Above Ground Deterioration of Wood and Wood-Based Materials

Wood as a material has unique properties that make it ideal for above ground exposure in a wide range of structural and non-strucutral applications. However, no material is without limitations. Wood is a bio-polymer which is subject to degradative processes, both abiotic and biotic. This chapter is a general summary of the abiotic and biotic factors that impact service life of wood in above ground exposures, and briefly discusses test methodologies commonly used in North America to determine the durability of wood and wood based materials in above ground exposure. Current efforts to improve service life estimates for wood and wood based materials are also discussed.