Methods for measuring the production of carbondioxide from wood infected with the dry-rot fungus were evaluated. By enclosing whole wood blocks and measuring the concentration of gas in the headspace by gas chromatography, an exponential increase in the concentration of CO2 was observed for at least 2 months. This technique could therefore present a method for evaluating various treatments of dry-rot in the laboratory. Collecting headspace gas from GC-vials inserted in drilled holes in infected wood showed an increase in CO2 concentration for 2 weeks, whereafter it decreased. This method will be evaluated for use in naturally infected timber in buildings to measure the activity of attacks where the viability of the fungus is in doubt. A specific growth rate of 0.037 days-1 for dry-rot in infected wood was calculated. It was also shown that the growth of dry-rot was inhibited by either CO2 partial pressures higher than 100 mbar or O2 partial pressures lower than 100 mbar.

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