Resiliency of Treated Wood Products to Flooding and Natural Disasters

Abstract

Flooding is an increasingly destructive hazard for wood-based construction, creating conditions that reduce structural performance, promote mold growth, and complicate post-disaster recovery. This paper examines the resiliency of treated and engineered wood products exposed to flooding and natural disasters, with emphasis on material behavior below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). Current guidance from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its associated National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and opportunities to improve regulatory recognition of treated wood materials are also considered. Existing FEMA guidance identifies flood damage–resistant materials and restricts many untreated and engineered wood products below BFE, while allowing limited use of only marine-grade pressure-treated plywood. However, advances in preservative treatments and current AWPA Use Class Category listings suggest that additional treated wood products may be suitable for frequent or prolonged wetting conditions. This paper introduces and highlights the need for updated testing, technical outreach, and clearer guidance to support broader, evidence-based use of treated wood products in flood-prone construction.

Citation

Kirker; Grant. 2026. Resiliency of Treated Wood Products to Flooding and Natural Disasters. In: Proceedings of the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Wood Protection Association. Asheville, North Carolina: 124-126.