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Mini-stakes – an alternative test method for EN 252?
2023 - IRG/WP 23-20691
Market approval of wood treatment products requires knowledge and prove of long-term durability. Efficiency of wood treatment with a specific product is evaluated based on variety of tests, including penetration evaluation, leaching studies as well as decay tests. EN 252 standard test is a core method for wood durability evaluation in a ground contact, both for commercial product approval and scie...
R Digaitis, P Larsson Brelid, N Terziev, M Klamer, A W Christof, J Stenaek, N Morsing


Laboratory durability testing of preservative treated wood products – first attempts and observations
2023 - IRG/WP 23-20697
In the past, durability classes (DC) had been assigned to wood species, sometimes also to homogenously modified wood-based materials such as thermally modified wood. More recently, some standards allow for classifying the biological durability of chemically modified wood, preservative treated wood and wood composites. Even treated products may be subject to durability classification, but necessary...
C Brischke, M Sievert, M Schilling, S Bollmus


A six-year ground proximity trial of TRU-CORE treatments at Innisfail, Queensland
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30775
This article describes an H3 (above ground outdoor) ground proximity field trial that compares the performance against decay fungi of TRU-CORE (also known as the Buffered Amine Oxide Enhancement System) Copper Quat (CQ) with CCA and commodity Alkaline Copper Quat (commodity-CQ) treatments, all in Pinus radiata. The retentions achieved reflected commercial practice, where higher mean retentions are...
L Cookson


Long-term field performance of a carbon-based preservative in ground contact test conditions
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30781
Carbon-based preservatives have demonstrated reasonable long-term field performance in above ground testing. This study examines the performance of a carbon-based preservative formulation containing quaternary ammonium compounds and tebuconazole as a treatment for three softwood species exposed in ground contact at two sites in Canada. The treatment was associated with improved decay resistance an...
C Wilson, J Zhang, R Stirling


Above Ground Proximity Decay Field Trial of Modified ACQ-A, Wolman® CA-B and Wolman® CA-C in Taiwan
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30793
An above ground proximity decay field trial was established at Chiayi county, Taiwan in July 2016. The purpose of this study was to generate local field performance data for Taiwan for Slash Pine treated with Wolman® CA-B, Wolman® CA-C and a modified ACQ-A product at AWPA UC3B actives retention. After 6 years of field trial, the efficacy of the wood preservative in preventing decay fungi and ter...
J-Y Gan


Through-boring to improve the performance of low durability Eucalyptus species for utility poles: 10-year field test results of pole stubs exposed in Southeast Queensland
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40972
An impending shortage of naturally durable hardwood electricity pole timbers in Australia has encouraged investigation of alternatives containing less durable, untreatable heartwood. Through-boring or drilling holes perpendicular to the long axis before treatment, has been used successfully on refractory softwood poles in North America and might have application in Australia. The use of through-bo...
J Norton, L P Francis, J J Morrell


Wood above ground project – Results and future plans
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11041
In 2000, the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) initiated an extensive study to investigate the natural durability of wood. The study involved exposing wood in various orientations to assess its performance. A total of 35 wood material types were exposed at DTI test site in Taastrup, Denmark. Moisture content (MC) was measured through weighing for the initial five years, decay was assessed follo...
A W Christof, R Digaitis, P Fynholm, J Stenbaek, N Morsing, B Lindegaard


On the use of miniaturized wood specimens in fungal decay experiments – mini-blocks versus EN 113 test specimens
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11044
Preliminary evaluation and classification of wood durability against decay fungi using laboratory monoculture experiments has been a longstanding practice because these tests offer quicker results than field tests. Various methods, including miniaturized specimen formats and different incubation periods, have been explored to expedite decay processes and assess wood preservation efficacy. The 'min...
C Brischke, G Alfredsen


Studies on the treatability of selected pine species and corresponding efficacies of a new non-biocidal treatment
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20721
Wood decay caused by fungi may reduce the service life of wood in outdoor applications. Since moisture conditions in wood occur as one of the most crucial parameters for fungal decay, chemical modifications, which affect the latter, may increase the resistance of wood against such organisms. Usually, pine sapwood is easier to chemically treat than heartwood, as the former generally shows good perm...
T R da Silva Lins, L Emmerich, H Militz, P H Gonzales de Cademartoni, R J Klizke, M Pereira da Rocha


Evaluation of vacuum borate treated spruce or pine CLT in an above ground protected test in southern Mississippi
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41001
Cross laminated timber (CLT) has become a popular wood composite in large building applications that were previously limited to concrete and steel. To extend service and prevent biological attack, chemical protectants are often applied to wood. Cross laminated timber panels are not typically treated, in part due to a lack of data on efficient and effective methods for treating large panels. Ther...
M E Mankowski, A Taylor, G T Kirker


Modelling the service life of wood in ground contact – Verification of remotely sensed soil data from the reanalysis dataset ERA5-Land using in-situ measurements at a test site of utility poles in Eastern Norway
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41003
This study compared soil moisture and temperature estimates from the 5th European reanalysis (ERA5-Land) dataset with in-situ measurements to assess the accuracy and applicability of ERA5-Land data for modelling the service life of wood in ground contact. The ERA5-Land soil temperature estimates showed a moderate correlation with the in-situ temperature measurements (Spearman’s ρ of 0.73) and a...
U Hundhausen, P B van Niekerk, B Marais


