STATE OF THE ART REVIEWS

COST ACTION E22: Environmental optimisation of wood protection 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

RESEARCH DIRECTORATE-GENERAL 

Policy Co-ordination and Strategy 

COST Forests and Forestry Products 

COST ACTION E22: Environmental optimisation 

of wood protection 

STATE OF THE ART 

REVIEWS 

Proceedings of a Workshop held at 

Godz Martuljek, Ljubljana, Slovenia 

on 2-5 July 2000


COST ACTION E22: Environmental optimisation 

of wood protection 

STATE OF THE ART 

REVIEWS 

Proceedings of a Workshop held at 

Godz Martuljek, Ljubljana, Slovenia 

on 2-5 July 2000 

2

compiled and edited by 


A F Bravery, Centre for Timber Technology and Construction, BRE, UK 

R-D Peek, Federal Research Center, BFAFH, D 

3


FOREWORD 

This document represents a compilation of short 'State of the Art' Summaries of current 

work in the research organisations active in the relevant fields of COST Action E22 on 

'Environmental Optimisation of wood protection' within those COST member countries 

who have signed the Memorandum of Understanding and who choose to submit the 

summaries. 

The Summary Statements were presented by their respective authors at the COST E22 

Workshop held at Godz Martuljek, near Ljubljana, Slovenia and hosted by Professor 

Franc Pohleven and Dr Marko Petric of the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of 

Ljubljana, Slovenia on 2-5 July 2000. 

The brief to which the National Representatives worked was 1) to create for their 

Country a list of contact names and addresses for Institutes and representative researchers 

active in the specific scientific and technical fields relevant to the objectives of 

COST Action E22, and 2) to provide a summary review of the current research capacity 

and project activity in the theme areas covered by the Action objectives. 

Not all signatory countries participated in the Workshop and not all provided Reviews. 

The Workshop programme is given at the front of this document. 

These Proceedings also include supplementary contributions from Italy and Lithuania 

submitted subsequent to the Workshop in Slovenia. 

The Management Committee of COST Action E22 is very grateful to Professor 

Pohleven, Dr Petric and to their colleagues who assisted with organising and hosting the 

Workshop. The MC would also like to acknowledge the support of the Scientific Secretary, 

Mr Günter Siegel of the COST Secretariat. 

Dr A F Bravery Chairman 

Professor R D Peek Vice-Chairman 

Dr D J Dickinson Convenor WG1 

Dr G Deroubaix Convenor WG2 

Professor H Militz Convenor WG3 

16 October 2000 

4


COST ACTION E22: Environmental optimisation of 

wood protection 

WORKSHOP: PERFORMANCE, IMPACTS AND 

INNOVATIONS - STATE OF THE ART REVIEW 

SESSION 1 

FINAL PROGRAMME 

MONDAY 3 JULY 2000 

Chairman: Dr Tony Bravery (United Kingdom) 

09.00 State of the art in Austria - R Gründlinger 

09.15 State of the art in Belgium - J Van Acker 

09.30 State of the art in Croatia - R Despot 

09.45 State of the art in Denmark - L Ottosen(not presented) 

10.00 State of the art in Finland - M-C Ritschkoff 

10.15 State of the art in France - M-F Thevenon 

10.30 Coffee 

11.00 State of the art in Germany - R-D Peek 

11.15 State of the art in Greece - J Petinarakis 

11.30 State of the art in Ireland - C Birkinshaw 

11.45 State of the art in Latvia - B Andersons 

12.00 State of the art in The Netherlands - H Militz 

12.15 State of the art in Norway - F Evans 

12.30 Lunch 

5

SESSION 2 

14 June 2000 


Chairman: Prof. Rolf-Dieter Peek (Germany) 

14.00 State of the art in Portugal - L Nunes 

14.15 State of the art in Romania - O Zeleniuc 

14.30 State of the art in Slovenia - F Pohleven 

14.45 State of the art in Spain - J Rodriguez-Barreal 

15.00 State of the art in Sweden - J Jermer 

15.15 State of the art in UK - E Suttie 

15.30 Coffee 

16.00 Implications for WG1 - D Dickinson 

16.30 Implications for WG2 - G Deroubaix 

17.00 Implications for WG3 - H Militz 

17.30 Summing-up - A Bravery 

Close 

6

COUNTRY AUTHOR 


CONTENTS 

Austria R Gründlinger, Holzforschung Austria HFA 

Belgium J Van Acker and M Stevens, Ghent University 

Croatia R Despot, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry 

Finland P Ahola, VTT Building Technology 

France M-F Thévenon, CIRAD-Forêt, MONTPELLIER 

Germany R-D Peek, BFH 

Greece J Petinarakis, Forest Research Institute, Athens 

A Vassou, P.P.C. Athens 

E Voulgaridis, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki 

Ireland C Birkinshaw, University of Limerick 

D Chill, Enterprise Ireland 

Latvia B Andersons, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry 

Norway F G Evans, Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology 

Portugal L Nunes, Laboratórió Nacional de Engenharia Civil 

A Ribeiro, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade 

de Ciências e Tecnologia 

D Reimão, Institute Nacional de Investigação 

Agrária, Estação Florestal Nacional 

Romania O Zeleniuc, National Institute of Wood, Bucharest 

Slovenia F Pohleven and M Petric, University of Ljubljana 

Spain M T de Troya Franco, Institute Nacional de Investigación y 

Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, Madrid 

Sweden J Jermer, SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute 

The Netherlands W Homan, SHR Hout Research 

UK E D Suttie, CTTC, BRE, Garston, Watford, UK 

Supplement: 

Italy F Martena, Istituto per La Ricerca sul Legno (I.R.L) 

Lithuania K Armolaitis and J Saladis, Lithuanian Forest Research Institute 

Summary R-D Peek, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft 

7


8


AUSTRIA 

9 

by 

Dr Roland Gründlinger 

Holzforschung 

Austria

1. INTRODUCTION 


Invitations were sent out to research organisations and universities, which are known 

possibly being active. It was asked for contributions to this state of the art document. 

One organisation replied, however in the near future when work program in detail will 

be circled by the COST E 22 web side more input can be expected. 

This document is structured to offer contact information for participants and an introduction 

to their principal interests and research expertise within the scope of the COST 

Action E22. The second section within this report gives more detail on specific activities 

related to the three working groups within the COST Action E22 (Annex 2). Finally 

the report summarises and concludes on the state of the art in Austria. 

2. PARTICIPANTS 

Holzforschung Austria, Dept. (HFA) 

Contact person: 


E-mail: r.gruendlinger@holzforschung.at 

Web: www.holzforschung at 

Research themes (see also Pt. 3) 

• biology of wood protection 

• decay processes and mechanisms 

• sapstain prevention 

• testing wood preservatives 

• ecotoxicity of leachates of treated wood 

• evaluation of active substances in surface applied wood preservatives etc. 

Technical University of Vienna (TU) 

Dept. of Mycology 


Prof. Kurt Messner 

E-mail: kmessner@mail.zserv.tuwien.ac.at 

Research themes 

• improvement of treatability of refractory wood species 

• bioremediation of creosote contaminated soil 

• decay mechanisms 


10


3. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUPS 

The activities of each participant are presented here, classified according to the respective 

scientific areas defined in the Memorandum of Understanding of COST Action 

E22. Preferable projects are listed, where activities can be published for state of art in 

1999. Contact persons are additionally mentioned. 

Working Group 1: PERFORMANCE 

Scope: Traditional wood preservatives, specifying durability requirements, optimum 

bio-effective life, creosote, field performance using soil, insects in Europe, climatic 

conditions. 

Classifying hazard including risk mapping 

• COST climate index (European FACT project), predicting deterioration (HFA) 


R. Gründlinger 



Efficacy prediction (relationship between testing and practice) 

• Laboratory and field test of the efficacy of anti-sapstain chemicals (HFA) 





• Stirnholzversiegelung als Schutzmaßnahme gegen Rissbildung und Pilzbefall 

(HFA); (Endgrainsealing, a method to prevent cracking and attack by fungi) 


A. Neumüller 

• Advanced wood surface coating treatment for exterior used wood by full scale 

multi layer flow coating technique (HFA) 

11


G. Grüll 


• Entwicklung und Optimierung von Holzfassaden (HFA); (Development and 

optimisation of external cladding of houses) 


M. Brandstätter 

Determining bio-effective life 

• Biotransformation of creosote (TU-Wien) 


K. Messner 


• Mechanisms of wood decay (TU-Wien) 


K. Messner 


12

Working Group 2: IMPACTS 


Scope: Risk assessment, optimum bioeffective life, remediation and wood wastes 

• Entwicklung von Anstrichmitteln für das 21. Jahrhundert (HFA); (Development 

of products for brush application for the 21. century) 


R. Gründlinger) 



• Bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil (TU-Wien) 


K. Messner 


Working Group 3: INNOVATIONS 

Scope: Application of modified wood, heat treatment, insect growth regulators, new 

biocides, non-biocidal treatments, resins and oils 

Insect growth regulators 

• growth regulators against Hylotrupes bajulus (HFA) 





• Optimisation of thermal modification (BOKU-Wien) 


M. Patzelt 

E-mail: patzelt@edv1.boku.ac.at 

13

4. CONCLUSIONS 


The scope of the COST Action E22 seems to be of considerable interest for the institutions 

having given contributions. 

5. ANNEXES 

Annex 1 lists the Organisations who responded to the request for information, together 

with details about their contact persons and co-ordinates. 

Annex 2 summarises the activities in the particular Working Groups of E22 using the 

standard template. 

14


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN AUSTRIA IN THE COST E22 

FIELD OF WORK AND THEIR PRINCIPLE CONTACTS 

Department of Wood Protection, Surface Paints and Chemical Analytic 

Holzforschung Austria 


Franz-Grill-Str. 7 

A - 1030 Vienna 

Austria 

Tel: +43 1 798 26 23 DW 57 

Fax: +43 1 798 26 23 DW 50 



Technische Universität Wien 

Institut für Biochemische Technologie und Mikrobiologie 

Prof Dr Kurt Messner 

Getreidemarkt 9 


Austria 

Tel: +43 1 5862815 

Fax: +43 1 5862816 


Univ. f. Bodenkultur (Agricultural Sciences) 

Inst. f. Holzforschung (Wood Science and Technology) 

DI Dr Margareta Patzelt 

Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33 


Austria 

Tel: +43 1 47654-4253 

E-mail: patzelt@edv1.boku.ac.at 

15


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Austria directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

TU-Vienna, Dept. für Mykologie 

Prof. Kurt Messner 

kmessner@mail.zserv.tuwien.ac.at 

Holzforschung Austria 


r.gruendlinger@holzforschung.at 

Univ. f. Bodenkultur (Agricultural 

Sciences) 

DI Dr. Margareta Patzelt 

patzelt@edv1.boku.ac.at 

traditional 

wood preservatives 

specifying durability 

requirements 

Performance Impacts Innovations 

optimum bio-effective 

creosote and creosotebased 

products 

field performance 

using soil 

insects in Europe, 

climatical conditions 

16 

risk assessment 


life 

remediation 

wood wastes and 

treated wood 


products 

application of modified 

wood 

 

 

heat treatment 

 

insect growth 

regulators 

other


BELGIUM 

by 

Dr Joris Van Acker and Prof Dr Marc Stevens 

Ghent University (RUG) 

17



Detailing the state of the art in Belgium cannot be simply a compilation of research 

project titles and can hardly be subdivided in activities related to the 3 working groups 

within the Cost Action E22. In order to enable colleagues to get insight in the Belgian 

wood preservation sector some details are given in this introduction. 

The Belgian wood preservation industry involves 200 to 300 different companies of 

which some 34 have a technical approval for treating timber by means of steeping, dipping, 

spraying,... and some 10 are approved vacuum pressure treating plants. The total 

volume of treated wood is estimated at approximately 400000 m³ per annum. The total 

sector employed some 1650 persons in 1995. 

Figures for 1993 on the different types of wood preservatives used showed the following 

partitioning for the amounts used: inorganic salts 86 %, organic solvent 1.5 %, 

organic emulsion 7.5 % and creosote 5 %. 

Some restrictions are incorporated in the Belgian policy towards wood preservation. 

Some active ingredients cannot get approval any longer and hence are out of the market: 

Hg, PCP, lindane, aldrin and dieldrin. Arsenic containing wood preservatives can only 

be used for vacuum pressure treatments. The use of creosote is restricted to industrial 

use. Only ready-for-use products are allowed in the do-it-yourself (DIY) sector. For 

wood in contact with food no residues should be generated. 

The Belgian approval system consists of 3 levels. 

Level 1 is part of the Ministry of PUBLIC HEALTH and the ENVIRONMENT where 

the COUNCIL for PUBLIC HEALTH issues an AUTHORISATION for SALES of a 

wood preservative based on the principles of the European Biocidal Products Directive. 

Level 2 concerns the BELGIAN ASSOCIATION for WOOD PRESERVATION 

(BAWP) which by means of an EXPERT GROUP grants HOMOLOGATION to a preservative. 

Judgement is based on the European standard EN 599-1 and complies with 

the Construction Products Directive. 

Finally level 3 deals with the industrial use of wood preservatives and is based on the 

European standard EN 351-1. The Ministry of INFRASTRUCTURE and TRAFFIC has 

a special WOOD GROUP (Butgb-EUatc) giving TECHNICAL APPROVAL (ATG) to 

wood preservatives and treatment plants including a continuous CONTROL SYSTEM. 

The Technical Approval (ATG) is essential for access to public procurement contracts 

and most of the private building market. 

For preventive wood protection the following product categories are differentiated in 

Belgium: 

18


A: - protection of structural timber against fungal decay and insect infestation for at 

least 20 years 

- inorganic, organic solvent, organic emulsion 

- industrial application; high penetrating ability 

B: - protection of interior joinery against wood boring insects for at least 20 years 

- organic solvent, organic emulsion 

- industrial application; penetrating ability 

C1: - protection of exterior joinery against fungal decay and insect infestation for at 

least 10 years 

- primer-type product 

- penetrating ability (binder content less than 15 %) 

C2/CTOP: 

- wood finishes for the protection of exterior joinery against physical and biological 

degradation for at least 2 years 

- ready-for-use products 

- pigmented, binder content above 18 % (C2) or 30 % (CTOP) 

Both for structural timber and joinery timber some product types with a specific 

homologation code have been identified for specific application within a hazard class. 

Code Hazard Class Preventive action against 

Number of product 

homologations 

Structural timber 

A1 1 insects 6 

A2.1 2 + basidiomycetes 20 

A2.2* 2 + blue stain 12 

A3 3 + resistant to leaching 20 

A4.1 4 (ground) + soft rot 

8 

A4.2 4 (water) 

5 

A5 5 + marine borers 2 

Joinery timber 

B 1 insects 5 

C1 3 + basidiomycetes 4 

C2 3 + blue stain 

+ resistant to leaching 

+ ageing 

1 

CTOP 3 - basidiomycetes 0 

* A2.2: glue laminated timber components 

19


2. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 

In Belgium mainly 4 institutes are involved in research and approval activities in the 

field of wood preservation. Though major involvement of the Ghent University (RUG) 

by its activities in several European research projects and COST Action E22 there is 

also input from TCHN/CTIB, CRNFB and WEI. Finally two major producers of active 

ingredients for wood preservation are active with related research, namely Janssen 

Pharmaceutica and Buckman laboratories. 

Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology (RUG) 

Contact persons: 

Prof. Marc Stevens 

E-mail: joris.vanacker@rug.ac.be 

Joris Van Acker) 

E-mail: marc.stevens@rug.ac.be 

The Laboratory of Wood Technology of the Ghent University performs research activities 

in 5 different sections covering different research themes: 

WOOD QUALITY 

• natural wood durability 

• industry requirements 

WOOD PRESERVATION 

• efficacy testing (EN 599) 

• involvement in different EU research projects: WOODPOLE, MAT 

DURABILITY, FACT-PRECONDITIONING, NATURAL RESINS, ... 

WOOD MODIFICATION 

• scaling up: EU research project CHEMOWOOD 

• test methods for biological durability 

WOOD FINISHING 

• performance of finishes: natural weathering / artificial ageing 

• blue-stain resistance 

ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS 

• ecotox testing 

• waste wood 

20


Technical Centre for the Wood Industries (Technisch Centrum der Houtnijverheid 

- Centre Technique pour les Industries du Bois), Brussels (TCHN - CTIB) 


Marc Van Leemput 

E-mail: marc.vanleemput@ctib-tchn.be 

Research themes: 

• vacuum pressure treatment technology 

• technical approval (ATG) and control of treatment plants 

Centre de Recherche de la Nature, des Forêts et du Bois, Gembloux (CRNFB) 


Dr André Leclercq 

E-mail: an.leclercq@mrw.wallonie.be 


• efficacy testing (EN 599) 

Western-European Institute for Wood Preservation, Brussels (WEI) 


Dr Guy Van Steertegem 

E-mail: euro.wood.fed@skynet.be 

Filip De Jaeger 



• policy on use of CCA and creosote 

• environmental impact assessment 

Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse 


Dr Alex Valcke 

E-mail: avalcke@janbe.jnj.com 

21



• novel wood preservatives 

• wood waste management 

• decay processes and preservative performance 


Buckman Laboratories, Ghent 


Alex Vleeschouwers 




4. ANNEXES 





22


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN BELGIUM IN THE COST E22 


Ghent University, Laboratory of Wood Technology (RUG) 

Prof Dr Marc Stevens and Dr Joris Van Acker 

Coupure Links 653 

B - 9000 Ghent 

Belgium 

Tel: +32 9 2646120 

Fax: +32 9 2646233 

E-mail: joris.vanacker@rug.ac.be 

E-mail: marc.stevens@rug.ac.be 

Technical Centre for the Wood Industries (Technisch Centrum der Houtnijverheid 

- Centre Technique pour les Industries du Bois), Brussels (TCHN - CTIB) 

Mr Marc Van Leemput 

Hof ter Vleest dreef 3 

B - 1070 Brussels 

Belgium 

Tel: +32 2 25581550 

Fax: +32 2 25581589 

E-mail: marc.vanleemput@ctib-tchn.be 

Centre de Recherche de la Nature, des Forêts et du Bois, Gembloux (CRNFB) 


Avenue Maréchal Juin 23 

B - 5030 Gembloux 

Belgium 

Tel: +32 81 626420 

Fax: +32 81 615727 

E-mail: an.leclercq@mrw.wallonie.be 

Western-European Institute for Wood Preservation, Brussels (WEI) 

Dr Guy Van Steertegem and Mr Filip De Jaeger 

Hof ter Vleestdreef 5, bus 4 

B - 1070 Brussels 

Belgium 

Tel: +32 2 5562586 

Fax: +32 2 5562595 


23


Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse 

Plant and Material Protection Division 


Turnhoutseweg 30 

B - 2340 Beerse 

Belgium 

Tel: +32 14 603388 

Fax: +32 14 605951 

E-mail: avalcke@janbe.jnj.com 

Buckman Laboratories, Ghent 

Mr Alex Vleeschouwers 

Wondelgemkaai 159 

B - 9000 Ghent 

Belgium 

Tel: +32 9 2579211 

Fax: +32 9 2536295 

24


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Belgium directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

RUG, Ghent University 

Prof. Marc Stevens 

Dr Joris Van Acker 

marc.stevens@rug.ac.be 

joris.vanacker@rug.ac.be 

TCHN-CTIB 

Mr Marc Van Leemput 

marc.vanleemput@ctib-tchn.be 

CRNFB 


an.leclercq@mrw.wallonie.be 

WEI 

Dr Guy Van Steertegem 

Filip De Jaeger 

euro.wood.fed@skynet.be 

Janssen Pharmaceutica 


avalcke@janbe.jnj.com 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



25 


optimum bioeffective 

life 

 

 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 

 

Buckman Laboratories 

Mr Alex Vleeschouwers 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


26


CROATIA 

by 

Dr Radovan Despot 

University of Zagreb 

Faculty of Forestry 

27



Around 43% of the territory in Croatia is afforested. The most significant wood species 

used for exploitation are common Slavonian oak – Pendunculate oak (Quercus pendunculata), 

– chestnut oak (Q. petrea), common European beech (Fagus sylvatica), - silver 

fir (Abies alba, Mill.) and – common spruce (Picea abies). According to the 1998 Statistical 

Yearbook, in 1998 gross felling amounted to 3 501 627 m 3 . Gross felled timber 

also includes waste and loss in felling. 

Wood preservation in Croatia 

A survey on the state of affairs and position of wood preservation made in 1997 showed 

that the selection or removal of infected wood is today the most frequent way of protection. 

Chemical preservation or mechanical protection is applied only when biodegradation 

has been observed or the damage done, that is in the case of repressive preservation. 

Among the protection procedures the most widely used is water spraying of logs and 

preservation of sawn timber fronts and other elements by coating. Water spraying of 

high quality veneer logs (such as "F" and "L" oak logs) is a cheap and very efficient 

method of protection. Coating of log fronts with water repellent aseptic pastes is also 

one of the cheaper and simpler procedures of preventive protection. Repressive protection 

is applied only in the occurrence of insects and fungi or customers’ complaints. The 

survey shows that the most common problem in companies is caused by moulds and 

fungi affecting wood discoloration (sapstain, blue stain fungi), or in log storage by 

insects Platypodidae, Scolytidae and Lymexylidae (ambrosia beetles and shot hole borers). 

Manufacturers of oak and ash parquet sometimes have problems with Lyctus powder 

post beetles, whereas problems caused by Deathwatch beetle, Ptilinus beetle are 

noticeable only in old wooden structures. House longhorn beetle is frequently present in 

wooden roof constructions and beams and less frequently in joinery. 

Production and use of wood preservatives in Croatia 

During 1999 the production of wood preservatives in Croatia was at a very modest scale 

and hence provided for only the most urgent requirements in the forestry and wood 

industry. As in previous years the production of solvent born preservatives was reduced 

to the needs of manufacturers of joinery, and the same quantities of stains and alkyd 

paint have been delivered to retail as in previous years. Insecticides are produced for 

logs (particularly of high quality veneer logs), primarily against insects of Scolytida 

family (ambrosia beetles and shot hole borers). Fungicide impregnation products, produced 

mostly by foreign producers, are used as preservatives against the moulds on 

steam-dried beech timber and against sap-stains and blue stain fungi causing wood discoloration. 

28


Impregnation of railway sleepers and telephone poles - stations for impregnation 

With respect to the industrial impregnation, there are two stations for impregnation in 

Croatia for the impregnation of railway sleepers and telephone poles. One is located in 

Mahično, nearby the town of Karlovac, which operates at a less intense capacity, and 

the other in Slavonski Brod which has been out of operation for 12 years. 

