Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) have shown a great potential as more environmentally acceptable wood preservatives. In order to identify chemicals possessing the wood protecting potential, an evaluation was carried out of a range of commercially available 'quats', using a modified soil block test. Ponderosa pine sapwood blocks were treated with selected 'quat', leached with water and sterilized with gamma radiation. The blocks then were exposed to Postia placenta, Gloeophyllum trabeum and Trametes versicolor in soil jars. After incubation at 25°C for twelve weeks, weight losses of the blocks after the test were calculated and the fungal toxic threshold determined. The four 'quats' examined were very effective in preventing attack of ponderosa pine sapwood blocks by the three fungi.

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