Grading UK grown larch for durability. IRG/WP 13-10808

Jones, D; Davies, Ivor; Sharphouse, P; Suttie, E

Abstract

This paper reports on a joint study by BRE, the Forest Products Research Institute and TRADA Technology into the feasibility of grading UK grown larch to maximise its natural durability. The research was undertaken to assist sawmills and timber specifiers in the selection of larch timber suitable for external cladding. The findings indicate that the heartwood of larch has variable durability due to a range of factors. Of these, position within the stem is particularly important, with the inner ‘juvenile’ wood being less durable than the outer ‘mature’ heartwood. Although there is insufficient data available to accurately determine the extent of this low durability core, preliminary evidence suggests it occupies the inner 10 to 15 growth rings. The study has proposed practical grading rules that will enable most of the low durability timber to be selected out, though further work is required before this guidance can be definitive.

Citation

Jones, D., Davies, I., Sharphouse, P., & Suttie, E. (2013). Grading UK grown larch for durability. IRG/WP 13-10808. In Proceedings 2013 Annual Meeting of the International Research Group on wood Protection

• Conference Name: International Research Group on Wood Protection
• Conference Location: Stockholm
• Start Date: Jun 16, 2013
• End Date: Jun 21, 2013
• Publication Date: 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2014
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Series Number: IRG/WP 13-10808
• Series ISSN: 2000-8953
• Book Title: Proceedings 2013 Annual Meeting of the International Research Group on wood Protection
• Keywords: larch; natural durability; juvenile heartwood
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/6844