Within the research programmes WoodBuild and PerformWOOD, wetting ability tests have been conducted with 25 wood-based materials. A first attempt has been made to establish factors for calculating the material resistance of wood materials to be implemented into a design guideline for timber structures. The approach looks promising, but further studies are needed to establish more reliable relationships between laboratory wetting ability test results and outdoor moisture performance. It is also necessary to come to an agreement on how to determine the wetting ability as well as to get reliable data on the decay resistance for preservative-treated wood, modified wood and wood polymer composites.

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