The long-term performance of preservative-treated and modified wood in marine exposures was assessed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. This report describes the final destructive assessment of the surviving Australian panels after 11 years of exposure. This site presents the potential for attack by shipworms (likely Bankia spp.), pholads (Martesia striata), Limnoria and Sphaeroma terebrans. Most samples showed little external evidence of marine borer attack but were heavily damaged on the interior. Shipworms were the most prevalent cause of damage, but some pholad damage was also noted. Acetylated radiata pine (Accoya) and southern pine samples treated with 6.7% chromated copper arsenate (CCA-Type C) showed little evidence of either external or internal damage. Samples treated with 3.3% CCA, Dreamdex ® polymer impregnated wood and 10%, 20% and 30% phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin treated wood all contained some level of internal shipworm attack. The results illustrate the performance afforded by CCA as well as acetylation and suggest that higher loadings of the resin systems might be needed to limit marine borer attack.

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