Brownbarrel
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Other Names
Brown Barrel, Cuttail, Black Mountain Ash, Whitetop, Woollybutt.
Brownbarrel is a large Australian hardwood from the north east of Victoria and the tableland districts and south coast areas of New South Wales. It is commonly used for protected general construction and internal applications.
Brownbarrel is a large Australian hardwood growing in the north east of Victoria and the tableland districts and south coast areas of New South Wales.
It is used mainly for general construction, although this is limited to applications protected from weather exposure due to brownbarrel's moderate durability. It is also used for internal applications such as flooring, veneers and paneling.
Its heartwood is pale brown, while the narrow sapwood is usually paler in colour and is also susceptible to lyctid borer attack. It is similar in appearance to messmate. Brownbarrel has a medium texture with a grain that can be straight or often interlocked. Gum veins are usually present.
Brownbarrel is slow to dry and considerable collapse can occur during the process.
It is generally commonly available in the areas it grows.
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Botanical Name
Eucalyptus fastigata
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Preferred Common Name
Brownbarrel
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Species Type
Appearance
As its common name suggests, the heartwood of brownbarrel is pale brown, sometimes with a hint of pink, while the narrow sapwood is usually paler in colour. It is similar in appearance to messmate. Brownbarrel has a medium texture with a grain that may be straight or interlocked. Gum veins are usually present.
Common Applications
Brownbarrel is used mainly for general construction, although this is limited to applications protected from weather exposure due to its moderate durability. It is also used for internal applications such as flooring, veneers and paneling.
Common Form
Sawn
Workability
Brownbarrel is slow to dry and considerable collapse can occur during the process. It generally glues and finishes well. It is not durable enough for external applications.
Origin of Timber
Readily Available
Availability - Further Information
Shrinkage
| Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
Tangential : |
8.90% |
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Radial: |
5.70% |
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Unit Movement Tangential: |
0.33% |
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Unit Movement Radial: |
0.21% |
Strength Group 
Very High |
High |
Reasonably High |
Medium High |
Medium |
Reasonably Low |
Low |
Very Low |
|
Unseasoned: |
S1 |
S2 |
S3 |
S4 |
S5 |
S6 |
S7 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasoned: |
SD1 |
SD2 |
SD3 |
SD4 |
SD5 |
SD6 |
SD7 |
SD8 |
Stress Grade
| Structural No. 1 |
Structural No. 2 |
Structural No. 3 |
Structural No. 4 |
Structural No. 5 |
|
Unseasoned: |
F14 |
F11 |
F8 |
F7 |
F5 |
Seasoned: |
F22 |
F17 |
F14 |
F11 |
F8 |
Density per Standard
Seasoned: |
750kg/m3 |
|---|---|
Unseasoned: |
1100kg/m3 |
Joint Group
Very High |
High |
Reasonably High |
Medium |
Low |
Very Low |
|
Unseasoned: |
J1 |
J2 |
J3 |
J4 |
J5 |
J6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasoned: |
JD1 |
JD2 |
JD3 |
JD4 |
JD5 |
JD6 |
Colour
| White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
Mechanical Properties
Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: |
68 |
|---|---|
Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: |
108 |
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: |
12 |
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: |
14 |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: |
34 |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: |
65 |
Impact - Unseasoned: |
17 |
Impact - Seasoned: |
19 |
Toughness - Unseasoned: |
Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Toughness - Seasoned: |
Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Hardness - Unseasoned: |
5 |
Hardness - Seasoned: |
5.5 |
Durability
| Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
| (0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
In-Ground: |
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| (0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
Above ground: |
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| (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
Marine Borer Resistance: |
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: |
Susceptible |
|---|---|
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: |
|
Termite Resistance: |
Not Resistant |
Fire Properties
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: |
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EFH Smoke-Developed Index: |
Critical Radiance Flux - Lower: |
>2.2 and <4.5 |
|---|---|
Critical Radiance Flux - Higher: |
>2.2 and <4.5 |
Smoke Development Rate: |
<750 |
| 1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Average Specific Extinction Area: |
<250 |
|---|---|
Bushfire Resistance: |
BAL 12.5 and 19 – Door and window joinery only |
Flooring
Whether for structural or finished flooring applications, timber offers durability, versatility and adaptability. The warmth, strength and natural beauty of timber flooring has proved enduringly popular in a wide variety of interior settings.
Timber flooring is a timeless product, offering a warmth and natural beauty largely unmatched by other flooring options. This article provides an overview of the installation of solid timber strip flooring over bearers and joists, timber based sheet flooring products and concrete slabs. Timber flooring is typically supplied as either solid timber or laminated wood products, made from layers of bonded timber. It fits together with a tongue and groove joint and once in place, is sanded and finished. There is a wide variety of species to select flooring from and the right species for a given application will be dependent on numerous factors. Information relating to species selection, environmental assessment, finish selection and recommended maintenance routines are all provided in this section.
