EN 350 (2016) allows formally to determine durability classes (DC) for wood products and wood-based materials, which was previously only possible for untreated wood in the form of natural durability. In a first study, the University of Goettingen carried out the durability classification of chemically modified (modified with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea, DMDHEU) and preservative-treated specimens of various hardwoods and softwoods. The objectives of the work were the determination of mass losses caused by basidiomycetes (CEN/TS 15083-1, 2005) and soft rot fungi (CEN/TS 15083-2, 2005) and to classify durability according to EN 350 (2016). The results showed that a durability classification of chemically modified and preservative treated wood is possible. The tests CEN/TS 15083-1 (basidiomycetes) were carried out with the test fungi C. puteana and T. versicolor and showed that the durability classification is based predominantly on the mass losses caused by C. puteana. However, the distribution of the mass loss values is high, especially for DMDHEU modified collectives. Examinations in accordance with CEN/TS 15083-2 have in many cases led to similar classifications as the tests according to CEN/TS 15083 1. The methodology for evaluating the data proposed in EN 350 (2016) needs to be optimized.

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