An annual impregnation capacity in Mahično nearby Karlovac under normal circumstances 

amounts to 200.000 m 3 sleepers, however because of a very difficult financial 

situation in the Croatian Railways, the only user and customer for impregnation related 

jobs, only 20 000 m 3 of sleepers were impregnated. As regards the impregnation of telephone 

poles prospects are a little bit better although only 7000 m 3 were impregnated in 

1999. (mainly those made from fir and spruce). The facilities for impregnation of sleepers 

in Mahično are in the process of overhaul and replacement of operational cylinders. 

The impregnation of poles is performed from time to time and for the moment it provides 

for the minimal current capacities. 

As thus far for the impregnation of sleepers (mainly those made from beech) creosote 

oil with over 4.000 ppm of benzo-a-pyrene is still used. 

Banned and permitted wood preservatives in Croatia (legislation and wood 

preservation) 

The use of PCP has been banned for quite a long time, and particularly the use of lindane 

and TBTO has been limited. In Croatia traditionally and only CCB salts have been 

used for the impregnation of poles and timber as they have been approved by the legislator 

and at present there are no restrictions with regard to the use of CCB salts. CCA 

salts thus far have not been used in Croatia. From the creosote oil has until now been 

imported, however it was of a rather poor composition and a high concentration of 

harmful benzo-a-pyrene, naphthalene, methylnaphthalene. Following the overhaul of 

the impregnation facilities and the introduction of new equipment and better technological 

processes, we believe that the ecologically pure types of creosote oils will be used. 

In Croatia only two products of domestic producers are permitted for insect wood 

preservation: dendrolin based on lindane and deltacid based on deltamethryn. Almost all 

the other active components like organophosphorus compounds, pyrethroid insecticides, 

or cooper compounds as fungicides, are for the most part imported and only a lesser part 

is produced in Croatia. The only producers of the active components for wood preservation 

are “Herbos” company in Sisak and ”Chromos” in Zagreb. Boron-based wood 

preservatives are not used on a larger scale and consequently there is no production of 

those preservatives. 

According to a list of plant preservatives being permitted for trade and use in the 

Republic of Croatia, as announced in Narodne novine (official gazette of the Republic 

of Croatia) No 64 of 23 June 1999, the use of 558 products is allowed. A major part of 

29


those relates to insecticides and fungicides. Only products with a suitable permission 

may be traded in Croatia. Preservation products must be in the original packaging of a 

producer with a required declaration and instructions for use. Each year in the mentioned 

official gazette (Narodne Novine) the products permitted to be used are listed, 

along with a permitted period for their use. Violation of these regulations is strictly 

punished. 

30



Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb 

Svetošimunska 25 

HR-10000 Zagreb Croatia 

Web: www.sumfak.hr 

Dr Radovan Despot, Institute for Wood science 

Tel: +385 1 2352 474 

Fax: +385 1 2352 506 

E-mail: despot@hrast.sumfak.hr 



• surface properties and protection of Fir-wood joinery (L-joints method) 

• diagnosis of damage to wood structures (biotic and abiotic) 

• improvement of Fir-wood permeability caused by bacteria 

• impact of wood structure and natural durability to the wood properties, particularly 


• remedial treatment of wood with inert gasses 

Dr Jelena Trajković, Institute for Wood science 

Tel: +385 1 2352 469 

Fax: +385 1 2352 506 

E-mail: jelena@hrast.sumfak.hr 


• impact of wood structure and variation of structure to the wood properties, 

particularly wood protection 


Dr Boris Hrasovec, Institute for Forest Protection and Wildlife management 

Tel: +385 1 2352 456 

Fax: +385 1 2352 510 

E-mail: hrasovec@hrast.sumfak.hr 

boris.hrasovec@yg.tel.hr 


• insect population ecology, 

• biotechnology means of pest suppression, 

• optimisation of chemical use in pest management 

31


Dr Danko Diminic, Institute for Forest Protection and Wildlife management 

Tel: +385 1 2352 441 

Fax: +385 1 2352 510 

E-mail: diminic@hrast.sumfak.hr 


• relationship between pathogenic fungi and insect vectors, 

• methods for suppression of wood decay fungi 

32



Only the scientists working at the Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb are engaged in scientific 

and research work relating to wood preservation. As Institute za drvo (the Institute 

for Wood Technology) stopped its work in 1989, and the chemical industry in Croatia 

has been stagnant, as far as research is concerned, for quite a long time, the only 

research has been conducted at the Faculty of Forestry: 

• the Institute for Wood Science, 

• the Institute for Forest Protection and Wildlife management 




conditions. 



• diagnosis of damage to wood structures (biotic and abiotic) 

• insect population ecology 



Improved protection with minimum use of preservative chemicals 



Maximum protection with minimum use of preservative chemicals 

• improvement of Fir-wood permeability caused by bacteria 



Scientific basis for realistic, end-use predictive tests 



Scope: Risk assessment, optimum bio-effective life, remediation and wood wastes 

Implementing remediation technologies 


33





Physiological inhibitors/attractants 

• insect population ecology 


• biotechnology means of pest suppression, 

• optimisation of chemical use in pest management 

“Natural” biocidal products and systems 

• relationship between pathogenic fungi and insect vectors 


The scope of the Cost Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in Croatia. 

The themes of key signification are: 

• Classifying hazard including risk mapping (COST Indexes separately for fungi 

and insects) 

• creosote and creosote based products 

• developing optimum preservative treatments 

• providing guidance and practical tools for defining and specifying appropriate 

levels of durability in wood and wood components 

5. ANNEXES 





34


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN CROATIA IN THE COST E22 


Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb 

Institute for Wood science 


Svetošimunska 25 

HR - 10000 Zagreb 

Croatia 

Tel: +385 1 2352 474 

Fax: +385 1 2352 506 

E-mail: despot@hrast.sumfak.hr 

Web: www.sumfak.hr 

Dr Jelena Trajković 

Tel: +385 1 2352 469 

Fax: +385 1 2352 506 

E-mail: jelena@hrast.sumfak.hr 

Institute for Forest Protection and Wildlife management 

Dr Boris Hrasovec 

Tel: +385 1 2352 456 

Fax: +385 1 2352 510 

E-mail: hrasovec@hrast.sumfak.hr 

boris.hrasovec@yg.tel.hr 

Dr Danko Diminic 

Tel: +385 1 2352 441 

Fax: +385 1 2352 510 

E-mail: diminic@hrast.sumfak.hr 

35


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Croatia directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

University of Zagreb, Faculty of 

Forestry, Institute of Wood Science 


despot@sumfak.hr 


Forestry, Institute of Wood Science 

Dr Jelena Trajkovic 

jelena@sumfak.hr 


Forestry, Department of Forest 

Protection and Wildlife 

Dr Boris Hrasovec 

hrasovec@hrast.sumfak.hr 

boris.hrasovec@zg.tel.hr 


Forestry, Department of Forest 

Protection and Wildlife 

Dr Danko Diminic 

danko.diminic@zg.tel.hr 

traditional 



requirements 




products 

classifying hazard 

including risk mapping 



36 



life 

 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

physiological 

inhibitors/attractants


FINLAND 

by 

Dr Pirjo Ahola 

VTT Building Technology 

37



VTT Building Technology is responsible for the major part of the research activity in 

the field of wood protection including performance, environmental impacts and innovation 

in Finland. The other natural partners within Technical Research Centre of Finland 

VTT are VTT Biotechnology, VTT Chemical Technology and VTT Energy. Universities, 

other research institutes and local wood technology centres occasionally work in 

this field. Often they may participate in joint research projects together with VTT in 

their particular expertise field. 



(Dr Pirjo Ahola) 

Research themes fit to the scientific areas specified in COST E22 

• wood protection and application techniques 

• deterioration mechanisms of decay and staining fungi 

• mode of action of preserving agents 

• critical conditions of mould and decay development in building materials 

• modelling of service life prediction of building materials 

• standard testing according to EN 599 

• environmental impacts, LCA of wood products 

• environmental declarations and certificates 

• waste management 

• chemical wood modification 

• treatments with water repellents and natural oils 

• thermal treatments 

• surface modification 

• mechanical modification of wood 

• new innovation protection 

• biocontrol 

*) University of Helsinki 

Department of Biosciences 

Department of Polymer Chemistry 

*) Helsinki University of Technology 

*) Tampere University of Technology 

*) University of Jyväskylä 

*) Forest Research Institute 

*) contacts through VTT Building Technology 

38


Finnish Wood Preserving Association 

(Mr. Eero Kangas) 


• co-ordinates and finance research important to the Finnish wood preserving 

industry 

Finnish Wood Research Ltd 

(Mr. Aarni Metsä) 


• joint research centre for the mechanical forest industry, no own research 

• finance and co-ordinates research 

Mikkeli Polytechnic 

Institute of Environmental Technology 

(Dr. Pekka Turkki) 


• drying and heat treatment of timber 

39



Working group 1: PERFORMANCE 



conditions 

• Estimation of genetic variation in decay resistance of wood and development of 

non-destructive methods for evaluation of decay (Co-ordination VTT Building 

Technology, Finnish Forest Research Institute, University of Kuopio) 

• High performance plywood composites (VTT Building Technology, industry) 

• Integrated processes involved in the production of creosote utility poles (European 

"Woodpole" project) (VTT Building Technology, industry) 

• Integrated prevention of moisture and mould problems in buildings (VTT Building 

Technology) 

• Targeted wood protection: Part 1. Mode of action (Co-ordination VTT Building 

Technology, VTT Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, industry) 

• COST climate index (European FACT project), predicting deterioration (VTT 

Building Technology) 

• Research on biological damages in wooden buildings and building components: 

Analyses of mould, decay and insect damages (VTT Building Technology) 

• Service life prediction of building materials and products (VTT Building 

Technology, industry) 

• Combined fire and bio-performance of wooden building components (VTT 

Building Technology) 

• Performance of coated wood treated with class AB (out of ground) new type of 

wood preservatives (Joint Nordic project) 



• Disposal of impregnated wood out of service by incineration technique (FWPA, 

Outokumpu Harjavalta Metals Oy, VTT Energy, SME industry) 

• Disposal of impregnated sawn timber waste by combustion (FWPA, SME industry) 

• Environmental declaration and LCAs for industry (VTT Building Technology) 

40





• Process development and technological evaluation of final products based on new 

methods for chemical modification of solid wood (European FAIR project 

"Chemowood) (VTT Building Technology) 

• Chemical and structural changes in wood during thermal treatments (VTT Building 

Technology, University of Helsinki, FWR) 

• Long term bio- and strength performance of heat treated timber in service (coordination 

FWPA, VTT Building Technology, Tampere University of Technology, 

University of Jyväskylä, Mikkeli Polytechnic, large number of industrial 

partners) 

• Properties of industrially thermal treated timber in consideration of quality control 

aspects (co-ordination FWPA, VTT Building technology, Tampere University 

of Technology, Mikkeli Polytechnic, large number of industrial partners) 

• Extension of service life of wood components by natural oils and their derivatives 

(VTT Building Technology, Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, SME 

industries) 

• Wood protection by raw Tall oil (VTT Building Technology, FWPA, Finnish 

Rail) 

• Targeted wood protection: Part 2. Development of new generation wood protection 

methods (Co-ordination VTT Building Technology, VTT Biotechnology, 

University of Helsinki, industry) 

• Sustainable wood; new clear technology methods for the control of fungal stain 

(European FAIR project) (VTT Building Technology & VTT Biotechnology) 

• Chemistry of wood surfaces and the effect of plasma and chemical modification 

on the adhesion of wood to synthetic polymers (Helsinki University of Technology, 

VTT Building Technology) 

41



The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest to Finland. 

There is active work ongoing in many of the topic areas mainly at VTT Building Technology 

but also in other organisations. 

The key themes are: 

• developing optimum protective treatments with predicted service life 

• to study decay mechanisms in order to develop new reliable wood protective 

treatments 

• scientific basis for quantifying biodegradability 

• scaling up of wood modifying methods to industrial level 

• understanding of physical and chemical changes in modified wood 

5. ANNEXES 

Annex 1 lists the Organisations and their contact persons, which mainly are responsible 

for the research work in the scope of COST Action E22. 


standard template 

42


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN FINLAND IN THE COST E22 




PO Box 1806 

FIN - 02044 VTT 

Finland 

Tel: +358 9 456 5548 

Fax: +358 9 456 7027 

E-mail: pirjo.ahola@vtt.fi 

Web: http://www.vtt.fi/rte/ 

Mr Antti Nurmi 

PO Box 1806 

FIN - 02044 VTT 

Finland 

Tel: +358 9 456 5522 

Fax: +358 9 456 7027 

E-mail: antti.nurmi@vtt.fi 


Dr Anne-Christine Ritschkoff 

PO Box 1806 

FIN - 02044 VTT 

Finland 

Tel: +358 9 456 5546 

Fax: +358 9 456 7027 

E-mail: anne-christine.ritschkoff@vtt.fi 


Dr Hannu Viitanen 

PO Box 1806 

FIN - 02044 VTT 

Finland 

Tel: +358 9 456 5528 

Fax: +358 9 456 7027 

E-mail: hannu.viitanen@vtt.fi 


43


Finnish Wood Preserving Association 

Mr Eero Kangas 

Hietalahdenranta 15 A 8 

FIN - 00180 Helsinki 

Finland 

Tel: +358 9 611 322 

Fax: +358 9 611 922 

E-mail: eero.kangas@kestopuu.fi 


Mr Aarni Metsä 

P.O. Box 367 

FIN - 02151 Espoo 

Finland 

Tel: +358 2517 2022 

Fax: +358 9 466 695 

E-mail: aarni.metsä@fwr.fi 


Institute of Environmental Technology 

Dr Pekka Turkki 

Tel: +358 15 355 6349 

Fax: +358 15 355 6365 

E-mail: pekka.turkki@mikkeliamk.fi 

Web: http://www.website.fi/mikkeliamk/ 

*) University of Helsinki 

Department of Biosciences 

Department of Polymer Chemistry 

*) Helsinki University of Technology 

*) Tampere University of Technology 

*) University of Jyväskylä 

*) Forest Research Institute 

*) contacts through VTT Building Technology 

44


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Finland directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 



pirjo.ahola@vtt.fi 

Finnish Wood Preserving 

Association 

Mr. Eero Kangas 

eero.kangas@kestopuu.fi 


Mr Aarni Metsä 

aarni.metsa@fwr.fi 


Environmental Institute 

Dr Pekka Turkki 

pekka.turkki@mikkeliamk.fi 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



45 



life 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 


wood 

 


 

insect growth 

regulators 

Biocontrol


46


FRANCE 

by 

Marie-France Thévenon 

CIRAD-Forêt Montpellier 

47



This document has been based on the responses of diverse organisations and institutes 

involved in wood preservation and related subjects. 

The different participants are listed, and their specific activities in the field of wood 

protection are classified according the three working groups within the COST Action 

E22. A brief conclusion will summarize about this state of the art in France. 

48



Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le 

Développement (CIRAD-Forêt) (M-F Thévenon, D Fouquet) 

Centre de Ressources pour les Industries du Bois (CRITT Bois) (E Masson) 

Centre du Bois de Thierache (CBTh) (P Lemmens) 

Centre Régional d’Innovation et de Transfert de Technologies (CRITT 12) 

(S Cavaroc) 

Centre Régional d’Innovation et de Transfert de Technologies (CRITT Catar) 

(G Vilarem) 

Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) (F Maupetit) 

Centre Technique du Bois et de l’Ameublement (CTBA) (G Déroubaix*) 

(* as numerous people are involved in different projects, the name of the person in 

charge with each project will be precised. Each person can be contacted by E mail: 

firstname.surname@ctba.fr). 

Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Toulouse (ENSCT) (L Rigal, E Borredon) 

Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne (ENSMSE) 

(JL Bouchardon, R Guyonnet) 

Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Technologies et des Industries du Bois (ENSTIB) 

(A Pizzi) 

Ecole Supérieure du Bois (ESB) (B Charrier) 

Institut du Pin (IP) (B De Jéso) 

Laboratoire d’Ecophysiologie des Invertébrés (LEI) (P Mora) 

Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC) (B Thibaut) 

Laboratoire de Neurobiologie (LNB) (J L Clément) 

Laboratoire d’Etudes et de Recherches sur le Matériau Bois (LERMAB) 

(P Gérardin) 

49





conditions. 

Working group 1: PERFORMANCE 

Fungi and insect characterization 

• Molecular characterization of wood destroying fungi (CIRAD) 

• Genetic characterization of termite species (LNB) 

Protection with minimum use of preservative chemicals 

• Treatment methods against staining fungi: new technologies with low environmental 

impacts (CTBA-Françoise Thomassin) 

Durability prediction 

• Predicting the durability of oak by considering different levels of variability 

(ESB) 

• Predicting and enhancing the durability of LVL (ESB) 

Field tests, efficacy prediction 

• Co-normative research: out of ground contact field tests of wood preservatives in 

relation of pre-conditioning methods of test wood specimens (CTBA- Françoise 

Thomassin) 

Field tests using soil 

• Physico-chemical protection of poles against soil organisms (CTBA-Isabelle Le 

Bayon) 

Working group 2: IMPACTS 


Risk assessment and impact studies 

• Databank on the environmental impacts of timber materials used for building and 

construction (CTBA-E. Bucket, Continuous project financed by the agence de 

l’environnement et de la maîtrise de l’énergie ADEME) 

• Treated timber in service: environmental risk assessment (CTBA-Gérard 

Deroubaix, Environment Focus Group) 

• Risk assessment of the use of different anti-termite formulations into the terrestrial 

and aquatic environment (CTBA-Philippe Marchal) 

• Risk evaluation of the use of treated wood in contact with aquatic environment 

(CTBA-Philippe Marchal) 

50


• Risk assessment of the emissions from treated timber in outside exposure 

(CTBA-Stéphane Legay) 

• Environmental aspects of wood “retification” (CTBA-Gilles Labat) 

• Environmentally friendly construction technologies (CTBA-Gilles Labat, 

CIRAD) 

• CCA-Pollution assessment of a former wood preservation plant (ENSMSE) 

Risk assessment and impact studies: VOC emissions 

• Identification of the VOC emissions within the wood industries (CTBA-Gérard 

Deroubaix) 

• Quantification of the VOC emissions from treated and/or glued timber (CSTB, 

CTBA-Christophe Yrieix) 

• Identification of the VOC emissions from timber elements of buildings (CSTB, 

CTBA- Christophe Yrieix) 

Remediation 

• Biodegradation and phyto-remediation of creosote in soils (CTBA-Stéphane 

Legay) 

Wood wastes 

• Use of wood wastes from packaging and demolition for energy production 

(CTBA-Gérard Deroubaix) 

• Comparative study between the combustion of crushed pallets and barks (CTBA- 

Gérard Deroubaix) 

• Identification and characterisation of wood wastes on demolition sites (CTBA- 

Gilles Labat) 

Working group 3: INNOVATIONS 



Chemical modification systems 

• Improvement of wood “retification” treatment and qualification of the obtained 

“retified®” products (CRITT 12) 

• Characterization study of “retified®” pine (“pin maritime rétifié®”) (CTBA- 

Gilles Labat) 

• Characterization of heat treated wood (from different heat treatment processes) 

and abilities of such materials for different uses (CRITT Bois) 

• Laboratory-scale chemical modification of wood (LERMAB, IP) 

• Stabilization and preservation of various European wood species as a result of an 

axial impregnation process (CBTh) 

• Oil technology to treat wood (LMGC, CIRAD, ENSTIB, CRITT Bois, ESB) 

• Wood modification by grafting hydrophobic agents (ENSCT) 

51


• Physico-chemical and mechanical studies of heat-treated wood. Simulation of 

retification kilns. Industrialization of wood retification (ENSMSE) 

Innovative biocidal systems 

• New low-toxic wood preservative systems based on protein borates (ENSTIB, 

CRITT Bois, CTBA) 

• Glycerol/glyoxal systems to improve wood dimensional stability and boron fixation 

(LERMAB) 

• Wood preservatives based on the association between copper and rosin (ENSTIB, 

CRITT Bois, LERMAB) 

• Extracts from Red Cedar and their use as wood preservatives (LERMAB) 

• Extracts from different durable tropical wood species: extraction, characterization 

and use as wood preservatives (CIRAD, LNB) 

• Wood protection against termites based on the association between vegetable 

extracts with filmogene properties (pectins, hemicelluloses) and vegetable 

extracts repulsive towards termites (essential oils) (CRITT Catar, ENSCT) 

• Use of imidacloprid analogs in insect control (LERMAB) 

• Screening of molecules from plants and animals with potential anti-termite activities 

(LEI) 

• High performance composites based on wood fibers and flours: durability of 

these composites (CTBA-Gilles Labat, CIRAD) 

Physiological attractants/inhibitors, growth regulators 

• Insect growth regulators for termite control (LEI, LNB) 

• Increasing the efficacy of baits for improved termite control (LEI, LNB) 

Bio-control 

• Control of termites by the use of enthomopathogenic nematodes (LEI) 

• Biocontrol of Reticulitermes santonensis by entomopathogenic fungi (CTBA- 

Isabelle Le Bayon) 

52



In France, many organisations are active in the field of wood protection. Some themes 

appear to be of importance such as: the prediction of the performance of treated timber, 

the study of wood destroying organisms in order to optimise their control, the wood 

modification using chemical or thermal treatment, and the use of new associations and 

new “natural” product types for wood preservation. The environmental impacts and risk 

evaluations are also of importance, especially when considering innovations for wood 

protection. 

5. ANNEXES 





53


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN FRANCE IN THE COST E22 


Centre de coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le 

Développement (CIRAD-Forêt) 

Mme M-F Thévenon, D Fouquet 

TA 10/16 

73, rue Jean-François Breton 

BP 5035 

F - 34032 Montpellier Cedex 5 

France 

Tel: +33 4 67 61 65 25 

Fax: +33 4 67 61 65 15 

E-mail: marie-france.thevenon@cirad.fr 

fouquet@cirad.fr 

Centre de Ressources pour les Industries du Bois (CRITT Bois) 

E Masson 

27, Rue du merle blanc 

BP 1041 

F - 88051 Epinal Cedex 9 

France 

Tel: +33 3 29 81 11 70 

Fax: +33 3 29 34 01 22 

E-mail: eric.masson@cribois.com 

Centre du bois de Thierache (CBTh) 

P Lemmens 

Route de Chimay 

BP 4 

F - 59132 TRELON 

France 

Tel: +33 3 27 59 77 77 

Fax: +33 3 27 59 76 76 

E-mail: plemmens-cbth@nordnet.fr 

Centre Régional d’Innovation et de Transfert de Technologies (CRITT 12) 

S Cavaroc 

20 Boulevard de la République 

F - 12000 Rodez 

France 

Tel: +33 5 65 77 17 30 

Fax: +33 5 65 77 17 39 

E-mail: critt-bois@wanadoo.fr 

54


CRT CATAR CRITT AGRORESSOURCES 

ENSIACET 

G Vilarem 

Site de Rangueil 

118 route de Narbonne 

F - 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4 

France 

Tel: +33 5 62 88 57 25 

Fax: +33 5 62 88 57 30 

E-mail: gvilarem@ensct.fr 

Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) 

Division Santé et Bâtiment 

F Maupetit 

84, Avenue Jean Jaurès 

F - 77421 Marne-la-Vallée cedex 2 

France 

Tel: +33 1 64 68 82 66 

Fax: +33 1 64 68 88 23 

E-mail: f.maupetit@cstb.fr 

Centre Technique du Bois et de l’Ameublement (CTBA)* 

Pôle Construction 

M. Gérard Deroubaix* 

Allée de Boutaut 

BP 227 

F - 33028 Bordeaux Cedex 

France 

(*numerous people are involved in different projects, the person in charge of each project 

can be contacted by E mail: firstname.surname@ctba.fr). 

