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Challenges in managing very long-term field tests
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30779
Field testing of wood preservatives has been on-going in Petawawa, Ontario, Canada since at least 1937. Many of the treated roundwood posts from these early experiments are still in test, and include preservatives still used today, including creosote, copper naphthenate, pentachlorophenol and CCA. Performance data from selected experiments more than 50 years old are reported and we discuss some of...
R Stirling, D Wong


Long-term field performance of a carbon-based preservative in ground contact test conditions
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30781
Carbon-based preservatives have demonstrated reasonable long-term field performance in above ground testing. This study examines the performance of a carbon-based preservative formulation containing quaternary ammonium compounds and tebuconazole as a treatment for three softwood species exposed in ground contact at two sites in Canada. The treatment was associated with improved decay resistance an...
C Wilson, J Zhang, R Stirling


Field performance of MCA-treated wood in ground contact
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30782
Micronized Copper Azole (MCA) was evaluated for its ability to resist biodegradation at two Canadian test sites using Pacific silver fir and white spruce stakes, and lodgepole pine and red pine roundwood posts. After 12 years of exposure the treated stakes exhibited low to moderate levels of decay while the untreated controls had failed. When stakes were moved to an active termite site, the untrea...
C Wilson, J Zhang, R Stirling


Citric acid and sorbitol treatment: A comparative study of Canadian and Norwegian species
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30806
Dimensional instability can reduce the competitiveness of wood in exterior applications such as cladding and decking. The objective of this work was to evaluate the dimensional stability of permeable and refractory softwoods from Europe and North America modified via a sorbitol and citric acid treatment. White spruce and Norwegian spruce, refractory species, and jack pine and Scots pine, relativel...
D Schorr, Erik Larnøy, R Stirling, G Boivin


Field performance of preserved shakes and shingles
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41000
Wood shakes and shingles are used in applications where they are at risk of decay, either in sidewall (UC3.1) or roofing (UC3.2) applications. Material durability may come from using the heartwood of naturally durable species, using preservative treatments, or both. Through a series of long-term field tests, this paper explores the performance of naturally durable and preserved shakes and shingles...
R Stirling, S Kus


DURALARCH – Suitability of selected coloured coniferous heartwoods of different origin for their use in outdoor applications
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11064
For outdoor above-ground applications with high demands on biological durability, there are only a few softwoods available that also have high density and strength characteristics. One of the most important timbers with these material properties is Siberian larch (Larix sibirica, Larix gmelinii), which is available in sufficient quantities due to its large distribution area. Imports of Siberian la...
C Brischke, J Appelt, G Koch, S Majer, M Nopens, R Stirling, D Wong


mpact of Fence Post Footings on Wood Post Durability
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41025
Residential wood fence posts may be dug directly into the ground, secured to a metal spike that goes into the ground, or secured to a concrete footing with a metal boot. It was hypothesised that by keeping wood posts out of the ground both spikes and boot attachments would increase protection against decay and termites and extend the service life of the post. After 9-years of exposure in Kincardin...
D Wong, R Stirling


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