Timber Decay in Buildings: Pathology and Control
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 11, Issue 1
Abstract
The built environment is the product of complex interactions between the external environment, the building materials, the design, the contents, the activities in the building, and the occupants, both human and commensal. To try to manipulate any one of these factors without consideration for the effects on the others can be at worst ineffective, and at best, inefficient and costly. Timber decay organisms cannot be eradicated even by the most Draconian pesticide treatments. However, they can flourish in buildings only if the environmental conditions are suitable. Even with the loss of traditional skills and the complexities introduced into building by new materials and uses, these conditions can easily be avoided with a little thought and scientific understanding. Indeed, new materials and techniques can often be used to advantage if their properties are analyzed as potential environmental controls. This more rational approach to the treatment of timber decay is really good building practice, which independent surveyors and their scientific consultants should promote in the interest of sound building and public health.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Building Research Establishment (BRE). (1985). “Dry rot: its recognition and control.”Rep. No. 299, Build. Res. Establishment Dig., No 299., Garston, Walford, U.K.
2.
Cartwright, K. S. G., and Findlay, W. P. K. (1968). “Decay of timber and its prevention.”Rep., Her Majesty's Stationary Ofc., London, U.K.
3.
Eggins, H. O. W. (1968). “Ecological aspect of biodeterioration.”Biodeterioration of materials and allied aspects, A. H. Walters and J. J. Elphick, eds., Elsevier, London.
4.
Hickin, N. E. (1963). The woodworm problem. Hutchinsons, London, U.K.
5.
Hickin, N. E. (1975). The insect factor in wood decay, 3rd Ed., R. Edwards, ed., Associated Business Programmes, London, U.K.
6.
Hutton, G. H. (1990a). “Building defects leading to biodeterioration.”Proc., 1989 Build. Pathology Conf., S. T. Bahns et al., ed., Hutton & Rostron, Guildford, U.K., 19–39.
7.
Hutton, G. H. (1990b). “The monitoring of building performance.”Proc., 1990 Build. Pathology Conf., S. T. Bahns, ed., Hutton + Rostron, Guildford, U.K., 15–29.
8.
Levy, J. F. (1982). “The place of basidiomycetes in the decay of wood in contact with the ground.”Decomposer Basidiomycetes, their biology and control, J. C. Frankland, J. N. Hedger, and M. J. Swift, eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 143–61.
9.
Lloyd, H., and Singh, J. (1994). “Inspection, monitoring and environmental control of timber decay.”Building mycology, management of decay and health in buildings, J. Singh, ed., E&FN Spon, London, U.K., 159–187.
10.
London Hazards Centre. (1989). Toxic treatments, London Hazards Centre Trust Ltd., London, U.K.
11.
McKay, W. B. (1944). Building construction. Longman's, London, U.K., 12–14.
12.
Richardson, B. A. (1980). Remedial treatment of buildings. The Construction Press, Lancaster, U.K.
13.
Singh, J.(1988). “The ecology and environmental control of timber decay in buildings.”Constr. Repair, 3(3), 26–30.
14.
Singh, J. (1990a). “The environmental control of timber decay in buildings.”Proc., 1989 Build. Pathology Conf., Bahns et al., eds., Hutton + Rostron, Guildford, U.K., 108–21.
15.
Singh, J.(1990b). “New advances in identification of fungal damage in buildings.”The Mycologist, 5(3), 139–40.
16.
Singh, J. (1994a). Building mycology: management of decay and health in buildings. J. Singh, ed., E&FN Spon, London, U.K.
17.
Singh, J. (1994b). “The built environment and the development of fungi.”Building mycology: management of decay and health in buildings, J. Singh, ed., E&FN Spon, London, U.K., 34–54.
18.
Singh, J. (1994c). “Introduction: ecology, taxonomy and economic importance of fungi in buildings.”Building mycology, management of health in buildings, J. Singh, ed., E&FN Spon, London, U.K., 22–34.
19.
“Slash and burn in the dry rot jungle.” (1984). New Scientist, Apr. 19, 12–15.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 11 • Issue 1 • February 1997
Pages: 3 - 12
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Feb 1, 1997
Published in print: Feb 1997
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.