Tel: +33 5 56 43 63 25 

Fax: +33 5 56 64 80 43 

E-mail: Gerard.Deroubaix@ctba.fr 

Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Toulouse (ENSCT) 

Laboratoire de chimie agro-industrielle 

L Rigal, E Borredon 

Site de Rangueil, 118 route de Narbonne 

F - 31 077 Toulouse Cedex 4 

France 

Tel +33 5 62 88 57 25 

Fax +33 5 62 88 57 30 

E-mail: lrigal@ensct.fr 

eborredon@ensct.fr 

55


Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne (ENSMSE) 

ENSMSE / Centre SPIN 

J L Bouchardon, R Guyonnet 

158, cours Fauriel 

F - 42023 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2 

France 

Tel: +33 4 77 42 01 23 

Fax: +33 4 77 42 00 00 

E-mail: bouchardon@emse.fr 

guyonnet@emse.fr 

Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Technologies et des Industries du Bois (ENSTIB) 

M. A Pizzi 

27, Rue du merle blanc 

BP 1041 

F - 88051 Epinal Cedex 9 

France 

Tel: +33 3 29 81 11 60 

Fax: +33 3 29 34 09 76 

E-mail: pizzi@enstib.u-nancy.fr 

Ecole Supérieure du Bois (ESB) 

B Charrier 

Rue Christian Pauc 

Atlanpole 

BP 10605 

F - 44306 Nantes Cedex 3 

France 

Tel: +33 2 40 18 12 12 

Fax: +33 2 40 18 12 00 

E-mail: bertrand.charrier@ecolesupbois.asso.fr 

Institut du Pin (IP) 

Université Bordeaux 1 

B De Jéso 

351 cours de la Libération 

F - 33405 Talence Cedex 

France 

Tel: +33 5 56 84 64 20 

Fax: +33 5 56 84 64 22 

E-mail: b.dejéso@ipin.u-bordeaux.fr 

56


Laboratoire d’Ecophysiologie des Invertébrés (LEI) 

UFR des Sciences 

Université Paris XII - Val de Marne 

P Mora 

Avenue du Général de Gaule 

F - 94100 Créteil Cedex 

France 

Tel: +33 1 45 17 15 09 

Fax: +33 1 45 17 15 05 

E-mail: mora@univ-paris12.fr 

Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC) 

Université Montpellier II 

B Thibaut 

CC 081, Bâtiment 13 

Place E. Bataillon 

F - 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5 

France 

Tel: +33 4 67 14 47 38 

Fax: +33 4 67 14 30 31 

E-mail: thibaut@lmgc.univ-montp2.fr 

Laboratoire de Neurobiologie (LNB) 

CNRS 

J L Clément 

31, Chemin Joseph Aiguier 

F - 13402 Marseille Cedex 20 

France 

Tel: +33 4 91 16 45 65 

Fax: +33 4 91 74 28 15 

E-mail: clement@lnb.cnrs-mrs.fr 

Laboratoire d’Etudes et de Recherches sur le Matériau Bois (LERMAB) 

Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 

Faculté des Sciences 

P Gérardin 

BP 239 

F - 54506 Vandoeuvre les Nancy 

France 

Tel: +33 3 83 91 20 56 

Fax: +33 3 83 91 25 54 

E-mail: Philippe.Gerardin@lermab.uhp-nancy.fr 

57


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in France directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

CTBA 

Francoise Thomassin 

francoise.thomassin@ctba.fr 

Isabelle Le Bayon 

isabelle.lebayon@ctba.fr 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 

 

 



Gérard Deroubaix 

Gerard.Deroubaix@ctba.fr 

Phillippe Marchal 

phillippe.marchal@ctba.fr 

 

Gilles Labat 

gilles.labat@ctba.fr 

Stéphane Legay 

stephane.legay@ctba.fr 

Christophe Yrieix 

christophe.yrieix@CTB.fr 

 

CBTh 

 

C. Kamoun 

CIRAD 

D. Fouquet 

fouquet@cirad.fr 

CIRAD 

M-F Thévenon 

marie-france.thevenon@cribois.com 

58 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

Innovative biocisal 

systems


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in France directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 (continued) 

Institute 

CRITT 12 

S. Cavaroc 

Activity 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



CRITT Bois 

 

 

ENSTIB 

A. Pizzi 

pizzi@enstib.u-nancy.fr 

ESB 

Bertrand Charrier 

bertrand.charrier@ecolesupbois.asso.fr 

LEI 

P. Mora 

mora@univ-paris12.fr 

LERMAB 

Phillippe Gérardin 

Philippe.Gerardin@lermab.uhp- 

nancy.fr 

LMGC 

B. Thibaut 

thibaut@lmgc.uni-ontp2.fr 

LNB 

J.L. Clément 

clement@lnb.cnrs-mrs.fr 

59 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

Innovative biocisal 

systems


60


GERMANY 

by 

Dr Rolf-Dieter Peek 

Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft (BFH), Hamburg 

61



In the old federal states of Germany there are ca 200 to 250 impregnating companies 

with ca 300 pressure impregnation plants and about 2.000 – 3.000 companies with ca 

2.500 to 3.000 dipping plants (Table 1). The impregnating companies in the former German 

Democratic Republic (GDR) had ca 10 pressure impregnation plants at their disposal, 

of which 6 are still in operation, and about 100 dipping plants. 

Table 1: Impregnating systems in Germany (Peek et al. 1995 1 ). 

Type of treating system 

pressure plants 

dipping plants 

62 

Federal States 

Old New 

ca 300 

2.500 – 3.000 

(10) 6 

ca 100 

In the Federal Republic of Germany about 1.9 – 2.8 million to timber are impregnated 

every year (Table 2). The predominant share of this (1.3 – 2.1 million to) is structural 

timber. About 0,6 million to of timber are impregnated to be used as palisades, noise 

protection barriers and fences in horticulture and landscaping. At present ca 29.400 to 

are being used for the production of sleepers for the Federal Railway, whereby ca 

11.800 to are impregnated with chromium salts. About 4.700 to timber are impregnated 

every year for the production of poles for the national Telecom and about 9 – 12.000 to 

for power plants, although the tendency is receding. About 5.000 to timber have been 

impregnated every year for cable drums. Today the official reading is that cable drums 

to be used in Germany are not any longer impregnated. 

Table 2: Estimated production of impregnated wood (most frequent commodities) in 

1.000 to (Peek et al. 1995) 

Origin quantity (* 1,000 to) 

structural timber 

horticulture and landscaping 

sleepers 

poles - telecom 

utility poles 

cable drums 

1.300 – 2.100 

600 

29 

5 

9 – 12 

5 

Total 1.900 – 2.800 to 

1 Peek, R.-D.; Voß, A.; Willeitner, H. (1995): Belastung von Altholzsortimenten durch Holzschutzmittel. In: Prüfung und 

Überwachung von Holzhackschnitzeln für Feuerungsanlagen. Fachgespräch 1994. Landesumweltamt Brandenburg, 

Kleinmachnow, S. 20-32.


Beech is predominantly used for the production of sleepers as well as small amounts of 

oak. Soft wood, with a proportion of approx. 70% spruce, is used in all remaining areas 

where impregnated timber is applied. 


Research on wood protection in Germany is carried out more or less actively and at different 

levels of intensity by 2 Research Organisations, 12 Universities, 3 Material Testing 

Institutes and 8 other organisations. Invitations were sent to all of them to ask for 

their contributions to this state of the art document. Three organisations replied, and this 

document is based on those responses and a contribution from BFH. From not answering 

to the invitation it cannot be concluded however, that those organisations finished 

their research activities. It is well known that WKI, Braunschweig, covers a leading 

position in wood waste recycling and that ihd, Dresden, gains expertise in fungal testing 

of wood preservatives. They will remain included into the contact list for further information 

and might come up later for an update of the country report. 

This document is structured to offer contact information and an introduction to principal 

interests and research expertise of the organisations that responded to the invitation 

within the scope of the COST Action E22. The second section within this report gives 

more detail on specific activities related to the three working groups within the COST 

Action E22. Finally the report summarises and concludes on the state of the art in Germany. 

Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) 

Gruppe IV.1 

Dir. u. Prof. Dr. Dieter Rudolph 

E-mail: dieter.rudolph@bam.de. 


Dr. Horst Hertel 

• Hylotrupes control biological and biotechnical approach: growth regulators, 

pheromones, attractants, repellents and mating behaviour 

• Insect control using plant extracts 

• Termite control using baiting systems 

Manfred Grinda 

• FACT: Evaluation of the European Lap-joint method and investigation on its 

comparability with combined open air weathering and laboratory biotests and 

- artificial weathering methods 

- Investigations on the colonization of lap-joints by micro-organisms 

- loss of biocides from wood after different periods of exposure 

63


• Influence of different climates on the performance of biocides in lap-joints and 

stakes 

• Control of the dry-rot fungus in buildings 

Dr. Ina Stephan 

• Development of more objective assessment methods for wood specimens in field 

tests and tests using terrestrial microcosms 

• Environmental impact of biocidal emissions into soil ecosystems 

• Tolerance of wood destroying micro-organisms against biocidal components 

Dr. Ute Schoknecht 

• Analytical methods for wood preservatives 

• Development of emission and exposure scenarios for wood preservatives in service 

• Biochemical characterization of wood destroying organisms 

Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft 

Institut für Holzbiologie und Holzschutz 

Dir. u. Prof. Dr. Rolf-Dieter Peek 

E-mail: rpeek@holz.uni-hamburg.de 

Web: http://www.dainet.de/bfh/ 


Dr. Hans Leithoff 

• Lap-joint tests using wood based materials (ENV 12037 ENV12038) 

• Performance of particleboards with tall-oil additives 

• Serpula lacrymans: Documentation and viability tests 

• Durability of plantation-grown Teak 

• Durability of Bamboos 

• Heat treatment of Bamboo 

• Heat treatment of Poplar veneers for the production of laminated wood 

Dr. Eckhard Melcher 

• Ecotoxicological investigations of wood preservatives and leachates 

• Environmental behaviour of HDO-containing wood preservatives 

• Development of qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis for the detection 

of wood preservatives in different matrices 

• Investigations concerning the dimension of lysimeters 

• Migration studies using wood preservatives and corresponding leachates 

• Phytotoxicological studies 

• Disposal of waste wood 

• Remaining concentrations of wood preservatives during testing 

64


Dr. Andreas Rapp 

• Durability of wood under typical conditions in EHC 3 

• Durability of different Larix sp. in ground 

• Biological variation within test-sites 

• Heat treatment e.g. oil-heat treatment 

• Monitoring of modified wood in service 

• Field performance of melamin resins 

• Hydrophobation of wood in EHC 3 using vegetable oils 

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg 

ICBM, Dept. of Geomicrobiology 

Dipl.-Biol. Susanne Schröder (main contact address) 

E-mail: susanne.schroeder@mail.uni-oldenburg.de 

University of Agricultural Sciences 

Department for Applied Microbiology 

Dr. habil. Katja Sterflinger (co-worker) 

E-mail: ksterf@edv2.boku.ac.at 

Dipl.-Holzwirt Johann Müller (co-worker) 

E-mail: j.mueller.doerpen@t-online.de 


• Bioprotection of logs and lumber 

• Investigation and monitoring of sapstain fungi 

• Supervision of biocontrol field trials using Cartapip (colourless mutant of Ophiostoma 

piliferum) as antisapstain agent 

Aim: To develop monitoring strategies for Cartapip 

→ monitoring with classical cultivation techniques 

→ design of molecular markers targeting the beta-tubulin gene and their 

application on wood 

• Investigation of the genetic relatedness of Cartapip and Ophiostoma piliferum 

wild type strains to facilitate the registration of Cartapip as biocontrol agent 

→ Investigation of genetic variation of the ribosomal region, including ITS1and 

ITS2-region and the β-tubulin gene 

• Investigation of the natural sapstain fungi community in Germany 

Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut 

Fraunhofer-Institut für Holzforschung 

Prof. Dr. Rainer Marutzky (main contact address) 

E-mail: mar@wki.fhg.de 

Web: http://www.wki.fhg.de/ 

65


Dr. Dirk Lukowsky 

E-mail: lukowsky@wki.fhg.de 


• Coatings for heat treated wood and comparison of different heat treatment processes 

Short description 

Screening of a large number of different types of wood coatings. Accelerated 

weathering. Tests according to EN 927. 

Aim and objectives 

Surface characterisation of heat treated wood. Investigating the application of 

modern wood coatings for exterior use on heat treated wood 

Neutral comparison of the different heat treatment processes in Europe. Comparison 

of biological and physical properties as well as performance of heat 

treated wood of different producers. 

University Göttingen 

Institute for Wood Biology and Wood Technology 

Prof. Dr. Holger Militz 

E-mail: hmilitz@gwdg.de 

Web: www.uni-goettingen.de 

The research group in wood preservation consists at the time (besides Prof. Militz) out 

of one post doc (Dr. Mai) and 5 PhD students in the following research themes: 


Prof. Dr. H. Militz 

• wood preservation techniques 

• wood preservatives 

• wood attack 

• wood impregnation properties 

• wood durability 

• wood modification 


Dr. C. Mai 

• resin modification 

• enzymatic modification strategies 

66






conditions. 

Traditional wood preservatives 

BAM 



comparability 




stakes 






BFH 











Uni Göttingen 

• wood preservation techniques 

• wood preservatives 

• wood impregnation properties 

Specifying durability requirements 

BAM 

67



comparability 




stakes 






BFH 










• Heat treatment e.g. oil-heat-treatment 





• wood attack 

• wood durability 

Uni Oldenburg 

• Investigation and monitoring of sapstain fungi 

Optimum bio-effective life 

BAM 



comparability 



68



stakes 





Creosote and creosote based products 

BAM 


Field performance using soil 

BAM 


stakes 



BFH 










Insects in Europe, climatic conditions 

BAM 


69



Scope: Risk assessment, optimum bio-effective life, remediation and wood wastes. 

Risk assessment 

BAM 

• Loss of biocides from wood after different periods of exposure 




BFH 










Optimum bio-effective life 

BAM 

• Loss of biocides from wood after different periods of exposure 


Remediation 

BAM 


Wood waste and treated wood 

BAM 


BFH 


70




biocides, non-biocidal treatments, resins and oils. 

Application of modified wood 

BFH 













• resin modification 

• enzymatic modification strategies 

WKI 


Heat treatment 

BAM 


BFH 






WKI 


71



BAM 

• Hylotrupes control biological and biotechnical approach: 

growth regulators, pheromones, attractants, repellents and mating behaviour 

Others (eg biocontrol) 

BAM 

• Hylotrupes control biological and biotechnical approach: 

growth regulators, pheromones, attractants, repellents and mating behaviour 

• Insect control using plant extracts 


• Serpula lacrymans: Documentation and viability tests 


University of Oldenburg 

• Bioprotection of logs and lumber 

• Supervision of biocontrol field trials using Cartapip (colourless mutant of Ophiostoma 

piliferum) as antisapstain agent 

• Investigation of the genetic relatedness of Cartapip and Ophiostoma piliferum 

wildtype strains to facilitate the registration of Cartapip as biocontrol agent 

• Investigation of the natural sapstain fungi community in Germany 


The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in Germany. 

The themes of key significance are: 

• Effective predicting service performance of wood components protected by construction, 

by wood preservatives and by non-biocidal treatments e.g. heat treatment 

• Natural durability of wood when applied in different EHCs 

• Monitoring of commodities in different EHCs 

• The fate and behaviour of active ingredients released from wood during service, 

including environmental risk studies 

• Wood waste studies 

5. ANNEXES 





72


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN GERMANY IN THE COST E22 


Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) 

Gruppe IV.1 

Dir u Prof Dr Dieter Rudolph (main contact address) 

Unter den Eichen 87 

D - 12205 Berlin 

Germany 

Tel: +49 30 81041410 

Fax: +49 30 81041037 

E-mail: dieter.rudolph@bam.de. 

Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft 

Institut für Holzbiologie und Holzschutz 

Dir u Prof Dr Rolf-Dieter Peek (main contact address) 

Leuschnerstr. 91 

D - 21031 Hamburg 

Germany 

Tel: +49 40 73962441 

Fax: +49 40 428912835 

E-mail: rpeek@holz.uni-hamburg.de 

Web: http://www.dainet.de/bfh/ 

Universität Göttingen 

Institut für Holzbiologie und Holztechnologie 

Prof Dr Holger Militz 

Büsgenweg 4 

D - 37077 Göttingen 

Germany 

Tel: +49 551 393541 

Fax: +49 551 393543 


Web: www.uni-goettingen.de 

Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg 

ICBM, Dept. of Geomicrobiology 

Dipl.-Biol. Susanne Schröder (main contact address) 

PO Box 2503 

D - 26111 Oldenburg 

Germany 

Tel: +49 441 7982142 

Fax: +49 441 7983384 

E-mail: susanne.schroeder@mail.uni-oldenburg.de 

73


Dipl.-Holzwirt Johann Müller (co-worker) 

Neudörpen 8 

D - 26892 Dörpen 

Germany 

Tel: +49 63 914014 

Fax: +49 63 914015 

E-mail: j.mueller.doerpen@t-online.de 

Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut 

Fraunhofer-Institut für Holzforschung 

Prof Dr Rainer Marutzky (main contact address) 

Bienroder Weg 54 E 

D - 38108 Braunschweig 

Germany 

Tel: +49 531 21550 

Fax: +49 531 2155200 

E-mail: mar@wki.fhg.de 

Web: http://www.wki.fhg.de/ 

Institut für Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie 

Prof Dr Siegfried Fink 

Bertoldstraße 17 

D - 79098 Freiburg i.Br. 

Germany 

Tel: +49 761 2033650 

Institut für Holzforschung der TU München 

Prof Dr Dr habil Dr hc Gerd Wegener 

Winzererstraße 45 

D - 80797 München 

Germany 

Tel: +49 89 21806421 

Fax: +49 89 21806424 

E-mail: wegener@holz.forst.tu-muenchen.de 

Lehrstuhl für Konstr. Bauphysik der Universität Stuttgart 

Prof Dr Ing Karl Gertis 

Postfach 80 11 40 

D - 70511 Stuttgart 

Germany 

Tel: +49 711 9703302/03 

Fax: +49 711 9703395 

74


Bergische Universität 

Gesamthochschule Wuppertal 

Fachber. Bautechnik/Ingenieurholzbau 

Prof Dr Ing H Brüninghoff 

Pauluskirchstr. 7 

D - 42285 Wuppertal 

Germany 

Tel: +49 202 4394198 

Fax: +49 202 4394064 

Universität Wuppertal 

Ordinariat für Baustofftechnologie und Brandschutz 

Prof Dr Ing W Klingsch 

Pauluskirchstraße 7 

D - 42285 Wuppertal 

Germany 

Tel: +49202 4393128 

Fax: +49202 82560 

Institut für Baukonstruktion und Holzbau der TU Braunschweig 

Prof Dr Ing Martin H Kessel 

Schleinitzstraße 21 A 


Germany 

Tel: +49 531 3917811 

Fax: +49 531 3918193 

E-mail: p.hermann@tu-bs.de 

TH Darmstadt 

Fachgebiet Konstruktiver Holzbau 

Alexanderstr. 35 

D - 64283 Darmstadt 

Germany 

Tel: +49 6151 164131 

Fax: +49 6151 162445 

75


TU Dresden 

Fakultät für Maschinenwesen 

Institut für Holz- und Papiertechnik 

Prof Dr Ing habil Dr hc G Kühne 

Mommsenstr. 13 

D - 01062 Dresden 

Germany 

Tel: +49 351 463 8104 

Fax: +49 351 463 8105 

E-mail: Kuehne@mhp.mw.tu-dresden.de 

TU Dresden 

Fakultät für Bauingenieurwesen 

Institut für Baukonstruktion und Holzbau 

Ralf Menzel 

Mommsenstr. 13 


Germany 

Tel: +49 351 4636308 

Fax: +49 351 4636306 

E-mail: ralf@bbhu01.bau.tu-dresden.de 

MPA Bauwesen 

Institut für Baustoffe und Stahlbeton der TH Braunschweig 

Prof Dr Ing Axel Lämmke 

Beethovenstraße 52 


Germany 

Tel: +49 531 3915431 

Fax: +49 531 3914573 

Staatl. Materialprüfungsamt NRW 

Dir Dr Ing A Kremeier 

Marsbruchstr. 186 

D - 44287 Dortmund 

Germany 

Tel: +49 231 45021 

Fax: +49 231 458549 

76


Otto-Graf-Institut der Universität Stuttgart 

Forschungs- und Materialprüfungsanstalt 

für das Bauwesen (FMPA) 

Dr S Aicher 

Pfaffenwaldring 4 


Germany 

Tel: +49 711 6852287 

Fax: +49 711 6856829 

E-mail: simon.aicher@po.uni-stuttgart.de 

Fachhochschule Rosenheim 

Konstruktionszentrum Holz 

Prof Dr B Schwarz 

Marienberger Str. 26 

D - 83024 Rosenheim 

Germany 

Tel: +49 8031 805307 

Fax: +49 8031 805383 

E-mail: schwarz@fh-rosenheim.de 

Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden GmbH 

Dr Margot Scheithauer 

Zellescher Weg 24 


Germany 

Tel: +49 351 4662227 

Fax: +49 351 4662211 

E-mail: scheithauer@ihd-dresden.de 

Berufsakademie Sachsen 

Staatl. Studienakademie Sachsen 

Heideparkstr. 8a 


Germany 

Tel: +49 351 8133420 

Fax: +49 351 8133439 

Deutsches Zentrum für Handwerk und Denkmalpflege e.V. 

