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Development of a new rapid method for mould testing in a climate chamber: preliminary tests

Entwicklung eines neuen Schnellverfahrens zur Prüfung von Schimmelbefall in einer Klimakammer – Vorversuche

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop fast, simple and robust solid wood mould testing methods for the use in small-scale laboratory tests. The objective was to investigate mould susceptibility of different wood materials within the batches. The proposed method is based on natural contamination of non-sterile surfaces in climates conducive to mould growth. For this purpose, a climate chamber with regulated temperature and relative humidity was used. The conditioning chamber was divided into upper and lower chamber by a thin layer of stainless steel placed horizontally above the fan to minimise air circulation to the sample in the upper compartment. Mould-infected samples from outdoor tests were used as a source of mould inocula, and test trials were conducted on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood. Samples were suspended from the top of the upper chamber, and the chamber was exposed to different temperature and humidity levels. Severe mould infestation was observed after 12–14 days of incubation. Visual mould rating was then performed. Regardless of some constraints, this test method was very simple, fast, and effective. More importantly, unlike other test methods, it closely models mould infestation as it would occur under natural condition.

Zusammenfassung

Zweck dieser Studie war die Entwicklung eines schnellen, einfachen und robusten Verfahrens zur Prüfung von Schimmelbefall auf Massivholz im Labor. Ziel war es, die Anfälligkeit von in der Prüfkammer unterschiedlich angeordneten Prüfkörpern für Schimmelbefall zu untersuchen. Die vorgeschlagene Methode basiert auf natürlicher Kontamination nicht steriler Oberflächen in Klimata, die Schimmelwachstum fördern. Hierfür wurde eine Klimakammer mit regulierbarer Temperatur und relativer Luftfeuchte verwendet. Die Klimakammer wurde mittels einer horizontal über dem Ventilator angebrachten dünnen Edelstahlplatte in einen oberen und einen unteren Teil abgeteilt, um die Luftzirkulation im Bereich der Prüfkörper in der oberen Kammer zu minimieren. Von Schimmel befallene Prüfkörper aus Freilandversuchen dienten als Infektionsquelle. An Kiefernsplintholz (Pinus sylvestris L.) wurden Testversuche durchgeführt. Die Prüfkörper wurden an der Decke der oberen Kammer aufgehängt und in der Kammer wurden verschiedene Temperatur- und Feuchteniveaus eingestellt. Nach 12-14 Tagen wurde starker Schimmelbefall festgestellt. Anschließend wurde der Befall visuell bewertet. Abgesehen von einigen Einschränkungen erwies sich diese Methode als sehr einfach, schnell und effektiv. Noch wichtiger war jedoch, dass dieses Verfahren, im Vergleich zu anderen Prüfverfahren, Schimmelbefall am realistischsten modelliert.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge financial support from the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund, the County Administration of Västerbotten, the Municipality of Skellefteå, and TräCentrum Norr.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Wood Science and Engineering, Wood Physics, Luleå University of Technology, Campus Skellefteå, Forskargatan 1, 931 87, Skellefteå, Sweden

    Sheikh Ali Ahmed, Margot Sehlstedt-Persson & Tom Morén

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  1. Sheikh Ali Ahmed
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  2. Margot Sehlstedt-Persson
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  3. Tom Morén
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Correspondence to Sheikh Ali Ahmed or Margot Sehlstedt-Persson.

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Ahmed, S.A., Sehlstedt-Persson, M. & Morén, T. Development of a new rapid method for mould testing in a climate chamber: preliminary tests. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 71, 451–461 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-013-0697-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-013-0697-0

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