Study on the natural durability of Eucalyptus globulus wood from Spain

IRG/WP 09-10690

D Lorenzo, M T Troya, M Touza, C Baso

The wood of Eucalyptus globulus is recommended in some countries, such as Australia, due to its high durability, in risk situations where attack by organisms is likely to occur. In Galicia this species has been used for many decades for timber structures and other uses, which are still used. However, European Standard EN 350-2 places Eucalyptus globulus in the worst category of natural durability, a situation that does not correspond to the facts. The objective of this project is to determine the durability of this species against wood destroying fungi and wood destroying insects and to classify Eucalyptus globulus in the above mentioned standard accordingly. To achieve this objective, laboratory and field tests against fungi and insects were being carried out. The results of the laboratory tests with white, brown and soft rot indicate that heartwood is durable (class 2), sapwood is not durable (class 5) and juvenile wood is not durable (class 5). The results obtained in the laboratory tests with the Lyctus indicate that heartwood is durable (D), sapwood is susceptible (S) and juvenile wood is susceptible (S), with the Anobium indicate that heartwood is durable (D), sapwood is susceptible (S) and juvenile wood is durable (D) and with the termite tests indicate that heartwood, sapwood and juvenile wood are all susceptible (S). These results confirm the high durability of the heartwood of this species against wood destroying fungi and dry wood destroying beetles and the low resistant against termites.


Keywords: Eucalyptus globulus, natural durability, wood destroying fungi, wood destroying insects, EN 350-1 and EN 350-2

Conference: 09-05-24/28 Beijing, China


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