A soil-less test of treated wood

IRG/WP 2105

E A Behr

The objective of this work is to devise an accelerated test for preservatives to be used in places away from soil contact. There may be compounds or mixtures which will protect wood or wood derived materials from decay in such articles as sash and doors, boardwalks, steps, laminated arches and the like, and possess properties that make them preferable to the heavy-duty preservatives used for poles, cross-ties or items to be used in soil contact. This experiment is an attempt to evaluate a test thought to be more in keeping with practice than the soil block test. Wood with a series of treatments is exposed in close contact with wood undergoing active decay by a known fungus (basidiomycete). Lack of transfer of decay would indicate that the treatment protects the wood. Use of test pieces of size comparable to use conditions and of non-sterile conditions approaches practicality more so than what is followed in the soil-block test.


Keywords: BRICKS ON SOIL TEST; FIELD TEST; FUNGI; OUT-OF-GROUND CONTACT; PINUS PONDEROSA; PRESERVATIVES; SOIL/BLOCK TESTS; TESTING

Conference: 78-09-18/22 Peebles, Scotland, UK


Download document (707 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document