Prof Dipl Ing Manfred Gerner 

Probstei Johannesberg 

D - 36041 Fulda 

Germany 

Tel: +49 661 4953102 

Fax: +49 661 4953105 

77


Versuchsanstalt für Holz und Trockenbau 

Prof Dr Ing Klausjürgen Becker 

Ahornweg 80 

D - 63150 Heusenstamm 

Germany 

Tel: +49 6104 63265 

Fax: +49 6104 67248 

Berufsgenossenschaftliches Institut für Arbeitssicherheit 

Fachbereich 4: Lärm-Vibration 

Dr Ing Eberhard Christ 

Postfach 20 43 

D - 53757 St. Augustin 

Germany 

Tel: +49 2241 231600 

Fax: +49 2241 231333 

Forschungsinstitut für Lacke und Pigmente 

Dr Öchsner 

Allmandring 37 


Germany 

Tel: +49 711 687800 

Fax: +49 711 6878079 

Institut für Fenstertechnik e. V. 

Dr Helmut Hohenstein 

Theodor-Gietl-Str. 9 

D - 83026 Rosenheim 

Germany 

Tel: +49 8031 261-170 

Fax: +49 8031 261-290 

E-mail: hohenstein@ift-rosenheim.de 

78


79


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Germany directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

(BAM) Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung 

und -prüfung 

Dr. Dieter Rudolph 

dieter.rudolph@bam.de. 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



80 



life 

 

Dr Horst Hertel 

horst.hertel@bam.de 

Mr Manfred Grinda 

manfred.grinda@bam.de 

Dr Ina Stephan 

ina.stephan@bam.de 

Dr Ute Schoknecht 

ute.schoknecht@bam.de 

(BFH) Bundesforschungsanstalt 

 

für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft 


rpeek@holz.uni-hamburg.de 

remediation 


treated wood 

 

Dr Hans Leithoff 

leithoff@holz.uni-hamburg.de 

Dr Eckhard Melcher 

melcher@holz.uni-hamburg.de 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

Biocontrol


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Germany directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

(continued) 

Institute 

Activity 

Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI) 

Prof Dr Rainer Marutzky 

mar@wki.fhg.de 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



81 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 

 

Dr Dirk Lukowsky 

lukowsky@wki.fhg.de 

Dr Jan Gunschera 

gunschera@wki.fhg.de 

Carl von Ossietzky Universität 

Oldenburg 

 

Susanne Schröder 

susanne.schroeder@mail.uni- 

oldenburg.de 

 

Dr Andreas Rapp 

arapp@holz.uni-hamburg.de 

University Göttingen 

Prof Dr Holger Militz 

hmilitz@gwdg.de 

Dr C May 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

Biocontrol


82


GREECE 

83 

by 

Joseph Petinarakis, Forest Research Institute, Athens 

Ms Z Vassou, P.P.C. Athens 

and Prof Dr Elias Voulgaridis, 

Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki


1.1 General 


In countries with dry climates, such as those around the Mediterranean Sea, the need 

for the protection of wooden structures, exposed to the weather conditions, but not 

in ground contact, is less acute than in countries with wet weather conditions. Even 

for timber species known as non-durable, the average life can be very long. Because 

of this and the fact that stone and plaster and, lately, the concrete, are the main 

materials for the buildings throughout the country, the wood preservation has a 

rather short history in Greece. Of course the case is different when the wood is in 

ground contact. The average temperature throughout the year is high and favours the 

activity of fungi for a longer period and the degradation of the wood is faster. 

Up to the late seventies, creosote was the only preservative used for the preservation of 

railway sleepers, poles for overhead electricity and telecommunication lines, and to a 

limited extent for timber used by the Greek Army. Such products were imported mainly 

as ready, treated, products (creosote impregnated poles for overhead electricity lines, 

telecommunication lines and railway sleepers). Only a minor proportion of the total 

needs for treated products was covered from domestic timbers treated locally in the two 

(at that time) creosote impregnation installations. The technical specifications applied 

for creosote treated products (both imported and locally treated) were based mainly on 

the American or the European standards (AWPA, ASTM, WEI and BS standards and, 

lately, EU regulations). 

The extension of the service life of timbers in use, exposed to high deterioration risk 

from biological factors together with the need to maintain the quality of certain 

wooden constructions and consequently to keep maintenance and replacement costs 

at a reasonable level (economic reasons), stimulated the interest for the use of wood 

treated with various preservatives (mainly inorganic salts). The use of treated wood 

products in wooden constructions in both, the private and public sectors, started 

only in the late seventies. The benefits from the use of treated timbers, mainly in 

agricultural activities (greenhouses, fences and supporting elements for plants), 

where the risk for wood is high, started to become better known and the demand for 

impregnated wood increased. However, despite the very obvious advantages, one 

might say that the consumption of such products is still rather low in the country 

and it is not likely to increase substantially in the near future. The main reasons for 

this attitude are: 

• the substantially increased prices for treated timber 

• the climatic conditions prevailing in the country 

• the use of certain home grown wood species, such as chestnut, oak, pine 

(Pinus brutia) olive tree wood, which show remarkable resistance to biological 

attacks, and, 

• restrictions in the use of treated timber. 

84


The main government bodies involved with the subject of wood preservatives, 

today, are the Ministry of Agriculture, the Greek Organisation for Standardisation 

(ELOT) and the Ministry of Health. However, the subject is still handled as a technical 

problem (import and use of toxic chemicals). Many efforts from interested private 

bodies and Institutions, on the merits of the technological improvement of the 

service life of wooden constructions through industrial treatment, have failed to 

change this view. As a result, while most of the European countries have established 

and apply their own national standards which define in detail processes, preservatives, 

effectiveness and restrictions, in Greece up to the present, no such national 

standards exist. 

1.2 Performance of wood preservatives 

The formulations used in Greece for pressure impregnation of timbers, are those of 

the creosote type and the waterborne inorganic salts of copper, chrome and arsenic 

(CCA) and copper, chrome and boron (CCB). Those chemicals are classified as 

agrochemicals and as such their registration and final approval for marketing and 

use lies with the Ministry of Agriculture. There are not any installations for the 

impregnation of wood with the organic solvent type of wood preservatives. 

Special preservative formulations and application methods are in use for remedial 

treatment of power transmission poles in situ. Those formulations are applied either 

externally, in the form of paste, or in pockets inside the mass of the pole, in the form 

of water-soluble salts. The paste is a thixotropic mass of sodium fluoride, potassium 

dichromate, creosote and dinitrophenol (under the commercial name “Osmoplastic” 

by Osmose). The area of the pole subjected to this remedial treatment comprises of a 

zone extended from 10 cm above to 45 cm below ground line and repeated at 10 

years intervals. The life of a pole is extended from an average of 27 years to about 

60 to 80 years. 

Wood protecting varnishes applied with brushing or dipping and used for surface 

treatment of timber, containing permethrins are allowed after an appropriate standard 

approval procedure. However, someone can find in the market an enormous 

number of varnishes, with wood preserving agents, which do not indicate clearly 

their composition and some of them may contain substances really dangerous to 

man. 

The existing today impregnation units include four creosote plants and twelve small 

- scale units using water soluble inorganic salts of the CCA and CCB type. The 

impregnation of wood is carried out in closed vessels (cylinders) using standard 

pressure treatment methods. Creosote impregnation units treat about 70,000 m3 of 

timber per year (mainly electricity and telecommunication poles and railway sleepers) 

which will be used almost exclusively in ground contact. The other twelve units 

treat, in total, about 15.000-20.000 m3 of timber per year with water borne pre- 

85


servatives (Petinarakis 1992, Adamopoulos and Voulgaridis 1998). The application 

of CCA type wood preservatives for the treatment of power transmission poles has been 

re-evaluated recently by the PPC as an alternative to creosote. Final decisions are 

expected soon. 

The main uses of timbers treated with CCA or CCB formulations are agricultural 

constructions (greenhouses, plant supports, fences), recreation equipment in forest 

and national park sites, prefabricated wooden summer houses (parts of them) and 

kiosks, shelters, playground equipment, cladding material etc. 

Most of the research work on wood preservation started in late seventies. Research 

was focused on the deterioration of fresh and old wood exposed to the weather conditions, 

the water repellence and water repellent performance of the wood, the blue 

staining fungi and methods to protect wood from staining and the treatability of 

various wood species. In this latter work 26 native wood species were studied under 

typical industrial wood preservation conditions and classified according to their 

treatability (Kakaras and Voulgaridis 1997). Research work on the natural durability 

of native wood species, the performance of wood preservatives and their possible 

impacts to the environment started in 1998, with field tests in one experimental site. 

The results, after approx. 15 months from the installation of the stakes in the test 

site, are studied although it is early to support any conclusions (Petinarakis 2000). 

The procedures for the approval of all the chemicals used in agriculture and consequently 

in the wood preservation, include laboratory work on the control and 

testing of both the efficacy and the ecotoxicity of each particular formulation. 

This laboratory work is carried out in the Benakion Institute of Phytopathology, in 

Athens, a specialized Institute. However, in the case of wood preservatives, because 

of the limited demand and use, and the complexity of the tests involved in testing 

the efficacy and other impacts from their use, the work of the Institute is limited to 

checking the composition of the product and its ecotoxicity through the relevant literature. 

Applied research concerning the natural durability of wood and its preservation 

is carried out in the University of Thessaloniki, the Forest Research Institute 

in Athens and the Public Power Corporation (see Annex 2). 

1.3 Impacts and innovations 

Restrictions concerning the marketing of wood preservatives and the products treated 

with those preservatives are contained in the Direction 193066/18.12.85 of the Ministry 

of Agriculture. According to this Direction, timber impregnated with CCA and CCB 

must not be used for structures, which come in direct contact with people, foodstuff, 

animal fodder and drinking water. Also the use of such timber is prohibited for interior 

structures. Impregnation installations are obliged to inform and instruct the consumers 

about limitations in the uses of impregnated timber and how to dispose treated timber at 

the end of its use. These units are obliged to have special licenses for importing and 

using wood preservatives. Coal tar creosote type of preservatives are used strictly for 

the treatment of products used by PPC, OSE, OTE and the Greek Army. Wooden poles 

86


impregnated with creosote suffer a gradual but substantial loss of their initial creosote 

content. When installed in the power networks part of this loss is due to the evaporation 

of certain volatile constituents of creosote and, part of it to the gravitational forces 

(drained to the lower parts of the poles). When impregnated poles are stored for long 

periods in a horizontal position, apart from the volatilisation of creosote, a flow of creosote 

takes place from the upper to the bottom side of the pole and finally to the ground. 

As a result the intended initial charge (retention) of creosote is reduced. This has a 

negative influence on the expected life of the poles when they are installed in the networks. 

A study carried out by the PPC, concerning the rate of losses of creosote from 

power transmission poles during storage, revealed a decrease in creosote retention in 

wooden poles of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) stored in horizontal position before their 

installation in the power line networks. The mean rate of losses varied between 3% and 

6.8% per year, during a seven years period of storage, and seems to depend on the type 

of the wooden poles (Vassou et. al. 1998). As part of this creosote is drained and diffused 

in the soil, there is no doubt that, in the long run, it has its impacts on the 

neighbouring soil and the vegetation. Such contamination of the soil may occur in 

places around the impregnation installations, which may contribute to serious contamination 

of underground water reserves with creosote substances. Contaminated underground 

water when pumped and used for irrigation of the agricultural lands or even for 

house holding can be really disastrous. Detail research on this subject will be very useful 

for safe conclusions. 

The disposal of treated wood is, at the present, examined only at the level of the 

administrations of the larger consumers, such as the state organisations mentioned 

earlier (PPC, OTE, OSE). The problem is not yet so acute as the poles for power and 

telecommunication lines are, so to say, "recycled". This means that the poles 

rejected from service in main lines are used again, after trimming and re-evaluation, 

sorting and re- impregnation, for smaller categories. The percentage of the poles, 

which are re-used, is quite high (above 60%). A substantial proportion of the 

remaining rejected poles is used for other secondary uses such as pit props, crossarms 

and secondary lines. This raises the total percentage of the re-use to over 80%. 

The case is not the same for the Railway Company (OSE) as the sleepers cannot be 

re-used. However as the rail network is not extended (up to now there is only a single 

line crossing the country), the problem is not so acute up today. The issue of 

plans for the management of dangerous wastes of the National Directive 

No19396/1546/12-7-97 is expected to be completed by the end of 2000, within the 

framework of the National Planning for dangerous wastes, in conformation to the 

relevant EU Directive. 

87

2. Participants 


National Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.) 

Mr. Joseph Petinarakis 

E-mail: diradepts@nagref.gr 


• Field tests for the assessment of the natural durability of domestic wood species 

• Performance of wood preservatives in ground contact and above ground (Ljoints) 

in field testing 

Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment 

Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.) 

Prof. Elias V. Voulgaridis 

E-mail: evoulga@for.auth.gr 


• Natural durability assessment 

• Natural products from durable timber species and use of extractives in increasing 

durability of timber 

Ms Z. Vassou 


• Loss of creosote preservatives during storage and in situ due to draining and 

evaporation 

Organisation: N.AG.RE.F. - I.M.F.E. and F.P.T. 

P. K. Kavvouras 


• Conservation of ancient woods, dimensional stabilisation of wood 

88



The activities of each participant are presented here classified according to the respective 

scientific areas (Working Groups) defined in the Memorandum of Understanding of 

COST Action E22. 




conditions. 

• Field tests for the assessment of the natural durability of domestic wood species 

(J. H. Petinarakis) 

• Performance of wood preservatives in ground contact and above ground (Ljoints) 

in field testing (J. H. Petinarakis) 

• Natural durability assessment (E. Voulgaridis) 



• Loss of creosote preservatives during storage and in situ due to draining and 

evaporation (Ms Z. Vassou) 




• Conservation of ancient woods, dimensional stabilisation of wood (P. K. 

Kavvouras) 

• Natural products from durable timber species and use of extractives in increasing 

durability of timber (E. Voulgaridis) 

4. ANNEXES 





89


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN GREECE IN THE COST E22 


National Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.) 

Mr Joseph Petinarakis 

19, Aegialias St. 

GR – 15125 Marousi 

Greece 

Tel: +30 1 68 40 333 

Fax: +30 1 68 46 700 

E-mail: diradepts@nagref.gr 

Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment 

Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.) 

Prof Dr Elias V Voulgaridis 

GR- 54006 Thessaloniki 

Greece 

Tel: +30 31 998 871 

Fax: +30 31 998 946 

E-mail: evoulga@for.auth.gr 

Ms Z Vassou 

N.AG.RE.F. - I.M.F.E. and F.P.T. 

P K Kavvouras 

E-mail: pkavv@acropolis.net 

90


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Greece directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Institute of Mediterranean Forest 

Ecosystems and Forest Products 

Technology (I.M.F.E. and F.P.T.) 

Dr Joseph Petinarakis 

Planconstr@nagref.gr 

Aristotelian University of 

Thessaloniki (A.U.TH.) 

Prof Elias Voulgaridis 

Evoulga@for.auth.gr 

traditional 


Public Power Corporation (P.P.C.) 

Ms Zoi Vassou 


requirements 




products 


using soil 



91 

Natural durability 

of wood 

 

 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other

REFERENCES 


Adamopoulos, S and E. Voulgaridis 1998. Impregnation of timber and regulations 

applied to preservation practice in Greece. Paper presented in the 4th International 

Symposium "The Challenge Safety and Environment in Wood Preservation", 2-3 

February 1998, Cannes-Mandelieu, France. 

Kakaras J. and E. Voulgaridis 1997: Experimental results on wood impregnation 

during the last 15 years in Greece. Proceedings of the 3r d International Conference 

on the Development of Forestry and Wood Technology. Belgrade, Sept. 29 th -Oct. 

3 rd , 1997 

Petinarakis, J. 1992. Integrated survey of the wood processing industries in Greece. 

Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Dept of Forestry & Nat Environment, Scientific 

Annals, Vol. ΛΕ/2 No32 pp 943-1015. 

Petinarakis J. 2000. Unpublished results from the research programme "An investigation 

into the natural durability of timbers from the main Greek wood species and the 

protective action of various preservative formulations against biological degradation of 

wooden constructions" Duration: 1998 – 2001, Budget: 50.000 Euro (Nationl funds). 

Vassou Z. and M. Karadima 1994. Feasibility study on the use of the preservative 

CCA for the impregnation of wooden poles, crossties and props. Public Power Corporation, 

Athens. 

Vassou Z., A. Satanakis, C. Koutsikopoulos and J. Petinarakis 1998. The rate of losses of creosote 

from power transmission poles during storage. Paper presented in the 4th International 

Symposium "The challenge - Safety and environment in wood preservation" Cannes- 

Mandelieu, France 2-3 February 1998 (IRG Doc IRG/WP 98-50101). 

92


IRELAND 

93 

by 

Mr Colin Birkinshaw 

University of Limerick 

and 

Mr Declan Cahill 

Enterprise Ireland



This report was compiled from information obtained from COFORD (the National 

Council for Forest Research and Development) and from Enterprise Ireland, the state 

body charged with the technical development of industry. 


Enterprise Ireland (EI) 

(Mr Declan Cahill) 


• preservation of fast grown softwood 

• preservative distribution and retention 

University of Limerick (UL) 

(Dr C. Birkinshaw) 


• chemical modification of wood 

• effect of modification and decay on mechanical properties 




E22. 




conditions. 

• Penetration and retention of preservatives in fast grown softwood (Mr. Declan 

Cahill) 

• COST climate index (Mr. Declan Cahill) 

94





• Modification of fast grown softwoods (Mr. Colin Birkinshaw) 

• Effect of modification and decay on the mechanical and physical properties of 

wood (Mr. Colin Birkinshaw) 


The timber industry in Ireland is focused on production and use of fast grown softwoods 

with imported timbers used for the higher value applications. This COST action is relevant 

to Ireland in that development of effective and environmentally acceptable methods 

of preservation of fast grown softwoods is of great importance. 

5. ANNEXES 





95


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN IRELAND IN THE COST E22 


Department of Materials Science 

University of Limerick 


IRL – Limerick 

Ireland 

Tel: +353 61202247 

Fax: +353 61 338172 

E-mail: colin.birkinshaw@ul.ie 

Timber & Furniture 

Enterprise Ireland 


Glasnevin 

IRL – Dublin 9 

Ireland 

Tel: +353 1 808 2667 

Fax: +353 1 808 2622 

E-mail: declan.cahill@enterprise-ireland.com 

96


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Ireland directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Enterprise Ireland (EI) 


declan.cahill@enterprise- 

ireland.com 

University of Limerick (UL) 


colin.birkinshaw@ul.ie 

traditional 


 


requirements 




products 


using soil 



97 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 

 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


98


LATVIA 

99 

by 

Dr Bruno Andersons 

Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry



Invitations were sent out to three research organisations and universities in Latvia to ask 

for their contributions to this state of the art document 

This document is structured to offer contact information within the scope of the COST 

Action E22. 


Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry 

Dr. Bruno Andersons 

E-mail: brunoan@edi.lv 




• novel approaches for improving durability of wood and components 


• life cycle assessment of wood products 

• innovative wood chemistry and materials technology 

• emissions during particleboard manufacture 



• insect distribution 

Latvian Agricultural University 

Dr Andris Morozovs 

E-mail: rector@inka.cs.llu.lv 



• application of modified wood 

3. ANNEXES 





100


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN LATVIA IN THE COST E22 FIELD 

OF WORK AND THEIR PRINCIPLE CONTACTS 

Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry 


Dzerbenes iela 27 

LV - 1006 Riga 

Latvia 

Tel: +371 7552554 

Fax: +371 7550635 

E-mail: brunoan@edi.lv 



Liela iela 2 

LV - 3001 Jelgava 

Latvia 

E-mail: rector@inka.cs.llu.lv 

101


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Latvia directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Institute of Wood Chemistry 


brunoan@edi.lv 



rector@inka.cs.llu.lv 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



102 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 


wood 

 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


NORWAY 

by 

Mr Fred G. Evans 

Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology 

103



Norway has about 50 pressure treatment plants using CCA-preservatives. Three of the 

plants use creosote and two the Royal process ® . 

The treated volume is about 320,000 m 3 (transmission poles: 20,000 m 3 , sawn timber: 

250,000 m 3 , other waterborne products: 20,000 m 3 and treated joineries with LOSP: 

25,000 m 3 ). 

About 90 % of the volume are controlled by the national quality control scheme. 86 % 

of the volume is waterborne salts (CCA), 8 % creosote and 6 % oil borne preservatives. 

Jotun AS is the only producer of preservatives in Norway. 

The Norwegian Government has dropped an environmental tax for pressure treated 

wood, and will instead impose restriction. 

This information is based on the knowledge received from a survey we did during the 

work in COST Action E 2. We arranged a meeting with different institutions working 

with timber constructions, wood preservatives, wood preservation, fungi and remediation 

in general. All the institutions are located within 20 km from the Oslo centre. 

104

2. PARTICIPATS 


Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology (NTI) 



• Testing wood preservatives in field-tests in and above ground and in marine environment 

• COST Index (fungi) 

• Process projects with Cr- and As-free preservatives, looking at the penetration of 

the Cu-component 

• Chairman of the technical group in Nordic Wood Preservation Council (NWPC) 

who approves the preservatives in the Nordic Countries 

• Wood wastes, including preservative treated wood 

• Testing water repellent additives to preservatives 

Mycoteam AS 

Mr Johan Mattsson 


• Biology of wood degradation of wood from fungi and insects especially in buildings 

• Inspections of degradation of wood from fungi and insects in buildings 

• Wood boring insects in general 

• Testing wood preservatives 

• Logging moisture content in log houses and exposed test samples 

Norwegian Forest Research Institute (NISK) 

Mr Morten Eikenes 


• Synthesising tall oil derivatives (A PhD-project) 

Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) 

Mr. Jan Fr. Henriksen 


• Field measurements, monitoring and instrument development 

• Chemical analysis and development of analytical methods 

• Exposure estimate, dose/response: health, materials and ecosystems 

• Development of integrated environmental systems 

Centre for Soil and Environmental Research 

Dr. Grete Rasmussen 


105


• Remediation of contaminated soil 

• Creosote 

• CCA 

Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NN) 


• Remediation of contaminated soil 

• Creosote 

• CCA 

106






conditions. 


• COST climate index (NTI, Mycoteam as, NILU) 

• Wood boring insects distribution (Mycoteam as) 

Efficacy prediction 

• Testing water repellent additives (NTI, Mycoteam) 


• Testing of new preservatives according to EN 599 (NTI, Mycoteam AS 

Scientific basis for realistic end-use predicted tests 

• Testing wooden cladding with different treatments (NTI, Jotun AS) 



Recycling and disposal 

• Characterising the treated wood waste (NTI) 




'Natural' biocidal products and systems 

• Synthesising tall oil derivatives (NISK) 

Chemical modification systems 

• State of the art for heat treatment (NTI) 

107



The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in Norway 

with some of the scientific areas being the subject of current active work at the different 

organisations. 