Field test method for wood in above ground situation - The full CEN/TC 38 guideline for the Sandwich method. Part 1 - Determining the relative protective effectiveness of a wood preservative
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41013
The attached draft CEN Technical Specification (i.e. pre-EN standard) has been drafted in order to become an alternative to the Lap-Joint test method (EN 12037:23) for testing of wood in above ground situation and the draft CEN/TS Part 1 is specifically intended for determining the relative protective effectiveness of a wood preservative. The new draft CEN/TS is based on a test method developed by...
M Westin, R Ringman, A Christof, F Friese


A comparison of methods – how to achieve a robust and conclusive durability classification of wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11063
The biological durability of wood is a relative and unitless size, and therefore wood species and wood-based materials are assigned to durability classes (DC). In Europe, such classes are based on a variety of measures, which can be absolute or relative to a non-durable reference species. The aim of efforts to develop and standardise methods for determining biological durability should be to ensur...
C Brischke


Durability and molecular analysis of fungal communities in wood exposed above ground
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11068
The objective of the study was to explore the durability of wood exposed above ground, comprising a wide diversity of wood species and treatments and extensive assessment data on wood durability in ongoing long-term testing. Larch species and Scots pine heartwood, two tropical species ntholo and ncurri and a number of treated wood by copper-based formulations and alternatives (silanes, spiroborate...
N Högberg, D Panov, G Daniel, N Terziev


Natural and enhanced durability of wood exposed above ground
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11079
Understanding and predicting the durability of wood is essential for ensuring its effective use, long-term reliability, and sustainability in various applications. To address this need, the "Wood Above Ground" project was initiated in 1999 at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to investigate the natural durability of wood species under a wide range of above-ground exposure scenarios. This ex...
R Digaitis, J Stenbaek, A W Christof, N Morsing, B Lindegaard


Securing Flame Retardancy in Wood: Durability After Artificial and Natural Weathering Test
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20738
The outdoor use of wood is often limited by challenges such as dimensional instability, vulnerability to fungal decay, and high flammability. Traditional flame retardant treatments improve fire resistance but suffer from significant leaching under environmental exposure, reducing their long-term effectiveness. This study introduces an innovative solution by integrating flame retardants with DMDHEU...
M Wu, L Martin, H Militz


Durability Analysis of Bio-based Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin-Treated Wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20753
The aim of this study is to explore the application of bio-based materials in outdoor construction. Enhancing the durability of wood products effectively extends their carbon storage lifespan, making it essential to investigate their long-term durability. The study used commercial resin (CPF) and laboratory-synthesised petro-based phenolic resin (LPF) as control groups. Japanese cedar specimens we...
T-H Lin, P-Y Kuo


Evaluation of moisture exclusion ability of wood using double-layer outdoor exposure tests
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41021
The material resistance of wood to decay must be due to the combined effects of heartwood extractives and the moisture content state. Evaluating the moisture exclusion ability of wood is important for assessing its durability in outdoor use. We conducted previously double-layer outdoor exposure tests and investigated the relationship between moisture content over time and the progress of decay usi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto


Durability evaluation of outdoor-exposed CLT treated with various wood presevatives using CT scans
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41035
Methods for wood preservation treatment of large materials such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) are limited. It is unclear which wood preservation treatment methods can effectively protect CLT from rot risk. In this study, accelerated rot tests (fungus cellar test) of CLT treated with the solvent-borne wood preservative by non-pressure treatment, named ‘deep penetration treatment’, were conduc...
Y Sakurai, T Shigeyama, Y Sugai


Durability Enhancement of US Hardwoods for Use in Open Trailer Decks
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41048
Apitong, a tropical hardwood derived from endangered species within Dipterocarpus genus, has long been used as a decking material for open flat-bed and lowboy trailers in the U.S. However, as more Dipterocarpus species are classified as endangered and critically endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to the declining population of Apitong trees, there is a growing ...
X Xie, X Wang, G Kirker, C A Senalik


Contribution of naturally durable wood use to Circular Economy - Understanding the classification system of natural durability and its variation within wood species
2025 - IRG/WP 25-50411
Total wood demand is shown by FAO to increase 49 percent between 2020 and 2050, regardless of deteriorating conditions such as deforestation and degradation due to fire and biological damages. Demand for wood as a building material is also projected by UNEP to increase significantly to 300 Gt in 2040. To address this situation, extension of the service life and re-use of wood are expected to make ...
K Yamamoto, T Osawa, R Noda


Programme section 2, Test methodology and assessment
1997 - IRG/WP 97-20126
IRG Secretariat


A comparison of soft rot, white rot and brown rot in CCA, CCP, CCF, CCB, TCMTB and benzalkonium chloride treated Pinus radiata IUFRO stakes, after 9-15 years exposure at five test sites in New Zealand
1991 - IRG/WP 1485
The aim of this study was to determine if decay type varies significantly between five field trial test sites of different soil type, aspect and climate in 9-15 year old, replicate CCA, CCF, CCP. CCB, TCMTB and AAC treated IUFRO stakes. A visual on-site assessment of decay type on every test stake was made and observations confirmed by microscopical examination. Regression analyses were used to de...
R N Wakeling


Proposed method for out-of-ground contact trials of exterior joinery protection systems
1981 - IRG/WP 2157
Methods for testing the efficacy of preservative treatments for exterior joinery are described using the format of a European Standard. Commercially used treatments applied to jointed test units (L-joints) which are then protected by conventional finishes are exposed to normal outdoor hazards out of ground contact. Assessment is made a) by determining eventual failure through decay and b) by destr...
J K Carey, D F Purslow, J G Savory


Collaborative soft rot tests. Names and addresses of collaborators
1973 - IRG/WP 231
IRG Secretariat


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