Timber service life requirements

By careful consideration of the key factors affecting the durability performance of timber; industry, specifiers, and timber users can achieve durability performance for timber structures that meet or exceed their needs and expectations.

The Timber Service Life Design Guide, (available for download below) is based on information currently available. It provides information to assist timber industry employees, timber users and specifiers of timber to select members and structures with respect to their service life requirements.  Research continues and it is anticipated that future findings will result in considerably improved reliability in timber design life predictions.

The information provided has been derived from historical performance and field and laboratory research and experience. The outcomes from a 10-year multi-million dollar ‘world first' research project to develop a probabilistic durability design method for timber have also been incorporated into this publication where appropriate.

The guide addresses in detail specific hazards with respect to the service life of timber construction subject to the following hazards:

• In-ground decay
• Above ground decay
• Weathering
• Termites
• Corrosion
• Marine borers

More detailed information associated with timber performance for other hazards including fire resistance and chemical degradation should be obtained from other sources.

Better or more cost-effective performance is achieved with better knowledge. Thus, it is expected that with time, this guide will be updated to reflect contemporary knowledge and research outcomes. This may include coverage of alternative preservative treatment processes such as ACQ, Copper Azole, and others, which are now referenced in Australian Standards and State legislation.

The Timber Service Life Design Guide is a complimentary publication to two other valuable timber durability design resources that are outcomes from the Forest and Wood Products Australia Durability Design Project completed in 2007.