• effective and reliable prediction of in-service performance of components 


• providing a guidance and practical tool for treated wood waste 

5. ANNEXES 





108


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN NORWAY IN THE COST E22 


Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology (NTI) 


PO Box 113 

NO - 0314 Oslo 

Norway 

Tel: +47 22 96 56 55 

Fax: +47 22 60 42 91 

E-mail: fred.evans@treteknisk.no 

Web: www.tretekniisk.no 

Mycoteam AS 

Mr Johan Mattsson 

PO Box 5 


Norway 

Tel. +47 22 96 56 78 

Fax: +47 22 46 55 52 

E-mail: johan@myoteam.no 

Web: www.mycoteam.no 

Norwegian Forest Research Institute (NISK) 

Mr Morten Eikenes 

Høgskoleveien 12 

NO - 1430 Ås 

Norway 

Tel: +47 64 94 90 00 

Fax: +47 64 94 90 80 

E-mail: morten.eikenes@nisk.no 

Web: www.nisk.no 

Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) 

Mr Jan Fr Henriksen 

PO Box 100 

NO – 2007 Kjeller 

Norway 

Tel: +47 63 89 81 62 

Fax: +47 63 89 80 50 

E-mail: jan.fredrik.henriksen@nilu.no 

Web: www.nilu.no/niluweb/ 

109


Centre for Soil and Environmental Research (Jordforsk) 

Dr Grete Rasmussen 

NO - 1432 Ås 

Norway 

Tel: +47 64 94 81 00 

Fax: +47 64 94 81 10 

E-mail: grete.rasmussen@jordforsk.no 

Web: www.jordforsk.no 

Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) 

PO Box 3930 Ullevål Hageby 


Norway 

Tel: +47 22 02 30 00 

Fax: +47 22 23 04 48 

Web: www.ngi.no/english/default.htm 

110


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Norway directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Norwegian Institute of Wood 

Technology , 


fred.evans@treteknisk.no 

Mycoteam AS, 

Mr Johan Matsson 

johan@myoteam.no 

Norwegian Forest Research 

Institute 

Morten Eikenes 

morten.eikenes@nisk.no 

Centre for Soil and Environmental 

Research 

Mrs Grete Rasmussen 

grete.rasmussen@jordforsk.no 

Norwegian Institute for Air 

Research 

Mr Jan Fr. Henriksen 

jan.fredrik.henriksen@nilu.no 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



111 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 

 

 

 

NGI, Norwegian Geotechnical 

Institute 

 

 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


112


PORTUGAL 

by 

Dr Lina Nunes, Labaratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil 

Dr Alexandra Branco Ribeiro, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências 

e Tecnologia 

and 

Dr Dario Reimão, Institute Nacional de Investigação Agrária, Estação Florestal 

Nacional 

113



Invitations were sent out to eleven research organisations and universities in Portugal to 

ask for their contributions to this state of the art document. Ten groups from seven 

organisations replied and this document is based on those responses, particularly those 

that included research work on the relevant areas. 


Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil / Núcleo de Madeiras 

Dr. Lina Nunes 

E-mail: linanunes@lnec.pt 

Web: http://www.lnec.pt 


• Traditional wood preservatives 

• Specifying durability requirements 

• Optimum bio-effective life 

• Creosote and creosote-based products 

• Field performance using soil 

• Insects in Europe, climatical conditions 


• Wood wastes and treated wood 

• Application of modified wood 

• Insect growth regulators 

• “Natural” biocidal products and systems 

Ongoing research projects 

• Study of the biological activity of rosin derivatives in wood protection (Portuguese 

Program – FCT / PRAXIS XXI, 1997-2000) 

• Sustainable wood - new clean technological methods for the control of fungal 

stains in wood (European Program – FAIR, 1998-2001) 

• Validation of gluing / impregnation products and techniques for the reinforcement 

of timber structures (Portuguese Program – FCT / PRAXIS XXI, 1999- 

2001) 

• Methods for mitigation of buildings deterioration related hazard (Portuguese Program 

– FCT, 1999-2002) 

• Control of the biological deterioration of timber (Portuguese Program - PIDDAC, 

2000-2005) 

114


Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária - Estação Florestal Nacional/ Departamento 

de Tecnologia dos Produtos Florestais 

Dr. Dario Reimão 

E-mail: dario.reimao@mail.telepac.pt 

Web: http://www.efn.net.novis.pt 


• Traditional wood preservatives 

• Specifying durability requirements 

• Field performance using soil 

• Risk assessment 

• Remediation 




• Characterisation of pinewood quality (Pinus pinaster) under different growth 

conditions and silviculture towards an optimisation of final sawmill outputs 

(Portuguese Program – PAMAF, 1997-2000) 

• Oak stand quality evaluation and the technological wood improvement (Portuguese 

Program – PRAXIS-XXI, 1998-2000) 

• Upgrading (stabilization, preservation and others) of various European wood species 

as a result of an axial impregnation process (wood + plus) (European Program 

– INNOVATION, 1999-2000) 

• Quality technological valorisation of home-grown wood species (Portuguese Program 

– PIDDAC, 1999-2001) 

• Study of the remediation of impregnated wood waste, in view of the recovery of 

the preservative products and the recycling of the wood (Portuguese Program – 

Agência de Inovação, 2000-2001; Industrial partner: CARMO Lda.) 

115


Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa / Departamento de 

Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente 

Dr. Alexandra Ribeiro; Dr. Eduardo P. Mateus 

E-mail: abr@mail.fct.unl.pt; epm@mail.fct.unl.pt 

Web: http://www.fct.unl.pt 



• Remediation 


• Creosote and creosote-based products 





• Study of the creosote removal from treated wood out of service (Portuguese Program 

– FCT/UNL, 1998-2000) 

• Electrodialytic removal of contaminants from polluted matrices (Danish Program, 

1999-2000) 

Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa 

GUECKO – Grupo de Ecologia 

Prof. Maria Rosa Paiva; Dr. Eduardo P. Mateus 

E-mail: mrp@mail.fct.unl.pt; epm@mail.fct.unl.pt 





• Minimization of environmental impacts resulting from phytosanitary protection 

for pine ecosystems particularly against processionary moth Thaumetopoea spp. 

(Lep., Thaumetopoeidae) (Portuguese Program – PRAXIS XXI, 1997-2001) 

116


Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial / Grupo de Tecnologia da 

Madeira 

Dr. José António dos Santos 

E-mail: jose.santos@mail.ineti.pt 




• Heat treatment 


• Advance wood surface treatment for exterior used wood by flow coating technique 

(European Program – Brite-Euram II - CRAFT, 1999-2001) 

• Dimensional stabilisation treatments (Portuguese Program, 2000 -) 

• Characterization of residues in wood sector (Portuguese Program, 2000 -) 

Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial / Departamento de Tecnologia 

Química 

Dr. Bárbara Gigante 

E-mail: barbara.gigante@ibqta.ineti.pt 



• Insect growth regulators 

• “Natural” biocidal products and systems 




WoodTech, Lda. 

Dr. Fernando Caldeira Jorge 

E-mail: woodtech@woodtech.pt 





• Development of resins with the incorporation of pine bark extracts for the wood 

panels industry (Portuguese Program – FCT / PRAXIS XXI, 1998-2000) 

117



The activities of each participant are presented here, classified according to the respective 


E22. Preferable projects are listed, where activities can be published for state of art in 

1999. Contact persons are additionally mentioned. 




conditions. 

• Traditional wood preservatives (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Dario Reimão) 

• Specifying durability requirements (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Dario Reimão) 

• Optimum bio-effective life (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Bárbara Gigante) 

• Creosote and creosote-based products (Dr. Lina Nunes) 

• Field performance using soil (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Dario Reimão) 

• Insects in Europe, climatical conditions (Dr. Lina Nunes, Prof. Maria Rosa Paiva; 

Dr. Eduardo P. Mateus) 




• Sustainable wood - new clean technological methods for the control of fungal 

stains in wood (European Program – FAIR, 1998-2001) 

• Validation of gluing / impregnation products and techniques for the reinforcement 

of timber structures (Portuguese Program – FCT / PRAXIS XXI, 1999- 

2001) 

• Methods for mitigation of buildings deterioration related hazard (Portuguese Program 

– FCT, 1999-2002) 

• Control of the biological deterioration of timber (Portuguese Program - PIDDAC, 

2000-2005) 

• Characterisation of pinewood quality (Pinus pinaster) under different growth 

conditions and silviculture towards an optimisation of final sawmill outputs 

(Portuguese Program – PAMAF, 1997-2000) 

• Oak stand quality evaluation and the technological wood improvement (Portuguese 

Program – PRAXIS-XXI, 1998-2000) 

• Upgrading (stabilization, preservation and others) of various European wood species 

as a result of an axial impregnation process (wood + plus) (European Program 

– INNOVATION, 1999-2000) 

• Quality technological valorisation of home-grown wood species (Portuguese Program 

– PIDDAC, 1999-2001) 

118




• Risk assessment (Dr. Dario Reimão, Dr. Alexandra Ribeiro; Dr. Eduardo P. 

Mateus) 

• Optimum bio-effective life (Dr. Lina Nunes) 

• Remediation (Dr. Dario Reimão, Dr. Alexandra Ribeiro; Dr. Eduardo P. Mateus) 

• Wood wastes and treated wood (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Dario Reimão, Dr. 

Alexandra Ribeiro; Dr. Eduardo P. Mateus, Dr. José António dos Santos, Dr. 

Fernando Caldeira Jorge) 

• Creosote and creosote-based products (Dr. Alexandra Ribeiro; Dr. Eduardo P. 

Mateus) 





• Study of the creosote removal from treated wood out of service (Portuguese Program 

– FCT/UNL, 1998-2000) 

• Electrodialytic removal of contaminants from polluted matrices (Danish Program, 

1999-2000) 

• Minimization of environmental impacts resulting from phytosanitary protection 

for pine ecosystems particularly against processionary moth Thaumetopoea spp. 

(Lep., Thaumetopoeidae) (Portuguese Program – PRAXIS XXI, 1997-2001) 




• Application of modified wood (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Dario Reimão, Dr. José 

António dos Santos, Dr. Fernando Caldeira Jorge) 

• Heat treatment (Dr. José António dos Santos) 

• Insect growth regulators (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Bárbara Gigante) 

• “Natural” biocidal products and systems (Dr. Lina Nunes, Dr. Bárbara Gigante) 

119



• Advance wood surface treatment for exterior used wood by flow coating technique 

(European Program – Brite-Euram II - CRAFT, 1999-2001) 

• Dimensional stabilisation treatments (Portuguese Program, 2000 -) 

• Characterization of residues in wood sector (Portuguese Program, 2000 -) 



• Development of resins with the incorporation of pine bark extracts for the wood 

panels industry (Portuguese Program – FCT / PRAXIS XXI, 1998-2000) 


The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in Portugal 

and this is reflected on the present state of the art and on the number of people that 

showed interest in the national network related to the Action (34 people from 12 organizations). 

The main research areas within the country are: 


• classifying hazard including risk mapping (COST Indexes separately for fungi 

and insects 

• efficacy prediction (relationship between testing and practice) 

• improved guidance in durability performance 

• determining bio-effective life of biocides 


• implementing remediation technologies 

• recycling and disposal 


• scale up and exploitation of non toxic treatments 

• physiological inhibitors/attractants 

• scale-up and exploitation of chemical modification systems 

• 'natural' biocidal products and systems 

120

5. ANNEXES 






ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution to the present state of the art of 

all the researchers mentioned in the report, as well as the following ones, that also 

kindly answer our request for information: Prof. Helena Pereira and Dr. Fátima Jorge 

(Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal), Dr. Mário 

Tavares (INIA, Estação Florestal Nacional), Dr. José Amorim Faria (Faculdade de 

Engenharia, Universidade do Porto), Dr. Helena Farrall (Guecko, FCT, UNL) and Dr. 

Margarida Gonçalves (Departamento de Química, FCT, UNL). 

121


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN PORTUGAL IN THE COST E22 

FIELD OF WORK AND THEIR MAIN CONTACTS 

Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil 

Núcleo de Madeiras 

Dr Lina Nunes 

Av. do Brasil, 101 

P – 1700-066 Lisboa 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 21 844 3659 

Fax: +351 21 844 3025 

E-mail: linanunes@lnec.pt 

Web: http://www.lnec.pt 

Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária 

Estação Florestal Nacional 

Departamento de Tecnologia dos Produtos Florestais 

Dr Dario Reimão 

Rua Cândido dos Reis, 56 

P - 2460-023 Alcobaça 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 262 582 315 

Fax: +351 262 598 988 

E-mail: dario.reimao@mail.telepac.pt 

Web: http://www.efn.net.novis.pt 

Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia 

Universidade Nova de Lisboa 

Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente 

Dr Alexandra Ribeiro; Dr Eduardo P Mateus 

DCEA/FCT/UNL, Quinta da Torre 

P - 2825-114 Caparica 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 212 948 300 

Fax: +351 212 948 554 

E-mail: abr@mail.fct.unl.pt; epm@mail.fct.unl.pt 


122


Faculdade Ciências e Tecnologia 

Universidade Nova de Lisboa 

GUECKO – Grupo de Ecologia 

Prof Dr Maria Rosa Paiva; Dr Eduardo P Mateus 

DCEA/FCT/UNL, Quinta da Torre 

P - 2825-114 Caparica 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 212 948 300 

Fax: +351 212 948 554 

E-mail: mrp@mail.fct.unl.pt; epm@mail.fct.unl.pt 


Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial 

DMTP - Departamento de Materiais (Edifício C) 

Dr José António dos Santos 

Estrada Paço do Lumiar, 22 

P - 1649-038 Lisboa 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 21 716 5141 ext. 2340 

Fax: +351 21 716 6568 

E-mail: jose.santos@mail.ineti.pt 

Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial 

Departamento de Tecnologia Química 

Dr Bárbara Gigante 

Estrada do Paço do Lumiar 

P – 1649-038 Lisboa 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 21 7168151 

Fax: +351 21 7168100 

E-mail: barbara.gigante@ibqta.ineti.pt 

WoodTech, Lda. 

Dr Fernando Caldeira Jorge 

Rua da República, 198 

P – 3810-159 Alagoas 

Portugal 

Tel: +351 919 092 704 

Fax: +351 234 316 895 

E-mail: woodtech@woodtech.pt 

123


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Portugal directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

LNEC – Timber Division 

Dr Lina Nunes 

linanunes@lnec.pt 

INIA – Estação Florestal Nacional 

Dr Dario Reimão 

dario.reimao@mail.telepac.pt 

FCT/UNL/DCEA 

Dr Alexandra Ribeiro 

Dr Eduardo Mateus 

abr@mail.fct.unl.pt; 

epm@mail.fct.unl.pt 

FCT/UNL – GUECKO 

Prof M Rosa Paiva, Dr. Eduardo 

Mateus 

mrp@mail.fct.unl.pt; 

epm@mail.fct.unl.pt 

INETI – Departamento de 

Materiais 

Dr José António dos Santos 

jose.santos@mail.ineti.pt 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



124 



life 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 

 

 


wood 


 

insect growth 

regulators 

“natural” biocidal 

products


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Portugal directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

(continued) 

Institute 

Activity 

INETI – Dep. of Chemical 

Technology 

Dr Barbara Gigante 

barbara.gigante@ibqta.ineti.pt 

Woodtech, Lda. 

Dr Fernando Caldeira Jorge 

woodtech@woodtech.pt 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



125 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

 

 


products


126


ROMANIA 

by 

Dr Octavia Zeleniuc 

National Institute of Wood, Bucharest 

127



In this age when product quality is the means of survival in the highly competitive business 

world, it is essential for wood as a raw material to preserve superior features in 

terms of processing and stability. 

Due to its outstanding characteristics, wood is used in various fields as civil and industrial 

engineering, furniture, sports equipment, etc. In most of those cases, wood is subject 

to extreme working conditions as directly exposed to weather, soil, sea water and 

subsequently attacked by destructive microbial agents that could damage wood structure 

unless it features a high natural durability. 

Since the availability of high natural stability wood is currently decreasing, for a better 

utilization of wood resources with lower durability, their resistance to microbial attacks 

is strengthened by protective treatments. 

While the current wood exploitation in Romania it is about 12,600,000 m 3 /year (out of 

which 5,000,000 m 3 of coniferous and 7,500,000 m 3 of hardwoods) an increasing 

demand has been encountered for new wood preservatives. 

Keeping account of the stated objectives of the COST E22 as well as having in mind the 

particular national conditions, the wood protection activities are oriented towards the 

resolution of the following issues: 

• the development of new products and technologies for their practical application 

with the agreement of the Health Ministry on the permitted toxic features 

(DL50>1000 mg/kg body). 

• the achievement of the following characteristics for the protection products: 

- superior efficiency while using wood in risk classes 4 and 5; 

- high linking; 

- decreased adversity on the environment; 

- optimum service life and biodegradability. 

• the development of instructions and technologies (including work protection and 

security measures) for the utilisation of each preservative product depending on 

the specific sort and destination of wood. 

• There has been observed an increase of the demands for the utilisation of wood in 

the civil engineering sector, energetic, naval industry, hydroenergetics and transportation 

sector (prefab houses, power-live poles, pontoons, railway sleepers, 

props, sporting, boats, etc). 

• In accordance with the structure of the COST E22, Romania is to be represented 

in the Working Groups "Performance", "innovation". 

128



National Institute of Wood, Bucharest 

(Dr Chem. D. Baciu) 

(Dr Biol. G. Baciu) 

(Dr. Eng. L. Enescu) 

(Dr. Eng. O. Zeleniuc) 

(Biol. L. Sfetcu) 

(Chem. M. Pruna) 

Institute of Marine Research 

(Bioch. M. Marza) 

Institute of Hygiene and Public Health 

Ministry of Public Works and Territory Management 

INL. Bucharest 

129






conditions. 

Referring to the objectives of this working group we are interesting in: 

• traditional wood preservatives and specifying durability requirements (figure 1); 

Wood durability plays an important role, so wood protection intend to increase its 

durability requirements for the proper utilisation. The natural resistance of the 

main species in Romania is presented in figure 2. 

• field performance using soil 

The stated objectives is in fact the research thematic approached by the Romanian 

scientists as part of the COST program, with the title: "Methodological and 

experimental research in line with the European norms regarding the testing of 

wood in conditions with major biodegradability risk classes 4 and 5 (in permanent 

contact with soil and micro-organisms, sea water and marine micro-organisms). 

The study objective is a national priority, keeping account of its complex structure, 

which responds to several actual and future demands regarding the use of 

wood in major degradability risk conditions (in permanent contact with soil, sea 

water and their specific microbial agents). 

The development stages of the program include: 

- the establishment of the appropriate wood testing methodology; 

- the identification and selection of the biotic and abiotic factors specific to the 

European risk classes 4 and 5 for the temperate Romanian climate and their 

utilisation for wood durability testing; 

- based on the wood natural durability testing, the identification of the species 

suitable for use in high risk conditions; 

- the establishment, by laboratory testing (in specified open conditions), of the 

utilisation features of solid wood in risk classes 4 and 5 and the improvement 

of those features through the application of preservation solutions in view of 

increasing its service life; 

- the evolution of the ecological impact of the products studied; 

- the development of methods, technologies and utilisation instructions. 

130


Present status of the program work 

- Documentary study on the minimal criteria imposed by the European standards 

on the utilisation of wood in contact with soil and sea water; 

- Development of the experimental methodologies for the laboratory testing; 

- Laboratory testing - antifungal efficiency of Tanalith C 3310; 

- Documentary study on the status of the research on wood biodegradability and 

protection while in contact with soil and sea water; 

- Laboratory testing - soft rot testing (SR ENV 807 - second test); 

- Field testing - soil fixed test specimens; 

- Seawater immersion (SR EN 275). 

Next Steps 

- Laboratory testing - soft rot testing (SR ENV 807 - first test); 

- Analysing and evaluation of test results; 

- Establishment by chemical and spectro-photo-chemical tests of the preservation 

chemicals leakage from wood into soil or sea water; 

- Lab and field testing of other wood preservatives specific to the utilisation in 

risk classes 4 and 5; 

- Development of application technologies and instructions for the tested 

preservatives. 


Xylophagus insects specific to climatical conditions in Romania. The wood as a 

vegetal organic product, rich in nutrients, is the main food source for xylophagus 

biological agents. 

Depending on attack specificity the xylophagus insects are grouped in three categories: 

- insects attacking the hardwood in the stores (logs, sawn timber, semi finished 

products, friezes and parquetry strips); 

- insects attacking the coniferous wood in the stores (logs, sawn timber); 

The wood infestation with xylophagus insects in the climatically conditions of 

our country is favourised by the following factors: 

- physiological and phytosanitary conditions of stands (trees with advanced 

physiological weakness as a result of hard vegetation conditions and trees with 

advanced drying); 

- storing time and conditions; wood infestation in the stores as a result of existence 

of focus points in the wood during longer storing times; 

- improper utilisation (without suitable protection) of wooden material in the 

buildings; Hylotrupes bajulus is the species attacking mostly old coniferous 

wood in constructions from mountain regions, with temperature fluctuations 

between - 20ºC and +25ºC and relative humidity between 55% - 85%. 

Figure 3 shows main xylophagus inspect species specific climatically conditions of 

Romania (temperate continental climate). 

131





The activity of WG3 will be particularly oriented towards two major objectives: 

• heat treatment; 

• application of modified wood. 

Heat treatment 

As regarding the heating treatment, we could mention three treatment procedures 

(drying, steaming and thermic shock) that have some effects over: 

- dimensional stability of wood; 

- wood plasticity; 

- colour homogeneity; 

- a better penetration of the preservatives into the wood structure; 

- decrease of wood biodegradability; 

- improvement of the technological features. 

The drying procedure represents an important stage in wood processing, that 

should provide characteristics suitable for a proper and high performance of wood 

utilisation. 

The steaming is a hygro-thermic process, which is particularly addressed to the 

beech species (representing about 567% of the sawntimber production and featuring 

a significant percentage in the furniture, parquetry and flooring board production). 

The steaming follows shortly after sawing, by using direct steaming in special 

chambers. 

Studies have been undertaken on the effects of the steaming and drying processes 

over: 

- colour changes; 

- evacuated water weight; 

- wood shrinkage; 

- density; 

- strength to fiber parallel compression; 

- strength to fiber parallel tension; 

- Young modulus; 

- shear strength; 

- stress strength. 

