Routine inspection of wood utility poles to detect internal decay involves drilling holes at or about the ground line. While these holes are useful for detecting internal decay, their presence raises concern among engineers about their potential effects on pole flexural properties. The effect of inspection holes on flexural properties...
Red oak, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine lumber was treated with a silicon/paraffinic system to assess the ability of the treatment to limit dimensional changes and moisture uptake during changes in temperature or relative humidity. The treatment initially had little effect on either property, but the magnitude of weight gain and...
The effect of metal end plates on reducing checking of pentachlorophenol-treated Douglas-fir crossarms was evaluated over 13 wet–dry cycles. Check development was variable over the first three to four cycles, and then steadily increased for both plated and nonplated ends of arms; however, both the number of checks and the...
A solid, crystalline fumigant (dazomet) with and without a supplemental copper compound was evaluated as an internal decay control treatment on Douglas-fir poles in two long-term field tests. Methylisothiocyanate (MITC), the decomposition
product of dazomet, was used as a measure of effectiveness. MITC levels in the wood were above the...