Studies in an accelerated soil bed facility on the decay susceptibility of U.K. grown spruce and pine poles treated with copper/chrome/arsenic (CCA) by pressurised sap-displacement. Part 1: Setting up of soil beds and initial soft rot results

IRG/WP 2344

A Bruce, S D Hainey, G M Smith, B King, P D Evans

The paper describes the methodology used in the construction and early operation of an accelerated soil bed facility used to examine the decay susceptibility of U.K. grown Scots and Corsican pine and Sitka and Norway spruce treated with C.C.A. by high pressure sap-displacememt. The design and control of the facility as well as the preparation, soil exposure and soft rot decay analysis of quarter pole sections removed from full length poles is described in detail. The extent of soft rot in treated sections and controls was measured mechanically using a Pilodyn and also microscopically. In untreated control sections the Corsican pine was found to be the most susceptible timber to decay with the spruce species comparing favourably with Scots pine. All four treated wood species showed varying levels of C.C.A. penetration and subsequent resistances to decay. Thus while no soft rot decay was found in the treated regions of any of the wood species, internal soft rot was found beyond the penetration of the C.C.A. presentative. The implications of the findings for the testing of U.K. grown timber species for use as distribution poles after sap-displacement treatment with C.C.A. are discussed.


Keywords: CCA; POLES; SOIL BED TESTS; PRESSURISED SAP-DISPLACEMENT; ACCELERATED DECAY TESTS

Conference: 90-05-13/18 Rotorua, New Zealand


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