How personality traits influence the perception of fungal decay in a wooden cladding – A survey in three Modelling wood moisture content in outdoor conditions from measured data

IRG/WP 24-41002

G W Gustavsen, G Alfredsen, P B van Niekerk, J Niklewski, C Brischke

This study examined perceptions of fungal decay damage on wooden cladding across Norway, Sweden, and Germany. The majority of respondents across all countries did not find the fungal decay damage in question acceptable, with the least acceptance in Norway. This could be due to Norway having the highest frequency of wooden residential buildings and the most experience with maintaining wooden cladding. Acceptance of decay damage was linked to experience, age, and income across all countries, with younger people and lower-income respondents more likely to accept the damage. Acceptance varied by country, linked to factors such as experience, gender, personality traits, and location. This study provides insight into perceptions of fungal decay damage on wooden cladding, with implications for future practices and consumer education. However, the inability to find in-service decay damages reflecting different decay stages from the same location posed a challenge in giving a more fine-tuned estimation of the thresholds of acceptance for fungal decay damage among consumers.


Keywords: basidiomycete decay, Big Five personality traits, European survey, Germany, limit states, Norway, service life prediction, Sweden

Conference: 24-05-19/23 Knoxville, USA


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