In this survey we will examine the specific problems concerning the conservation and the preservation of timber (issued from trunks of small diameter corresponding to products of clearings or coppices) destined for the fabrication of solid reconstituted elements. Thus for six metropolitan species of wood, we first characterized the biological deteriorations which occur after felling and their kinetics with respect to the exploitation period. We then defined two methods of treatment adapted to coppice timber, i.e. methods which are efficient and compatible with gluing and finishings. The efficiency of the treatments (applied to damp timbers) was verified by determining the penetration of the preservatives in the wood, by chemical analysis and biological assessment. These treatments (with CCA and CCB salts applied by vacuum and pressure) confer a permanent and high degree of protection to the timber from the first cut of the saw, dispense with the need for a temporary treatment of newly sawn timber and can be easily integrated into an industrial manufacturing process. The degree of protection conferred to the species does not appear to be affected by the humidity of the wood at the time of treatment.

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