EN 1001 Durability of Wood and Wood Based Products

The EN 1001 standard, which is a European standard, includes terms related to the durability of wood and wood-based products and the definitions of these terms. Essentially, this standard consists of two parts:

• EN 1001-1 Part 1: List of synonyms
• EN 1001-2 Part 2: Glossary

A wood-based product is any product that contains wood. For example, solid wood panel, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, oriented particleboard, resin-bonded particleboard, cement-bonded particleboard or fiberboard, modified wood are wood-based products.

Five use classes are defined around the world that represent the different service situations to which wood and wood-based products may be exposed. Differences between use classes are based on differences in environmental exposure, which may make wood or wood-based products susceptible to biodegradation. Usage classes are defined as:

• Class 1 (UC1). Situations where wood or wood-based product is in a structure and is not exposed to weather conditions and wetting.
• Class 2 (UC2). Situations where wood or wood-based product is covered and not exposed to weather conditions (especially rain and heavy rain), but occasional, non-permanent wetting may occur.
• Class 3 (UC3). Situations where wood or wood-based product is above ground and exposed to air (especially rain). There is a wide variety of use cases, and when relevant, there are two subclasses.
  • Class 3.1 (UC 3.1). In this case, wood and wood-based products do not stay wet for a long time and water does not accumulate.
  • Class 3.2 (UC 3.2). In this case, wood and wood-based products remain wet for a long time and water may accumulate.
• Class 4 (UC4). A situation where wood or wood-based product is in direct contact with soil or fresh water.
• Class 5 (UC5). The situation where wood or wood-based product is continuously or regularly immersed in salt water (ie sea water and brackish water).

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services for the durability of wood and wood-based products within the scope of EN 1001 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.