Efforts at AWPA to create a pathway for standardization and incorporation of thermally modified woods

Matt Aro; Mike Barnes; John Heyesen; Kelly Bartz; Glenn Larkin; Mark E. Mankowski; Rachel A. Arango; Grant T. Kirker; Gerald Presley; Jeff Morrell; Adam Taylor; Rod Stirling

Treesearch

Efforts at AWPA to create a pathway for standardization and incorporation of thermally modified woods

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Matt Aro, Mike Barnes, John Heyesen, Kelly Bartz, Glenn Larkin, Mark E. Mankowski, Rachel A. Arango, Grant T. Kirker, Gerald Presley, Jeff Morrell, Adam Taylor, Rod Stirling

Year:

2024

Type:

Paper

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

Source:

Proceedings paper

Download (PDF 1.25 MB)

Download (PDF 1.25 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/68111.pdf

Abstract

Thermally modified woods are a nascent but growing industry in North America, which has seen an increase in both the number of producers as well as annual board footage of material produced. These products are being marketed as a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods in areas of non-structural, above ground application. The AWPA P9 committee (non-biocidal wood protection) is responsible for the establishment of Task Groups to consider nonbiocidal wood protection methods and the development of protocols for standardization. Thermally modified wood has been a continual action item on the P committee agenda with no real action taking place, except for the production of Guidance Document N in 2012 and years of active discussion. The goal of this presentation is to inform audiences on these continued efforts, report on progress to date, and to present a conceptual pathway for standardization now that sufficient producer interest exists within the American Wood Protection Association.

Keywords

wood modification, non-biocidal treatment, standard development, use class category system

Citation

Aro, Matt; Barnes, Mike; Heyesen, John; Bartz, Kelly; Larkin, Glenn; Mankowski, Mark; Arango, Rachel; Kirker, Grant; Presley, Gerald; Morrell, Jeff; Taylor, Adam; Stirling, Rod. 2024. Efforts at AWPA to create a pathway for standardization and incorporation of thermally modified woods. In: Butler, N.; Ciardi, M., eds. Proceedings, 120th annual meeting of the American Wood Protection Association. Portland, ME. April 29-May 1, 2024. Clermont, FL: AWPA: 205-208.