132


Heat treatment known as "thermic shock", represents one of the physical methods 

of fighting against insects attack (Anobium, Lyctus, Hylotrupes). This method 

consists in heating of timber at 50-65ºfor eliminating all the insects (in any larvae, 

pupa or adult stage); (heating time depends on wood species, width and thickness). 

Modified wood 

Under the generic nomination there are known more types of lignocellulosic 

materials of which: 

- wood modified by changing the particularities of one or more compounds in 

the wood structure (for example, by changing the hydroxyl group existing in 

the pulp structure with other functional group by esterification process, etc.) 

- wood improved by its treatment with various chemicals in certain technological 

conditions. 

Our researches have in mind the obtaining and characterisation of a poplar wood 

modified by preservation with styrene polymerised in situ through ionising radiation 

emitted by isotope 60 Co. 

The purpose was the improvement of solid wood by monomer impregnation followed 

by polymerisation through irradiation. 

For the resulted modified wood we have adopted the following codes: 

- poplar wood - polystyrene = LP (p) PS; 

- alder wood - polystyrene = LP (a) PS; 

- beech wood - polystyrene = LP (f) PS. 

In the monomer utilised for solid wood impregnation it is added an additive 

namely benzoyl peroxide as polymerisation initiating agent. The wood sample 

impregnation is carried out in an autoclave while the polymerisation with gamma 

radiation is performed in a suitable plant within the Institute of Physics and 

Nuclear Engineering Bucharest. 

5. ANNEXES 





Annex 3 gives an overview about wood preservation activities in Romania. 

133


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN ROMANIA IN THE COST E22 


INL - National Institute of Wood, Bucharest 

Ms Liliana Sfetcu 

7 Fabrica de Glucoze Street 

PO Box 30, Cod 72322 

Bucharest 

Romania 

Tel: +40 1 233 15 56 int. 319, 376 

Fax: +40 1 233 15 14 

E-mail: office@inl.ro 

Wood Preservation Laboratory 

Dr Eng Octavia Zeleniuc 

Tel: +40 1 233 15 56 int. 319, 353 

Fax: +40 1 233 15 14 

E-mail: office@inl.ro (Dr Chem D Baciu) 

Web: http://www.inl.ro (Dr Biol Georgeta Baciu) 

Dr Eng Luminita Enescu 

Chem M Pruna 

INCDM – National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore 

Antipa” 

Bioch Maria Marza 

ICAS – Research Institute for Forest Management 

Dr Eng Stefan Vlonga 

Fax: +40 68 419936 


Ministry of Public Works and Territory Management 

Annex 3 Wood preservation activities in Romania. 

Wood preservatives used in Romania are given in figure 1, natural durability classification 

of the main wood species in Romania is given in figure 2. Wood boring insects 

occurring in Romania are listed in figure 3. The staff participating in wood protection in 

Romania are given in figure 4. 

134


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Romania directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

INL - National Institute of Wood 

Dr Georgeta Baciu 

office@inl.ro 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



135 



life 

 

Dr Octavia Zeleniuc 

office@inl.ro 

Dr Luminita Enescu 


Ms Liliana Sfetcu 


INCDM - Institute of Marine 

Research 

Maria Marza 

rmri@alpha.rmri.ro 

ICAS – Research Institute for 

Forest Management 

Dr Stefan Vlonga 

 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 


products


WOOD PRESERVATIVES USED IN ROMANIA 

INDIGENOUS OTHERS 

1. ROMBAI ON EXTRA (INL Ro-Bayer AG Germany) 

• fungicide concentrate for chemical protection treatment of 

steamed beech sawn timber (immersion) 

• effectiveness: 3-6 months; 

2. ADIROL (ICERP Romania – Rohm and Haas) 

• similar with 1. 

3. CATIOTIM AMA (ROMTENSID - ICECHIM Ro.) 


4. ROMALIT N (INL Ro.) 

• fungicide concentrate for chemical protection of electricity 

and telegraph poles and railway sleepers (pressure treatment). 

• increases wood durability about 5 times. 

5. ROMALIT NTG (INL Ro.) 

• fungicide concentrate for chemical protection of timbers used 

in buildings (pressure treatment) 


6. EVINIT (INL Ro.) 

• fungicide concentrate for chemical protection of prefab 

houses; 

• application and effectiveness similar with 4. 

136 

FIGURE 1 

1. WOODGARD - EC (SADOLIN - Denmark) 

• fungicide concentrate for chemical protection treatment of 

steamed beech sawn timber (immersion) 

• effectiveness: 3-6 months; 

2. SINESTO -B (Finnish Chemicals O.Y. - Finland) 

• similar with 1; 

• protection of softwood against blue staining. 

3. PREVENTOL OF - PLUS (Bayer AG-Germany) 


4. ANTIBLU SELECT (Hickson- UK) 

• protection of softwood sawn timber against blue staining 

and mouldiness; (immersion and spray). 

• effectiveness: 3-6 months. 

5. RESISTOL 6210 (Hickson - UK) 

• protection of building materials; (immersion) 

• increases wood durability up to 5 times. 

6. TANALITH C 3310 (Hickson - UK) 

• protection in all situations, interior, exterior ground contact, 

intermittently or permanently wet; (pressure treatment) 

• ensure timbers long service life (up to 50-60 years).


WOOD PRESERVATIVES USED IN ROMANIA 

INDIGENOUS OTHERS 

7. ROMBAI G (INL Ro. -Bayer AG Germany) 

• antisapstain primer; it protects wood against blue staining, 

mould, decay and insect attack, termites including: (immersion, 

spry or brush treatment, pressure treatment). 


8-9. ROMBAI D 1, ROMBAI D 2 (INL Ro. - Bayer AG 

Germany); 

• preservatives and products for semitransparent finishing in 

various hues; (2 brush treatment) 

• used for prefab houses, garden furniture, etc. 

• effectiveness: about 4 years. 

10.ROMBAI EC - 10 (INL Ro. - Bayer AG) 

• used as water emulsion for logs, timber and parquetry strips 

and solutions based on organic solvents for dried timber 

(spray or brush treatment) 

• prevents wood infestation during the storage or in the use in 

the use in buildings. 

137 

FIGURE 1 (continued) 

7. SADOLIN BASE 

8. SADOLIN CLASSIC (SADOLIN Denmark) 

9. SADOLIN EXTRA 

10.SADOLIN SUPERDEC 

• protection of timber building materials; 

• preservatives and products for semitransparent finishing 

(brush or spray treatment); 

• effectiveness: about 4 years.


138 

FIGURE 2 

NATURAL DURABILITY OF THE MAIN WOOD SPECIES IN ROMANIA 

CONIFEROUS HARDWOODS 

1. ABIES ALBA MIL. 

V. Low durability 

2. PICEA ABIES (L) KARST 


3. PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. 

III. Medium durability 

4. LARIX DECIDUA MILL. 

III. Medium durability 

5. TAXUS BACCATA L. 

II. Good durability 

1. FAGUS SYLVATICA L. 


2. QUERCUS ROBUR 

I. High durability 

3. FRAXINUS EXCELSIOR L. 


4. CARPINUS BETULUS L. 

IV. Low durability 

5. ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS L. 

6. ACER PLATANOIDES L. 

IV. Low durability 

7. ROBINIA PSEUDOACCACIA L. 


8. BETULA ALBA 


9. ULMUS CARPINIFOLIA GED. 

IV. Low durability


139


XYLOPHAGUS INSECTS IN ROMANIA 

140 

FIGURE 3 

ATTACK ON HARDWOODS ATTACK ON CONIFEROUS ATTACK ON BUILDING TIMBER 

1. Xyleborus monographus L. 

(oak, occasionally beech, elm, acer) 

• fresh cut logs; 

• logs remained in the forest; 

• logs stored long time; 

• green timber (from the attacked logs; 

2. Xyloterus domesticus L. 

syn. Trypodendron domesticus Oliv. 

(oak, beech, sapwood) 


• green timber. 

3. Platypus cylindrus Fabr. 

(oak, beech, chestnut, ash) 

• logs freshly cut; 

• logs stored long time; 

• sawntimber in the store (from the 

attacked logs) 

4. Cerambyx cerdo L. 

(oak, walnut, beech) 


• logs remained in the forest 

1. Xyloterus lineatus Oliv. 

syn. Trypodendron lineatus Oliv. (spruce, 

fir, pine, larix) 

• fresh cut logs, with bark; 

• debarked wood with high moisture; 

• green timber with 50-60% MC. 

2. Tetropium castaneum L. 

syn, Tetropium fuscum F. (spruce, fir, 

pine, larix) 


• logs from weak trees. 

3. Sirex gigas L. 

(spruce, fir, pine, larix) 

4. Sirex spectrum L. 

(spruce, fir) 

5. Sirex juvencus L. 

(spruce, pine) 

• logs from weak trees 

• fresh cut timber 

• attack may continue also on timber air 

dried; 

1. Anobium sp. 

• sapwood of hardwoods but sometimes 

heartwood; 

• old furniture pieces; 

• plywood with organic glue. 

2. Xestobium rufovillosum De Geer 

• wood infested by fungi; 

• sapwood and heartwood of coniferous 

and hardwood. 

3. Lyctus sp. 

• partly dry sapwood; 

• fresh cut logs of hardwood with large 

pores: 

• wood with high starch content; 

4. Hylotrupes bajulus L. 

• sapwood of coniferous but rarely the 

heartwood (pine) 

5. Sirex gigas L. 

• fresh cut logs with or without bark.


XYLOPHAGUS INSECTS IN ROMANIA 

ATTACK ON HARDWOODS 

5. Plagionotus arcuatus L. 

(oak, beech, hornbeam) 


• logs remained in the forest long time. 

6. Xestobium rufovillosum De Geer. 

(oak, elm, chestnut) 

• dried sawntimber; 

• friezes; 

• parquetry strips. 

7. Bostrychus capucinus L. 

(oak, walnut, sometimes beech and other 

hardwoods) 

• dried wood processed; 

8. Lyctus linearis Goeze. 

(oak, specially sapwood) 

• dried timber 

• parquetry strips. 

9. Lymexylon dermestoides L. (beech) 

• logs stored in condition of high 

humidity; 

10. Lymexylon navale L. (oak) 

• logs for sawntimber production with 

20-25% MC 

141 

FIGURE 3 (continued)

WORKING GROUP 1 

"PERFORMANCE 

TRADITIONAL WOOD 

PRESERVATIVES 

SPECIFYING DURABILITY 

REQUIREMENTS 

FIELD PERFORMANCE USING SOIL 

INSECTS IN ROMANIA CLIMATICAL CONDITIONS 


STAFF PARTICIPATING 

AT WOOD PROTECTION 

IN ROMANIA 

142 

Figure 4 

WORKING GROUP 3 

"INNOVATIONS" 

APPLICATION OF MODIFIED WOOD 

HEAT TREATMENT 

ELABORATION OF PROTECTION PRODUCT ELABORATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND 

INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTICE FOR 

AGREMENTATION 

National Institute of Wood BUCHAREST: 

Dr. Chem. D. BACIU Dr. Eng. O ZELENIUC 

Dr. Biol. G. BACIU Biol. L. SFETCU 

Dr. Eng. L. ENESCU Chem. M. PRUNA 

Institute of Marine Research: 

Bioch. M. Marza 

ICAS – Research Institute for Forest Management 

Dr.eng. Stefan VLONGA 

INL Bucharest 


Ministry of Public Works and Territory Management


SLOVENIA 

by 

Prof Dr Franc Pohleven and Dr Marc Petric 

University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Dept. of Wood Science and 

Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia 

143



The only research organisation in Slovenia dealing with wood pathology and preservation 

is the Department of Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University 

of Ljubljana. So, this document offers contact information on activities of our 

Department. Additionally, activities in industrial R&D departments of Slovenian wood 

preservative industries are mentioned. Information on these activities was obtained 

through permanent contacts with personnel in the relevant industries. 


Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 

Department of Wood Science & Technology, Section of Wood Pathology and Preservation 

Dr. Franc Pohleven 

E-mail: franc.pohleven@uni-lj.si 

Web: www.bf.uni-lj.si/ (cgi-bin/slo/les/bf_new.htm?language=slo) 



• succession and interactions among wood decay fungi (antagonisms and synergisms) 

• study of copper-tolerant wood decay fungi 

• synthesis, characterisation and determination of biological activity of new copper 

and zinc carboxylate based preservatives 

• new biocides (inhibitors) 

• options for the practical application of modified wood 

Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 

Department of Wood Science & Technology, Section of Furniture 

Surface coatings group 

Assist Prof. Dr. Marko Petric 

E-mail: marko.petric@uni-lj.si 



• combined protection of wood with biocides and surface coatings (compatibility of 

surface finishes with impregnated wood, influence of coatings on biocides in 

wood and vice versa) 

• influence of surface coatings for outdoor application on moisture content in wood 

and related phenomena (staining fungi) 

• water repellents 

144

Industrial R&D Departments 



• preparation of new wood preservation formulations 

• development of water borne metal carboxylate wood preservatives 

• synthesis, characterisation and application of new boric – acid amine complexes 

• use of carbamates against blue stain fungi 

3. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY WORKING GROUP 




conditions. 

Determining bio-effective life of biocides 

• Biotransformation of copper-based preservatives by wood decay 


• Succession and interactions among wood decay fungi (national project) 

• Studies of fungal degradation of wood by measurement of CO2 and O2 concentrations 

• Enzymatic degradation of wood by white-rot fungi and the role of copper compounds 

in these processes (Austrian – Slovenian project) 

• Copper carboxylates for water-based wood preservatives (national project): 

interactions of copper-based preservatives with wood components are studied in 

order to improve performance of copper-based preservatives 



Risk assessment methods and rationale, including impact studies 

• Leaching of copper-based wood preservatives by white and brown rot fungi 


• Copper carboxylates for water-based wood preservatives (national project): 

within the scope of this project copper tolerance mechanisms are studied, with 

possible application for bioremediation of waste wood 

• Bioremediation of preservative-treated wood wastes 

145





Scale-up and exploitation of non-toxic treatments 

• Anoxic procedure for controlling biodeterioration in fine art 

• Introduction of environmentally friendly preparations for preservation of wooden 

cultural heritage objects (Slovenian - Croatian project) 


• Co-normative research on laboratory test methods for new generations of active 

ingredients in wood preservatives against wood destroying insects – project proposal 

with some European countries (initiated by BAM, Germany) 

Scale-up and exploitation of chemical modification systems 

• Wood modification, the novel base, providing materials with superior qualities 

without toxic residue – originated and co-ordinated by SHR Timber research 

(Wageningen, The Netherlands) 

• Modified wood and its compatibility with surface coatings 

New chemical wood preservatives: 

• Metal carboxylates – synthesis and characterisation 

• Systemic protection of wood with boron containing biocides and surface coatings 

• Fungal enzymatic wood decay – use of enzyme inhibitors as fungicides 

146



The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in Slovenia, 

with some of the scientific areas being the subject of current active work at our 

organisation and in cooperation with relevant research groups in Europe 

The key themes are: 

• carrying out chemical syntheses and chemical characterization of synthesized 

fungicidal compounds 

• testing the antifungal effectiveness of substances and determining bio-effective 

life of biocides and their compatibility with surface coatings 

• studying of fungal degradation of wood and selective enzymatic degradation of 

wood by white-rot fungi 

• studying of copper-tolerance of brown rot fungi and bioremediation of preservative-treated 

wood waste 

• anoxic procedure for controlling biodeterioration and introduction of 

environmentally friendly preparations for preservation of wooden cultural heritage 

objects 

• wood modification and its compatibility with surface coatings. 

5. ANNEXES 





147


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN SLOVENIA IN THE COST E22 

FIELD OF WORK AND THEIR PRINCIPAL CONTACTS 

Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana 

Department of Wood Science and Technology 

Section of Wood Pathology and Preservation 

Prof Dr Franc Pohleven 

Rožna dolina, Cesta VIII/34 

SI – 1000 Ljubljana 

Slovenia 

Tel: +386 1 423 11 61 

Fax: +386 1 423 50 35 

E-mail: franc.pohleven@uni-lj.si 


Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana 

Department of Wood Science and Technology 

Section of Furniture (Surface coatings group) 

Dr Marko Petric 

Rožna dolina, Cesta VIII/34 

SI – 1000 Ljubljana 

Slovenia 

Tel: +386 1 423 11 61, +386 1 257 22 85 

Fax: +386 1 257 22 85 

E-mail: marko.petric@uni-lj.si 


148


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Slovenia directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Department of Wood Science & 

Technology, Section of Wood 

Pathology and Preservation 

Prof Dr Franc Pohleven 

franc.pohleven@uni-lj.si 

Department of Wood Science & 

Technology Surface coatings group 

Dr Marko Petric 

marko.petric@uni-lj.si 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



149 



life 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

New chemical wood 

preservatives:


150


SPAIN 

151 

by 

Dra Maria Teresa de Troya Franco, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y 

Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria 

and Dr José Antonio Rodriguez-Barreal, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid



The research work outlined below is established basically in relation to the necessities 

of the sector, which emerge influenced by the climatic and environmental conditions 

proper to our country. 

Factors of current incidence in Spain: 

In a properly implanted industrial process, in a closed circuit, the potential toxicity 

should be in relation to the treated wood and not always to the chemical protective 

product used. 

• Certificates of wood-protecting products need to pass effectiveness assays carried 

out by authorised laboratories, following the application of the corresponding 

European Standards (EN-113, 117, 84, etc.), and tests of toxicity by the Ministry 

of Health. 

• High quality brands of wood-protecting products, processes of penetration and 

treated wood products must be obtained, so as to control the impact that they have 

on the environmental sector. 

• Increase in the industries of deep protection of wood. 

• Due to the excessive environmental exigencies that are coming into use in 

Europe, some wood-protecting companies consider that: 

- There is a decrease in the use of wood in many industrial sectors, including 

construction, in favour of other substitution materials. 

- The wood-protecting treatment is being reduced in determined sectors, with the 

subsequent decrease in the durability of the wood. 

- Some multinational companies, with R+D+I capacity, suffering from public 

controversy about wood-protecting products, have ceased to investigate and do 

not wish to participate in an economically low-profit sector. Furthermore, they 

run the risk of being accused of contaminating the environment. Consequently, 

these companies are steering their activity towards the production of “light” 

products. In most cases, this signifies lower stability in the wood and subsequently, 

greater potential in environmental (leaching) and human risk. 

- As a consequence of the situation mentioned, a certain number of small or 

medium-sized companies have abandoned their activity, which directly affects 

Society in general (loss of jobs). 

152

2. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 

Current lines of investigation: 


• Diagnosis of damage to wood structures 

- Biotic agents: Fungi: Wood rotting and sapstain fungi. 

Insects: Wood-boring insects and termites. 

- Abiotic agents: UV radiation 

Humidity. 

• Characterisation of autochthonous species of wood and their integration in the 

European Standards; 

• Study of the efficacy of chemical wood-protecting products.(European Standards); 

• Physical-mechanical tests on treated wood (destructive and non-destructive); 

• Tests concerning the influence of treated wood on the environment 

• Preventive and remedial treatments of wood. Laboratory and field experiments; 

• Studies of the durability of treated wood (increase in the average period of use); 

• Analysis of the processes of penetration of wood; 

• Chemical analysis of treated wood: 

- Environmental optimisation 

- Stability of the chemical product in the wood. 

• Minimisation of waste in the industries of wood preservation. 

Development 

• Development of less contaminating plants of industrial treatment; 

• Implantation and integration of the Standard ISO 14000 in the industrial sector; 

• Development of optimal guidelines of environmental treatment for new species of 

wood; 

• Development of new, less contaminating chemical products. 

Innovation 

• Creating awareness in industry and in end-users of treated wood for the improvement 

of the cost-efficiency ratio in its employment. 

153



1. From the aforementioned, we may conclude that in the attempt to solve a potential 

problem, a larger one has been created. For this reason, it is necessary to achieve a 

satisfactory balance between environmental quality, industrial processes and Society. 

The existing situation must be reconsidered at all levels (CEN, Biocide directives, 

etc.). 

2. On the other hand, in the last few years, an increase in treatment factories has been 

detected, which does not parallel the existing situation. This has been caused by the 

exigent environmental lines that the European Community is marking. 

4. ANNEXES 





154


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN SPAIN IN THE COST E22 FIELD 


INIA - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria 

Mrs Angeles Navarrete 

Dra Maria Teresa de Troya Franco 

Apdo. 8111 

E – 28080 Madrid 

Spain 

E-mail: ttroya@ceu.es 

ETSIM - Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes 

Dr José Antonio Rodriguez-Barreal 

Ciudad Universitaria s/n 

E - 28040 Madrid 

Spain 

Tel: +34 91 336 7103 

Fax: +34 91 543 9557 

E-mail: jabarreal@montes.upm.es 

USP - Universidad San Pablo CEU 

Dra Maria Teresa de Troya Franco 

Ctra. Boadilla del Monte Km 5,3 

Urb. Montepríncipe 

E – 28660 Boadilla del Monte (Madrid) 

Spain 

E-mail: ttroya@ceu.es 

CF. Lourizán - Centro Forestal de Lourizán 

Dr Francisco J Fernández de Ana Magán 

Lourizán (Pontevedra) 

Spain 

Fax: +34 986 856420 

CIDEMCO 

Mrs Marta Angulo 

Bº Lasao-Area Anardi Nº 5 

E – 20730 Azpeitia (Guipuzcoa) 

Spain 

E-mail: marta.angulo@cidemco.es 

155


A. Valsaín - Aserradero de Valsain (Mª del Medio Ambiente) 

Mr Adolfo Rueda 

Primera 11. La Pradera de Navalhorno 

E – 40109 Valsain (Segovia) 

Spain 

Fax: +34 921 471286 

CIS Madera 

Parque Tecnológico de Galicia 

Mr Manuel Touza 

San Cibrao das Viñas 

E – 32901 Ourense 

Spain 

E-mail: info@cismadera.com 

XYLAZEL 

Mr René Petit 

Apdo. 91, Gándaras de Prado s/n 

E – 36400 Porriño (Pontevedra) 

Spain 

E-mail: servitecnico@xylazel.com 

QUIMUNSA - Química de Munguía S.A. 

Mr Oscar Arestizabal 

Zabalondo 44 

E – 48100 Munguia (Vizcaya) 

Spain 

E-mail: info@quimunsa.com 

IMPREGNA 

Mr Roberto García-Lozano 

Marqués de Cubas23 

E – 28014 Madrid 

Spain 

Fax: +34 1 4293767 

CONALSA 

Mr. Jaime Alcázer 

Avda. del Petroleo 22 

Polígono Industrial San José de Valderas 

E – 28918 Leganés (Madrid) 

Spain 

E-mail: direccion@conalsa.com 

156


Molduras - Molduras del Noroeste 

Mr César García-Porto 

La Barcala 10, 

E – 15660 Cambre (La Coruña) 

Spain 

E-mail: info@grupomolduras.com 

OLMAR 

Mr. José Manuel Sobral 

ANEPROMA - Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Protección de Maderas 

Note: Assess in all the aspects all the wood preservation industries. 

