High quality thermal treatment using vacuum based technology to come to more homogeneous durability

The SmartHeat® thermal timber treatment is a new technology based on the process parameters being steered very precisely mainly due to the vacuum applied and heating system involved. Timber treated with this technology shows a potential for more homogeneous durability in one batch. Several batch treatments were sampled and assessed on statistical variability of decay resistance against Basidiomycetes and soft rotting micro-fungi according to lab testing as described in the standards CEN/TS 15083 part 1 and 2 respectively. By means of Weibull distribution assessment it was possible to show that variability in biological durability of each treated beam is well controlled and that this variability is limited compared to natural durability of wood species. Lower treatment variability due to precise parameter control for each beam and limited deviations of process parameters within the treating vessel are considered the main contributing factors. The paper also states that lower control of process parameters of some heat treatment processes might induce higher variability of the obtained biological durability than a customer might expect.

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