UNE-EN 350:2016

This European Standard gives guidance on methods for determining and classifying the durability of wood against biological wood-destroying agents, its permeability to water and its performance in use.

The methods can be applied either to individual wood species, batches of wood and wood-based materials.

This standard is not intended to test the efficacy of biocides.

The wood-destroying agents considered under in this standard are:

¾ðwood-destroying fungi (basidiomycete and soft-rot fungi);

¾ðbeetles capable of attacking dry wood;

¾ðtermites;

¾ðmarine organisms.

Data on the biological durability of selected wood species considered of economic importance in European countries are presented in Annex B (informative), which also provides information relating to their geographical origin, density, sapwood width and treatability.

NOTE 1The guidance on the durability classification appropriate for a particular use class is given in the EN 460 standard.

NOTE 2Annex C (informative) provides a methodology allowing the classification of wood treatability

Wood durability is an important factor that influences service life of a wood product. This standard provides input to service life prediction of wood and wood-based products as it ranks durability against wood-destroying organisms of various wood species thereby allowing species of appropriate durability to be selected for a particular use class. It shall however be emphasized that the biological durability rating of wood species given in Annex B cannot be regarded as any guarantee of performance in service.

NOTE 3There are many other factors influencing service life of a wood product, such as principles of good design, use conditions, climate, maintenance (& ) and should be taken into consideration.