157


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Spain directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

INIA 

Mrs Angeles Navarrete 

Dr Teresa de Troya 

ttroya@ceu.es 

Activity 

ETSIM 

Dr José A Rodriguez-Barreal 

jabarreal@montes.upm.es 

USP 

Dr Teresa de Troya 

ttroya@ceu.es 

Centro Forestal de Lourizán 

Dr Francisco J Fernández de Ana 

Magán 

CIDEMCO 

Mrs Marta Angulo 

marta.angulo@cidemco.es 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



158 



life 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 

 

 

 

 

Aserradero de Valsain 

Mr Adolfo Rueda 

CIS-Madera 

Mr Manuel Touza 

info@cismadera.com 

 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Spain directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 (continued) 

Institute 

C.t. Madera 

Xylazel 

Mr René Petit 

Activity 

servitecnico@xylazel.com 

traditional 


 


requirements 




products 


using soil 



159 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 

Impregna 

Mr Roberto García-Lozano 

Química de Munguía S.A. 

Mr Oscar Arestizabal 

info@quimunsa.com 

Conalsa 

Mr Jaime Alcázer 

direccion@conalsa.com 

Molduras del Noroeste 

Mr César García-Porto 

info@grupomolduras.com 

 

 

 

Olmar 

Mr José Manuel Sobral 

Asociación Nacional de Empresas 

de Protección de Maderas 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

Other


160


SWEDEN 

161 

by 

Mr Jöran Jermer 

SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute



Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) 

Prof Dr Thomas Nilsson 

SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute 


Chalmers University of Technology (CTH) 

(Prof Rune Simonson) 

Dr Mats Westin 

Trätek – Swedish Institute for Wood Technology Research 

Mr Ralph Nussbaum 

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) 

Prof Kai Ödeen 

Swedish Wood Preservation Institute 

Mr Magnus Estberg 


The main themes of research (structured according to COST E22 structure) currently 

active in Sweden are: 




conditions. 

Field tests (SLU) 

The durability of treated and untreated stakes and poles are tested in terrestrial fields 

since 1943. The main field is situated in the southern part of Sweden, in Simlångsdalen, 

where nearly 90 preservatives have been tested and where approximately 6000 stakes 

are now under test. The main hazard in this field is brown rot and soft rot. Terrestrial 

field tests are also carried out in Uppsala, where around 600 stakes are under test and 

where the main hazard is soft rot and tunnelling bacteria. Above ground tests, L-joint 

and lap joint, are also carried out in Uppsala. Treated wood is tested in the marine environment 

in Kristineberg on the Swedish west coast. 

162

Contact person(s): 


Dr Östen Bergman, Dr Marie-Louise Edlund, Prof Thomas Nilsson, Prof Geoffrey 

Daniel 

E-mail: osten.bergman@trv.slu.se; marie-louise.edlund@trv.slu.se; 

thomas.nilsson@trv.slu.se; geoffrey.daniel@trv.slu.se 

Performance of chromium and arsenic free preservatives (SLU) 

The performance of some new chromium- and arsenic free preservatives during natural 

weathering is studied within a Nordic Wood project. Stakes are analysed chemically 

before and after exposure and they will also be submitted to decay tests with pure cultures 

of brown and white rot fungi before and after exposure. 

The penetration and distribution of some new chromium and arsenic free preservatives 

in the wood are studied within the same Nordic Wood project. Wood dried according to 

different procedures are treated with three different preservatives and the distribution of 

preservatives is analysed. After impregnation the wood is dried again according to different 

procedures and analyses of preservative distribution is carried out. 


Dr Marie-Louise Edlund; Dr Nasko Terziev 

E-mail: marie-louise.edlund@trv.slu.se; Nasko.Terziev@trv.slu.se 

Performance of chromium and arsenic free preservatives (SP) 

The use of chromium and arsenic free preservatives has increased and dominate the 

Swedish market for commodities above ground (EN 335 hazard class 3; Nordic wood 

preservation class AB) since 1994. As the knowledge of the performance of these preservatives 

is limited, a field trial was set up in 1996 in order to get more information 

about the durability of treated wood above ground and in ground, discolouration by 

staining fungi, leaching and corrosion on fasteners in contact with the treated wood. 

The following wood preservatives are tested: Basilit Bauholz KVD, Impralit KDS, 

Kemwood ACQ 1900, Tanalith E, Wolmanit CX-S, Wolmanit CX-8 as well as CCA as 

reference material. Untreated spruce and heartwood of pine and larch are also included 

in the trial. In addition to testing according to EN 252 and ENV 12037 (lap-joint), both 

somewhat modified, testing is also carried out to methods specially designed for this 

trial. 


Mr Ingvar Johansson 

E-mail: ingvar.johansson@sp.se 

163


Deterioration of wood – a long term test of a traffic sound barrier (KTH) 

Along a rapid train track from downtown Stockholm to Arlanda airport sound barriers 

have been built. The total length is about 11 km and the main part is made of larch 

wood. Ten sections - four meters each - are made of other wood species with and without 

treatments. These sections and the adjacent larch section were carefully documented 

as regards wood quality parameters and treatment. They have now been exposed for 

almost three years and some deterioration can be expected. Microscopic and chemical 

analyses will now be performed and the deterioration will be continuously followed 

during several years. The aim is primarily to compare larch with other species in this 

application. Furthermore the case could be used for methodological studies e.g. related 

to the project “Environmental impact from building materials as influenced by durability 

and service life”. 

The project is performed in co-operation with the Swedish University of Agricultural 

Sciences and the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute. 


Prof. Kai Ödeen 

E-mail: kai@bim.kth.se 

Evaluation of wood preservation according to EN 351 (SP) 

Since 1998 industrial wood preservation in the Nordic countries is carried out according 

to the European standards EN 351 and EN 599. In a project with participating institutes 

from all Nordic countries the experiences so far with the new treatment specifications 

will be evaluated. The evaluation will focus on the following issues: 

• The quality requirements: are they reasonable? 

• The factory production control; 

• Third party inspections (interpretation of guidelines of sampling, chemical analysis 

etc); 

• Comparison with the previous standards and requirements. 

Experiences from the wood preserving industry and certification bodies will be collected 

and considered. A report is expected during 2001. 



E-mail: joran.jermer@sp.se 

164


Requirements/expectations on wood durability (SP) 

The aim of this project is to get an idea of specifier/consumer requirements/expectations 

on the service life/durability of various wood constructions (outdoor). The project is 

carried out in three parts: 

• a literature survey concerning official and other requirements/recommendations/ 

information 

• an enquiry to home owners 

• an enquiry to specifiers, building contractors and similar professionals. 

A report is expected towards the end of 2000. 




Termite and decay resistance of modified wood in tropical climate (CTH) 

Lab tests (subterranean termites, drywood termites, white rot and brown rot fungi) and 

field tests (in Bogor and Bandung on Java, Indonesia) of acetylated and furfuryl alcohol 

modified wood (Pinus sylvestris sapwood, sapwood of Agathis sp. and Paraserianthes 

falcataria). For Pinus also melamin treatment and three other modification methods are 

included. 



E-mail: mats.westin@sikt.chalmers.se 

Penetrating water-repellents for external joinery (Trätek) 

The aim of this project is to improve the penetrability of existing products with water 

repellent properties, such as vegetabilic oils and tall oil, in order to make them suitable 

for treatment of external joinery. 


Dr Finn Englund 

E-mail: Finn.Englund@tratek.se 

165




Waste wood – inventory of contaminants (SP) 

Waste wood is presently used as fuel in power plants in Sweden. Decisive for the use of 

waste wood as fuel is to what extent it is contaminated with wood preservatives, paint, 

plastics (PVC), metals (e.g. fasteners) etc. Some contaminants constitute a problem 

from a mechanical point of view, e.g. glass, nails and screws, whereas other contaminants 

can cause fouling and corrosion of the incinerators. Heavy metals in preservativetreated 

and painted wood, such as lead, zinc, copper and chromium as well as arsenic, 

can cause environmental problems (emissions) if not properly controlled. 

SP is presently carrying out a survey of possible contaminants in waste wood of mainly 

Swedish origin. As considerable amounts are imported from Germany, The Netherlands 

and Baltic states the survey has been extended to these countries as well. The main difference 

between waste wood of Swedish origin and imported waste wood is expected to 

be the potential contents of residues from wood preservatives. The survey will be completed 

towards the end of 2000. 




Environmental impact from building materials as influenced by durability and service 

life (KTH) 

It is today widely adopted that an environmental assessment of building materials must 

take into account the entire life cycle ”from cradle to grave”. In many cases measures 

are taken in the production phase which may lead to undesired impact on the environment 

but which on the other hand increase the durability and service life significantly. 

One example is the treatment of wood with chemicals of different types. Other examples 

are zinc or plastic coated steel and concrete with increased cement content or with 

additives. The project aims to a systematic study of the environmental impact of treatments 

in the production phase in a service life perspective. It contains one methodological 

part and a number of applications. One of these is treated wood and a case under 

focus may be the project “Deterioration of wood - a case study of a traffic sound barrier”. 

The project is in its initial stage performed in co-operation with the Swedish 

Institute for Wood Technological Research and the Swedish University of Agricultural 

Sciences. Later on the intention is to include the cement and steel industries in the project. 

166


Prof. Kai Ödeen 



“Wood Pole”- Creosote treated poles (SLU) 

This EU-project has the aim to develop procedures to treat poles by creosote to relevant 

retention levels without bleeding. 


Dr Östen Bergman 

E-mail: Osten.Bergman@trv.slu.se 

Environmental declarations for preservative-treated wood (STI) 

The aim of this project is to prepare environmental declarations for preservative-treated 

wood (with different preservatives) which comply with an agreed format for building 

materials. 



E-mail: sw.woodpreservation.institute@stockholm.mail.telia.com 




“Chemowood” - Process development and technological evaluation of final products 

based on new methods for chemical modification of solid wood (CTH). 

Chemowood in an EU-project with the aim to study five methods for chemical 

“modification” of wood. The following agents for wood modification are included: 

NMA, Succinic anhydride, UZA (also called LBA, linseed based anhydride), MG-solution 

and furfuryl alcohol. 

Chalmers role in the project is: 

A. Process development of wood modification with furfuryl alcohol 

B. Part of the biological testing (in collaboration with the Swedish University of 

Agricultural Sciences) of wood modified with all 5 types of modification. 

C. Mechanical and dimensional stability testing of wood modified with all 5 types of 

modification. 

167


D. Production and evaluation of the following target products: Parquet flooring, boat 

decking, floating boat bridges, doorframes and exterior furniture. 

E. Life cycle assessment studies (with subcontractor). 

Part B includes 1) Marine field test, 2) Pure culture testing with Postia placenta and 

Coriolus versicolor with wood at three levels of modification and 3) TMC testing in 

three soil types and three levels of modification. 

Part C includes bending tests (E-modulus, MOR and shear modulus), acoustic Emodulus 

measurements, ASE testing, linear expansion measurements (RH30->RH90), 

impact strength testing, hardness testing and Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analyses 

(DMTA) testing. 

Part C is linked to the project “Chemically modified timber products with predictable 

engineering performance” (see below) in which mainly four methods of wood modification 

are evaluated: acetylation, heat treatment, melamine resin treatment and furfuryl 

alcohol resin treatment. In the first step of this project acetylation, melamine resin and 

heat treatment is used for the same wood material as part C in the Chemowood project 

and tested parallel to the specimens from the Chemowood project. 




Chemically modified timber products with predictable engineering performance (CTH) 

The main objective of the project is to study the performance of timber products made 

of modified wood and with the knowledge of the performance identify suitable endproducts 

for each modification type. Other objectives are: 

• to verify that suitable levels of modification have been reached 

• to evaluate the possibilities to upgrade ”low-quality” wood material from for 

example fast-grown trees or material cut close to the pith of the tree 

• to study the effect of modification level upon the different mechanical properties 

• to propose a specific modification method (and level) for a well-defined endproduct. 

The project will be focussed on four modification methods: 

1. Acetylation - one level of modification 

2. Heat treatment - two levels 

3. Modification with furfuryl alcohol - two levels 

4. Treatment with melamine resin - two levels 

168


The project will consist of mainly three parts: 

• Measurement of basic material properties of modified wood 

• Full-scale tests on products made of modified wood 

• Evaluation of the predictable engineering performance 




Thematic network on wood modification (CTH) 

A network formed in order to bring together all European expertise within the research 

field and to promote dissemination of results to the European industry and to the public. 

Contact person(s): 

Prof Rune Simonson; Dr Mats Westin 

E-mail: rsimon@sikt.chalmers.se; mats.westin@sikt.chalmers.se 

A new generation of water-repellents (Trätek) 

This project involves a new approach of studying water repellent properties based on 

the substances’ hydrophobic and hydrophilic interaction with the cell wall. Autoradiography 

is used to study how the different potential water repellent substances penetrate 

the cell wall. 



E-mail: Ralph.Nussbaum@tratek.se 

3. ANNEXES 





169


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN SWEDEN IN THE COST E22 


Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) 

Dept of Wood Science 


Box 7008 

SE - 75007 Uppsala 

Sweden 

Tel: +46 18 67 24 81 

Fax: +46 18 67 34 89 

E-mail: thomas.nilsson@trv.slu.se 

Web: www.slu.se 

SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute 

Dept of Building Technology 


Box 857 

SE - 50115 Borås 

Sweden 

Tel: +46 33 16 56 03, +46 8 10 14 53 

Fax: +46 33 13 45 16, +46 8 10 80 81 


Web: www.sp.se 

Chalmers University of Technology (CTH) 

Dept of Forest Products and Chemical Engineering 

Prof Rune Simonson 

SE - 41296 Göteborg 

Sweden 

Tel: +46 31 772 29 91 

Fax: +46 31 772 29 95 

E-mail: rsimon@sikt.chalmers.se 


Tel: +46 31 772 29 91 

Fax: +46 31 772 29 95 


Web: www.che.chalmers.se/inst/sikt 

170


Trätek – Swedish Institute for Wood Technology Research 


Box 5609 

SE - 11486 Stockholm 

Sweden 

Tel: +46 8 762 18 52 

Fax: +46 8 762 18 01 

E-mail: ralph.nussbaum@tratek.se 

Web: www.tratek.se 

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) 

Dept of Building Sciences 

Prof Dr Kai Ödeen 

SE - 100 44 Stockholm 

Sweden 

Tel: +46 8 790 86 80 

Fax: +46 8 411 84 32 


Web: www.kth.se 



Box 5673 

SE - 114 86 Stockholm 

Sweden 

Tel: +46 8 791 23 57 

Fax: +46 8 791 22 15 

E-mail: sw.woodpreservation.institute@stockholm.mail.telia.com 

Web: www.ntr-nwpc.com 

171


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Sweden directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Swedish Univ of Agricultural 

Sciences 


thomas.nilsson@trv.slu.se 

Swedish National Testing and 

Research Institute 


joran.jermer@sp.se 

Chalmers University of Technology 

Prof Rune Simonson 


rsimon@sikt.chalmers.se 

Trätek – Swedish Institute for Wood 

Technology Research 


ralph.nussbaum@tratek.se 

Royal Institute of Technology 

Prof Kai Ödeen 

kai@bim.kth.se 



sw.woodpreservation.institute@stockh 

olm.mail.telia.com 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



172 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 

 


wood 

 

 

 

 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


THE NETHERLANDS 

173 

by 

Mr Waldemar Homan 

SHR Hout Research (SHR)



Invitations were sent out to three research organisations and universities in the Netherlands 

to ask for their contributions to this state of the art document. All three of them 

replied and this document is based on those responses including the contribution from 

SHR. 

This document is structured to offer contact information for those participants and an 

introduction to their principal interests and research expertise within the scope of the 

COST Action E22. The second section within this report gives more detail on specific 

activities related to the three working groups within the COST Action E22 (Annex 2). 

Finally the report summarises and concludes on the state of the art in the Netherlands. 


TNO Building and Construction Research (TNO) 

Timber Applications 

Dr. Angelika Voss 


• Biology of wood protection 

• Remedial treatments against insects 

• Life cycle assessment of wood products 

• Wood waste management 


• Heat treatment 

• Non-biocidal treatments 

• Chemical wood modification 

Wageningen University and Research centre (WUR) 



• Biology of wood protection 

• Mechanisms of fungal attack 

• Mechanisms of bacterial attack 

174

SHR Hout Research (SHR) 

Waldemar Homan 



• Thermal modification of wood 

• Chemical modification of wood 

• Non biocidal treatments 

• Environmental impact assessment 


The activities of each participant are presented her classified according to the respective 

scientific areas defined in the Memorandum of Understanding of COST Action E22. 




conditions. 


• Analytical methods for wood preservatives (TNO) 


• Cost climate index (European Fact project), predicting deterioration (TNO, SHR). 


• Laboratory and field test methods for efficacy predictions in HC 3 (SHR, TNO, 

WUR) 

• TMC and stake test comparisons (HC 4) (WUR, SHR) 


• Microbiological studies associated with developing realistic end use tests foe HC 

3 using unpainted lap-joints (TNO, SHR) 

175





• Modelling of flux in time functions (SHR) 

• Modelling receiving compartments (SHR) 

• Measuring flux in fresh water conditions (SHR, TNO) 

• Risk assessment approach (TNO) 

• LCA of preservative treated wood (TNO) 

• LCA of chemically modified wood (SHR) 


• Activities by commercial companies (no research directly related to wood 

preservation) 


• Waste wood as biofuel (SHR) 

• Rapid detection methods for waste wood (SHR, TNO) 

• Cascade use of wood (TNO) 




Scale up and exploitation of non-toxic treatments 

• Exploratory award (CRAFT) OILWOOD project (SHR) 

• Water repellents as wood preservative for HC 3 (WUR) 

• Multifunctional treatment for HC3 applications (fire retardant and wood preservative 

functions) (TNO) 

• Modification of wood with non-toxic inorganic agent (TNO) 

Scale-up and exploitations of chemical modification systems 

• Pilot plant for acetylation (AKBV) (SHR) 

• Oils and fatty acids with added anhydride functionality (SHR) 

• Process development for DMDHEU treatments (SHR) 

• Material research PLATO treated wood (SHR) 

• Scaling up of one and two step thermal treatments (SHR) 

• Performance of heat treated wood (TNO) 

Others 

• Investigation of new remediation techniques without chemical agents against 

insects (TNO) 

176



The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in the 

Netherlands with many of the scientific areas being the subject of current active word at 

the different organisations. 


• Risk assessment in a broad sense of “traditional” wood preservation systems 

• Scaling up of thermal modifications systems 

• Scaling up of chemical modifications systems 

5. ANNEXES 





177


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS IN THE 

COST E22 FIELD OF WORK AND THEIR PRINCIPLE 

CONTACTS 

TNO-Building and Construction Research 

Timber Applications 

Dr Angelika Voss 

Lange Kleiweg 5 

PO Box 49 

NL – 2600 AA Delft 

The Netherlands 

Tel: +31 15 2842143 

Fax: +31 15 2843979 

E-mail: a.voss@bouw.tno.nl 

Web: www.bouw.tno.nl/cht_international 

Wood science group 

Department of Forestry 

Wageningen University and Research centre 

Prof Dr Holger Militz* 

Droevendaalsesteeg 3a 

PO Box 342 

NL – 6700 AH Wageningen 


Tel: +31 31 7478051 

Fax: +31 31 7478078 

E-mail: holger.militz@hk.bosb.wau.nl 

* in Germany (cf Germany): 

Institute of Wood Biology and Technology 

Büsgenweg 4 

D - 37077 Göttingen 

Germany 

Tel: +49 551 393541 

Fax: +49 551 393543 


178

SHR Timber Research 

Section Wood Technology 

Waldemar Homan 

Wildekamp 1c 

PO Box 497 

NL – 6700 AL Wageningen 


Tel: +31 31 7425422 

Fax: +31 31 7425783 

E-mail: w.homan@shr.nl 

Web: www.shr.nl 


179


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in the Netherlands directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

SHR Timber Research, Section 

Wood technology 

Mr Waldemar Homan 

w.homan@shr.nl 

TNO-Building and Construction 

Research 

Dr Angelika Voss 

a.voss@bouw.tno.nl 

Wageningen University and 

Research Centre 


holger.militz@hk.bosb.wau.nl 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



180 



life 

 

 

 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


UNITED KINGDOM 

by 

Mr Ed. D Suttie 

Centre for Timber Technology and Construction, BRE 

Garston, Watford, UK 

181



Invitations were sent out to nine research organisations and universities in the United 

Kingdom to ask for their contributions to this state of the art document. Six organisations 

replied and this document is based on those responses together with the contribution 

from BRE. 

This document is structured to offer contact information for those participants and an 

introduction to their principal interests and research expertise within the scope of the 


activities related to the three working groups within the COST Action E22 (Annex 2). 

Finally the report summarises and concludes on the state of the art in the United Kingdom. 


Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine (IC) 


Dr David Dickinson 

E-mail: d.dickinson@ic.ac.uk 

Web: www.ic.ac.uk 



• soil testing and soil microbiology 

• vapour phase technology and boron based preservatives 



• life cycle assessment of wood products 

University of Wales, Bangor (UWB) 


Dr Callum Hill 

E-mail: c.a.s.hill@bangor.ac.uk 

Web: www.bangor.ac.uk 

182



• chemical modification and heat treatment of wood 

• development of materials and industrial feedstock from renewable sources 

• wood pore topography 

• imparting toughness to lignocellulosic reinforced thermoplastic matrix composites 

• innovative wood chemistry and materials technology 

BioComposites Centre (BC) 1 


Dr Jamie Hague 

E-mail: jamie.hague@bangor.ac.uk 

Web: www.bc.bangor.ac.uk 


• innovative wood based and non-wood based board materials 

• non-wood feedstock from renewable sources 

• resin characterisation and technology 

• emissions during particleboard manufacture 

• adhesive distribution and performance 

• polysaccharide chemistry 

1 based on information from third party sources and the Centre's website 

University of Portsmouth (UP) 


Dr Rod Eaton 

E-mail: rod.eaton@port.ac.uk 

Web: www.port.ac.uk 


• marine timber durability 

• CCA leaching in seawater and its impact on fouling organisms 

• sapstain prevention in felled logs and sawn timber 

183


University of Abertay Dundee (UAD) 


Dr Alan Bruce 

E-mail: a.bruce@tay.ac.uk 

Web: www.abertay.ac.uk 


• biological control of basidiomycetes 

• timber permeability enhancement 



BRE Centre for Timber Technology and Construction (BRE) 


Mr Ed Suttie 

E-mail: suttieE@bre.co.uk 

Web: www.bre.co.uk 


• development and application of novel approaches for improving durability of 

wood and components 

• surface stabilisation of wood products 

• life cycle assessments and 'whole life costs' of wood products 

• wood waste management 

• climate index, classifying and predicting risk of deterioration (fungal and insect) 

• decay processes and preservative performance 

• preventing attack by wood destroying insects 

• blue stain and mould growth on coated wood surfaces 

• IGR termite and wood borer control 

• climate change and insect distribution 

• developing test methods for non-conventional active ingredients 

• classifying hazards and guidance in specifying 'fit for purpose' durability 

• natural biocidal products and systems 

184


Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College (BCUC) 


Dr Andrew Pitman 

E-mail: apitma01@bcuc.ac.uk 

Web: www.bcuc.ac.uk 


• insect distribution in relation to climate modelling 

• micro-distribution of preservatives and efficacy 

• natural biocides 

• remediation technologies 

• laboratory scale modification systems 




E22. 




conditions. 


