tests. However, the lifespan expectancy of outdoor structures such as cladding, decking and elements of wood construction carpentry may also vary according to environmental conditions (climate, exposure to weathering), maintenance and design. An investigat...
M Kutnik, S Lepetit, S Le Nevé


Wood protection by nano silver against white rot
2011 - IRG/WP 11-30554
This research was done with the aim of investigation on the natural durability of poplar (populous deltoides) in natural situation and treated with nano silver against the white rot. Testing samples was treated with the method of modified soaking and nano silver in 3 treating level of 0,200 and 400ppm. In this study effect of coriolus versicolor fungus (identificated as white rot) on populous del...
V Tazakor Rezai, A Usefi, M Soltani


The durability of acetylated radiata pine sapwood (Accoya). Results from five years testing
2011 - IRG/WP 11-30560
New Zealand grown radiata pine sapwood was modified using the Accsys PLC acetylation process (Accoya). Following treatment, various test samples were exposed in the Scion Accelerated Field Test facility (Fungus Cellar) and in exterior ground contact field tests. In the Fungus Cellar, performance was compared with that of radiata pine treated with CCA to Hazard Classes H3.2 (0.37% m/m Cu+Cr+As) and...
M Hedley, D Page, J van der Waals, K Nasheri, G Durbin


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