Wood is increasingly recognised as an eco-friendly building material, but its organic nature makes it vulnerable to degradation, especially in outdoor applications exposed to moisture. This study investigates wood-decaying fungi affecting oak timber bridges in Hanover, Germany. The study aimed to identify the fungal species using culture-independent methods and to examine the impact of poorly executed structural details on wood degradation. The results revealed that the crossbars were the most frequently decayed components, followed by the bridge decking, posts, and handrails. White rot fungi were the most prevalent (78%) followed by soft rot (19%) and brown rot (3%) fungi. Fungal decay occurred where oak timber components were in direct contact with soil, moisture was trapped, cracks were formed, and sapwood was included.

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