• COST climate index (European FACT project), predicting deterioration (BRE, 

IC) 

• UK programme for monitoring the distribution of Hylotrupes bajulus (BRE). 

• Wood boring insect distribution and the use of climate change models to predict 

potential for insect re-distribution in the UK (BRE, BCUC). 


• Soft rot and soil microbiology and durability requirements (IC, BRE). 

• Physical factors including chemical degradation of active ingredients and the loss 

of effectiveness of wood preservatives (BRE). 

• Laboratory and field test methods for efficacy prediction (BRE, IC). 

185


Improved guidance in durability performance 

• Using laboratory and field data to inform the specification of timber durability 

(BRE). 

• Development and application of performance standards (BRE, IC). 


• Topology of the wood cell wall, pore structure, mode of action and improved performance 

of wood preservatives (UWB). 

• Improvements in efficacy of specific preservatives through altering their microdistribution 

in the wood-cell wall (BCUC). 

• Defining the appropriate amount of creosote required to be effective in commodities 

(European "Woodpole" project) by more precise derivation of the critical 

values (IC, BRE). 

Determining bio-effective life of biocides 

• Biotransformation of creosote (European "Woodpole" project) (IC, BRE) 

• Biotransformation of wood preservatives in out of ground tests (European FACT 

project) (IC). 

• Use of soil beds to determining bio-effective life (BRE. IC). 


• Microbiological studies associated with developing realistic end use tests for 

EHC3 using unpainted lap-joints (IC, BRE). 




• Protective effectiveness of polypropylene liners for use in ground contact with 

timbers. Novel systems for limiting losses of wood preservatives to the environment 

and the impact of the chemicals lost (UAD). 

• Loss of preservatives into the marine environment (UP, IC); losses due to leaching 

and evaporation (BRE). 

• Aerial concentrations of remedial preservative treatments and guidance on reentry 

times (BRE). 

• Biodegradation of anti-sapstain chemicals in waste streams (IC). 

• Biotransformation of preservatives during exposure (IC, BRE). 

• Rationale behind the development of risk assessments for treated timber in service 

(BRE, IC). 


• Mechanisms of copper tolerance by brown rot fungi (BCUC). 

• Development of a sustainable waste disposal system for treated wood waste 

through bioremediation, biocompaction and bioconversion (BCUC). 

186



• Environmental profiling of construction products and commodities "Green Guide 

to specification" (BRE). 

• LCA studies for wooden windows and creosote poles (IC). 

• LCA and WLC work on windows and others timber commodities (BRE). 

• Wood waste as a feedstock for panel products (BC, BRE). 




Scale-up and exploitation of non-toxic treatments 

• Fungal pre-treatments to alter physical characteristics of wood, including a patented 

technology being developed to treat spruce (UAD). 

• Development of appropriate test methodology for evaluating and predicting the 

performance of non-conventional treatments (BRE). 

• Resin technology and polysaccharide chemistry (BC). 

• Chemical treatments using novel polymer/biocide wood treatments and novel surface 

biocide treatments (UAD). 

Physiological inhibitors/attractants/Insect growth regulators 

• New methods of using insect growth regulators for termite control (BRE). 

Scale-up and exploitation of chemical modification systems 

• Long-term research in chemical modification and the potential of other reactions 

to modify wood (UWB). 

• Heat treated wood in the marine environment (UP). 

• Kinetics of modification reactions and the topology of wood pore structure 

modelling (UWB). 

• Optimal thermal treatment of wood to enhance durability without significantly 

affecting mechanical properties (UWB). 

• Laboratory-scale chemical and heat modification of wood to improve decay resistance 

(BCUC). 

• Development of appropriate test methods for evaluating and predicting the 

performance of chemically modified wood (BRE). 

'Natural' biocidal products and systems 

• Biological control of timber decay and sapstain through the mechanisms of action 

of Trichoderma spp. (UAD). 

• 'Natural' products from durable timber species and role of extractives in conferring 

durability to timber (BRE). 

• Role of extractives in conferring natural durability to lesser-utilised South American 

and West African timbers (BCUC). 

187



The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and interest in the 

United Kingdom with many of the scientific areas being the subject of current active 

work at the different organisations. 


• effective and reliable prediction of in-service performance of components 


• facilitating the uptake of environmentally improved products and technologies 

• determining the environmental risk associated with treated timber commodities in 

service 

• providing improved guidance and practical tools for defining and specifying 

appropriate levels of durability in wood and wood components 

5. ANNEXES 


with details of their contact persons and co-ordinates. 



188


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE 

COST E22 FIELD OF WORK AND THEIR PRINCIPLE 

CONTACTS 

Department of Biology 

Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine 


Sir Alexander Fleming Building 

Imperial College Road 

GB - London SW7 2AZ 

United Kingdom 

Tel: +44 207 594 5391 

Fax: +44 207 594 5390 

E-mail: d.dickinson@ic.ac.uk 

Web: www.ic.ac.uk 

School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences 

University of Wales 


Bangor 

GB - Gwynedd LL57 2UW 


Tel: +44 1248 382449 

Fax: +44 1248 354997 

E-mail: c.a.s.hill@bangor.ac.uk 

Web: www.bangor.ac.uk 

BioComposites Centre 

University of Wales 


Bangor 

GB - Gwynedd LL57 2UW 


Tel: +44 1248 370588 

Fax: +44 1248 370594 

E-mail: jamie.hague@bangor.ac.uk 

Web: www.bc.bangor.ac.uk 

189

School of Biological Sciences 

Institute of Marine Sciences 

University of Portsmouth 

Dr Rod Eaton 

Ferry Road 

Eastney 

GB - Hampshire PO4 9LY 


Tel: +44 23 92845799 

Fax: +44 23 92845800 

E-mail: rod.eaton@port.ac.uk 

Web: www.port.ac.uk 


School of Science and Engineering 

Scottish Institute of Wood Technology (SIWT) 

University of Abertay Dundee 

Dr Alan Bruce 

Bell Street 

GB - Dundee DD1 1HG 


Tel: +44 1382 308657 

Fax: +44 1382 308663 

E-mail: a.bruce@tay.ac.uk 

Web: www.abertay.ac.uk 

Centre for Timber Technology & Construction (CTTC) - BRE 

Mr Ed Suttie 

Bucknalls Lane 

Garston 

GB - Watford WD2 7JR 

Tel: +44 1923 664158 

Fax: +44 1923 664785 

E-mail: suttieE@bre.co.uk 

Web: www.bre.co.uk 

Forest Products Research Centre 

Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College 

Dr Andrew Pitman 

Queen Alexandra Road 

GB - High Wycombe HP11 2JZ 


Tel: +44 1494 522141 

Fax: +44 1494 524392 

E-mail: apitma01@bcuc.ac.uk 

Web: www.bcuc.ac.uk 

190


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in the UK directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

BRE, Centre for Timber Technology 

& Construction 

Mr Ed Suttie 

suttieE@bre.co.uk 

Imperial College 


d.dickinson@ic.ac.uk 

University of Abertay Dundee 

Dr Alan Bruce 

a.bruce@tay.ac.uk 

Buckinghamshire CU College 

Dr Andy Pitman 

apitma01@bcuc.ac.uk 

University of Wales, Bangor 


c.a.s.hill@bangor.ac.uk 

Bio Composites Centre 


jeremy.tomkinson@bangor.ac.uk 

University of Portsmouth 

Dr Rod Eaton 

rod.eaton@port.ac.uk 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



191 


 


life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 

 

 


wood 

 

 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


192


SUPPLEMENT 

193


194


ITALY 

by 

Ms Francesca Martena 

Istituto per La Ricerca sul Legno (I.R.L) 

195


1.1 Wood production in Italy 


The Italian territorial surface is covered by 6.782.100 ha of forest and productive 

woodlands (data source: Istat 1995, Central Institute for Statistics). Italian forests have a 

prominent role in the protection of sensitive soils, the conservation of natural habitats 

and landscape enhancement, although they supply only 20% of the wood consumed in 

Italy. Hardwood species, (beech, oak and chestnut) are prevalent, covering approximately 

80% of woodlands, while conifers (pines, spruce and larch) are dominant on the 

alpine region only. 

Italy imports 5.300.000 m 3 of wood, mainly tropical hardwood from Asia and Africa 

and conifers from Germany, Austria, France and Eastern Europe. Although the Italian 

forest production is very limited, the Italian wood industry is highly developed. The 

wood sector is one of the strongest sectors of the Italian economy and traditionally adds 

positive figures to the national trade balance – importing raw materials and exporting 

wood final products – with 90.000 wood industries that employ 500.000 people (data 

source: Federlegno-Arredo, Italian Association of Wood and Furniture Industry). 

1.2 Use of treated wood in Italy 

In Italy treated wood is mainly used for the production of telecom poles, railway sleepers, 

street furniture, guard rails, noise protections barriers, palisades and fences in horticulture 

and landscaping. Its use as structural timber cannot be considered significant at a 

national level. 

At present in Italy there are 4 impregnating companies, using vacuum/pressure plants 

(Table 3) which currently meet the national demand for the production of telecom poles 

and railway sleepers. As for the other aforementioned products, there are an undetermined 

number of companies. The Italian demand for treated wood for these products is 

high, and it is therefore imported and then assembled in Italy. 

This data on Italy gives only a general outlook on the current situation of treated wood. 

The Italian treated wood industries have a such size that they escape statistical control. 

There is an Italian company that is developing a boron impregnation plant. 

Table 3: Impregnation of wood in Italy 

N° companies 

N° vacuum/ 

pressure 

plants 

4 10 

production 

(to) 

40.000 pinus 

7.000 oak 

196 

species use preservatives 

Telecom 

poles 

Railways 

sleepers 

CS-X, 

CCA 

Creosote



In Italy the main actors on wood research are the Forestry Universities, two Institutes 

belonging to the National Council of Research (CNR) - the Wood Research Institute in 

Florence and the Wood Technology Institute in San Michele all'Adige (TN) – an institute 

belonging to the Ministry for the Agricultural and Environmental Resources – the 

Poplar Research Institute in Casale Monferrato (TO) – and a private Institute of Certification 

–Catas (UD). 

Research in the field of wood preservation has been mainly carried out by the Biodegradation 

and Preservation Laboratory which is part of the Wood Research Institute and 

has been led until now by Ms Anna Gambetta. 

A list of the institutes involved on wood research are listed at the end of this report. 

These Institutes are mainly on wood technology, but the contacts could refer to other 

researchers which carried out activities related to the COST Action E 22. 

The Institute is involved in national and international projects related to the diagnosis 

and restoration of Ancient wood and disinfestation of wood by microwaves and by 

modified atmosphere. 

Studies are currently being carried out on wood species with good technical features and 

high natural durability to be used in the production of street furniture and noise protections 

barriers in order to reduce the impact on the environment. 

Istituto per La Ricerca sul Legno (I.R.L) 


Email: legno@mailbox.irl.fi.cnr.it 


Biodegradation and Preservation Lab: temporarily led by Dr. Francesca Martena 

• Field tests on Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) to control subterranean termites 

• Study on modified fraction of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) as wood 

preservatives out ground contact 

• Tests on new fungicidal formulations more environmental-friendly than those 

traditionally used (tests carried out on sapstain fungi, brown and white rot) 

• Tests on biocides loss after laboratory ageing procedures 

• Studies on natural durability of native and foreign species against fungi and 

marine borers 

• Studies on natural durability of native species against insects 

• Fungi and Insects control in ancient buildings 

• Lyctidae control in sawmill using boron impregnation 

Dr. Giuseppe Staccioli 

Email: legno@mailbox.irl.fi.cnr.it 

Chemical Characterisation Lab: 

• Chemical characterisation of wood attacked by Insects 


197



In this section the research themes carried out by researchers in the Institute are associated 

with the topics listed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of COST 

Action E22. 




conditions. 


Biodegradation and Preservation Lab 

• Fungi and insects control in ancient buildings 

• Preservatives effectiveness: tests against insects and fungi 

• Evaluation of biocides loss after ageing procedures 

• Lyctidae control in sawmill using boron impregnation 

Chemical Characterisation Lab 



Biodegradation and preservation Lab 

• Durability of Larix decidua from different region in Italy 

• Durability of Robinia 

• Durability of Douglas 

• Durability of native and foreign species against fungi and marine borers 

• Durability of native species against insects 

• Preservatives effectiveness tests against insects and fungi 



• Chemical characterisation of wood attacked by insects 


198





Biodegradation and Preservation Lab 











Biodegradation and preservation Lab 

• Field tests on Insect growth regulator (IGR) to control subterranean termites 


In Italy at present there is a strong trend, as to the past, to use wood for external use. 

The Italian participation to the Cost Action E22 is of considerable importance for the 

following themes: 

• studies on natural durability in different hazard classes; 

• service life of wood structures protected by biocidal and non-biocidal treatments. 

5. ANNEXES 





199


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN ITALY IN THE COST E22 FIELD 


Instituto per la ricerca sul Legno 


Via Augusto Barazzuoli 23 

I - 50136 Firenze 

Italy 

Tel: +39 55 661750 

Fax: +39 55 670624 

E-mail: legno@mailbox.irl.fi.cnr.it 

Agroselvicolture Dep.- University of Torino 

Prof Dr R Zanuttini 

Via Leonardo da Vinci 44 

I - 10095 Grugliasco TO 

Italy 

Tel: +39 116708644 

Fax: +39 116708734 

E-mail: zanuttini@agraria.unito.it 

Poplar Research Institute 

Dr G Castro 

Casella postale 116 

I - 15033 Casale Monferrato TO 

Italy 

Tel. +39 142454654 

Fax: +39 14255580 

E-mail: castro@populus.it 

Te.S.A.F. Dep.- University of Padova 

AGRIPOLIS 

Prof Dr R Cavalli 

Via Piovese 

I - 35020 Legnaro PD 

Italy 

Tel: +39 498272724 

Fax: +39 498272774 

E-mail: cavalli@unipd.it 

200

Wood Technology Institute – CNR 

Dr O Delmarco 

I - 38010 San Michele all’Adige TN 

Italy 

Tel: +39 4616601 

Fax: +39 461650045 

E-mail: delmarco@itl.tn.it 


Forest Technology Institute - University of Firenze 

Prof Dr L Uzielli 

Via San Bonaventura 13 

I - 50135 Quaracchi FI 

Italy 

Tel: +39 553023141 

Fax: +39 55319179 

E-mail: uzielli@unifi.it 

DISAFRI Dep. - University LA TUSCIA (Viterbo) 

Prof Dr Anselmi 

Via San Camillo de Lellis 

I - 01100 Viterbo VT 

Italy 

Tel: +39 761357401 

Fax: +39 761357389 

E-mail: anselmi@unitus.it 

Plant Production Dep.- University of Basilicata (Potenza) 

Prof S. Quartulli 

Via Nazario Sauro 85 

I - 85100 Potenza PZ 

Italy 

Tel: +39 971202270 

Fax: +39 971202269 

E-mail: quartulli@unibas.it 

Agro-Mechanic Institute - University of Bari 

Prof A Pellerano 

Via Amendola 165/a 

I - 70126 Bari 

Italy 

Tel: +39 805442863 

Fax: +39 805443080 

E-mail: pellerano@uniba.it 

201


Agro entomology Inst. – University of Palermo 

Prof Dr G Liotta 

Viale delle Scienze 13 

I - 90128 Palermo PA 

Italy 

Tel: +39 91423364 

Fax: +39 91423410 

E-mail: liotta@unipa.it 

Centro di Restauro Soprintendenza Archeologica per la Toscana 

Dr G Giachi 

Via Manni 67 

I - 50100 Firenze FI 

Italy 

Tel: +39 55601551-2 

Fax: +39 55601551 

CATAS Spa 

Via Antica 14 

I - 33048 San Giovanni al Natisone UD 

Italy 

Tel: +39 39 464567 

Fax: +39 39 464565 

E-mail: catas2@newtech.it 

Dow AgroSciences B.V. 

V. Zaffagnini (Termites)Via d’Azeglio 25 

I - 40123 Bologna BO 

Italy 

Tel: +39 335 7307416 

Fax: +39 51 229000 

E-mail: vzaffagnini@dow.com 

202


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Italy directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 

Dr. Francesca Martena 

legno@mailbox.irl.fi.cnr.it 

Dr. Giuseppe Staccioli 



203 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


204


LITHUANIA 

by 

Dr Kestutis Armolaitis and Dr Jonas Saladis 

Lithuanian Forest Research Institute (LFRI) 

205



At this time in Lithuania there is up to ten wood impregnating plants. These plants are 

in most cases new and are using German technology as well chemicals for wood 

protection. Also it was quite complicated to get information about the wood 

impregnation industry, because all plants are small and up till now there haven’t been 

any opportunities to collaborate. 

In 2000 in Lithuania there were adapted the main EC regulations concerning wood 

preservation and testing of wood preservatives. The use of creosote and creosoted 

timber is limited. There is only one small plant for impregnating sleepers, used to repair 

railways. For new railways as well as overhead electricity and telecommunication lines 

are used only armoured concrete sleepers and poles. 


At present in Lithuania the research on environmental optimisation of wood protection 

is in the initial stage. Up till now the main attention is focused on the generalization and 

implementation of new scientific and technical achievements in West Europe. 

This document is structured to offer contact information and an introduction to principal 

interests of the organisations that responded to the invitation within the scope of the 


activities related to the three working groups within the COST Action E22. Finally the 

report summarises and concludes on the state of art in Lithuania. 

Kaunas University of Technology (KUT) 

Department of Mechanical Wood Processing 

Assoc Prof Dr Antanas Baltrusaitis 

E-mail: medkat@dff.ktu.lt 


• Natural durability of wood 


Lithuanian University of Agriculture (LUA) 

Assoc Prof Dr Algimantas Ziogas 

E-mail: aa@nora.lzua.lt 


• Standardization of wood preservatives 

• Novel wood preservatives 

• Insect distribution 

206



Dr Kestutis Armolaitis 

E-mail: dirvo@mi.lt 

Dr Jonas Saladis 

E-mail: josalit@centras.lt 



• Novel wood preservatives 


207



The activities of each participant are presented associated with the topics in the 

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of COST Action E22. 




conditions. 


• Disposal of waste wood (KUT and LFRI) 

• Application of wood preservatives (LUA) 


• Natural durability of wood (KUT and LFRI) 

• Monitoring of modified wood in service (LFRI) 

Field performance using soil 

• Monitoring of modified wood in service (LFRI) 

Insects in Europe, climatic conditions 

• Distribution of wood destroying insects (LUA and LFRI) 




• Environmental impact of biocidal emissions into soil ecosystems (LFRI) 

• Disposal of waste wood (LFRI and KUT) 


• Disposal of waste wood (LFRI and KUT) 

208






• Bioprotection of logs and lumber (LUA) 

• New methods of using insect growth regulators, pheromones, attractants and 

repellents (LUA and LFRI) 


The scope of the COST Action E22 is of considerable relevance and new interest in 

Lithuania. 



• Developing optimum preservative treatments 

• Facilitating the uptake of environmentally improved products and technologies 

• Wood waste studies 

5. ANNEXES 





209


Annex 1 ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN LITHUANIA IN THE COST E22 



Department of Forest Soils, Typology and Hydrology (Head) 

Dr. Kestutis Armolaitis, senior research scientist (main contact address) 

Liepu 1 

Girionys 

LT - 4312 Kaunas reg. 

Lithuania 

Tel: +370 7 547 247 

Fax: +370 547 446 

E-mail: dirvo@mi.lt 

Department of Forest Resources and Economics (Head) 

Dr. Jonas Saladis 

Tel: +370 7 547 283 

Fax: +370 7 547 446 

E-mail: josalit@centras.lt 

Kaunas University of Technology (KUT) 

Department of Mechanical Wood Processing 

Assoc Prof Dr Antanas Baltrusaitis 

Studentu 56 

LT-3031 Kaunas 

Lithuania 

Tel: +370 7 353863 

Fax: +370 7 353863 

E-mail: medkat@dff.ktu.lt 

Lithuanian University of Agriculture (LUA) 

Department of Plant Protection (Head) 

Assoc Prof Dr Algimantas Ziogas 

Studentu 1 

LT-4324 Akademija 

Lithuania 

Tel: +370 7 397715 

E-mail: aa@nora.lzua.lt 

210


Annex 2 Summary of organisations and activities in Lithuania directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

Lithuanian Forest Research 

Institute (LFRI) 

Dr Kestutis Armolaitis 

dirvo@mi.lt 

Dr Jonas Saladis 

josalit@centras.lt 

Kaunas University of Technology 

(KUT) 

Dr Antanas Baltrusaitis 

medkat@dff.ktu.lt 

Lithuanian University of 

Agriculture (LUA) 

Dr Algimantas Ziogas 

aa@nora.lzua.lt 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 



211 



life 

 

remediation 


treated wood 

 

 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


212


Summary of the signature countries and their 

activities in 

COST Action E22 

by 


Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft (BFH) 

Hamburg, Germany 

213


Summary table of the signature countries and their activities directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 

Institute 

Activity 

traditional 



requirements 




products 


using soil 

Austria 



Belgium 

Croatia 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 

Ireland 

Italy 

214 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


Summary table of the signature countries and their activities directly relevant to the specific scope of COST Action E22 (continued) 

Institute 

Activity 

traditional 



requirements 




products 

Latvia 


using soil 

Norway 



Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Spain 

Sweden 

The Netherlands 

United Kingdom 

215 



life 

remediation 


treated wood 


products 


wood 


insect growth 

regulators 

other


216

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