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IS 4873-1 (2008): Methods of laboratory testing of wood

preservatives against fungi and borers (powder post
beetles) : Part 1 Determination of threshold values of wood
preservatives against fungi [CED 9: Timber and Timber
Stores]

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Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda
Invent a New India Using Knowledge

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Knowledge is such a treasure which cannot be stolen
 IS 4873 (Part 1) : 2008

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( Ci'8'?/ y;RTerur )
Indian Standard
METHODS OF LABORATORY TESTING OF
WOOD PRESERVATIVES AGAINST FUNGI AND
BORERS (POWDER POST BEETLES)
PART 1 DETERMINATION OF THRESHOLD VALUES OF
WOOD PRESERVATIVES AGAINST FUNGI

( Second Revision)

ICS 71.100.50

c SIS 2008

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK SHAVAN. 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

Jun e 2008 Price Group 3

Timber and Timber Stores Sectional Committee, CED 9

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard (Part I) (Second Revision) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft
finalized by the Timber and Timber Stores Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering
Division Council.
The standard was first published in 1968 and covered the methods for the laboratory testing of wood preservatives
against fungi. Details of preservatives , methods of preservative treatment of timber, etc, have been covered in
IS 401 : 2001 'Preservation of timber - Code of practice (fourth revision)'. Based on the experience gained in
the use of the standard, the first revision of the standard was brought out in 1993, additionally incorporating
Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers. ex. Fries) Murr. as a test fungi for preparation of test culture.
In its present revision, the standard has been brought out in two parts in view of requests for incorporation of
method of laboratory testing of wood preservatives against borers (powder post beetles). The other part of the
standard is:
IS 4873 (Part 2) : 2008 Part 2 Determination of threshold values of wood preservatives against borers
(powder post beetles)
The composition of the Committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is given in Annex A.
For the purpose of dec iding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final
value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with
IS 2 : 1960 'Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised) ' . The number of significant places retained in the
rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard .

Indian Standard
METHODS OF LABORATORY TESTING OF
WOOD PRESERVATIVES AGAINST FUNGI AND
BORERS (POWDER POST BEETLES)
PART 1 DETERMINATION OF THRESHOLD VALUES OF
WOOD PRESERVATIVES AGAINST FUNGI
( Second Revision)
1 SCOPE
This standard (Part I) lays down the method for
the laboratory det erminatio of threshold value of
wood preservatives against fungi by means of soil
block and Kolle flask methods.
2 SOIL BLOCK METHOD
2.1 Principle
Blocks of wood are impregnated with d ifferent
concentration of preservatives, and after selected
period of weathering, they are exposed to the action of
one or more wood destro ying fungi. The minimum
amount of preservative that completely protects the
impregnated blocks against decay by a given test
fungus is defined as the threshold retention for that
organism. The failure to protect against decay is
determined by the amount of weight loss in the treated
wood block .
2.2 Preparation of Test Sample
2.2.1 The test blocks as well as the feeder blocks shall
be made from all sapwood portion of chir
(Pinus roxburghii) and mango (Mangifera
indica) , free from knots , mould and stain . The test
blocks shall be made of sizes 19 mm x 19 mm x
19 mm with a 3.2 mm central hole on the tangential
face and the feeder blocks 4 mm x 19 mm x 35 mm
along the length of the grain.
2.2.2 The blocks shall then be dried in an oven at
I OOee to I05 ee to a constant mass (WJ Twelve blocks
shall be treated with each concentration of the
preservative . Leaching shall start 3 days after
treatment of the blocks with oil-type preservatives
and 14 days after treatment with water-borne
type preservatives. Out of the 12 treated blocks,
6 blocks shall be exposed for 14 days at 50e e except
for 2 h period on each of the first nine days, when
they shall be leached at room temperature. Six
leached and six unleached test blocks shall be
condit ioned at 30 e e and 70 4 percent relative
humidity.
IS 4873 (Part 1) : 2008
2.3 Leaching Procedure
The blocks shall be kept in beakers and weighed down
with glass weights . Distilled water about 9 times
the volume of the blocks shall be poured into the
beakers. The blocks shall be removed from the beakers
after a period of2 h.
2.4 Treatment Procedure
The blocks, kept in a beaker under a weight to
prevent floating, shall be placed in a' desiccator
connected to a manometer and a suction pump . A
partial vacuum (60 mm mercury) shall be created in
the desiccator for 30 min . The treating solution
prepared just prior to its use shall be poured into the
globe of the separating funnel with its stem
extending into the beaker containing the blocks. The
preservative solution shall then be run into the beaker
completely covering the blocks . The vacuum shall
then be released. The beaker will be taken out and
covered with a lid to prevent the evaporation of the
preservative solution. The blocks shall be allowed to
remain for 30 min and then taken out and weighed
(W 2 ) immediately after wiping the excess of
preservative. The mass of the treating solution
absorbed (G) shall be (W2 - WJ
2.5 Calculation of Retention Value
The amount of preservative solution absorbed by
block (retention value in g/cm') shall be calculated
as follows:
Ge
Retention (R) = g/cm ' (this may be
100 V
converted to the
units of kg/rn')
where
G = mass of the treat ing solution absorbed by
block (W2 - WI)' in g;
C = mass of the preservative present in 100 g of
the treating solution, in g; and
V= volume of the test block, in em' .
 IS 4873 (Part 1) : 2008
The treated blocks shall then be conditioned at 30
0e
and 70 4 percent relative humidity to a constant mass,
WJ
2.6 Preparation of Soil Culture Bottles
Sifted (sieved) air dried garden soil amounting to
125 g with pH between 5.0 and 7.0 shall be filled
(compacted by tapping) in (237 ml) aluminium
screwing capped bottles. Distilled water is added
to this so as to obtain 130 percent of water holding
capacity of soil in test bottles. Two feeder blocks
are then kept on the surface of the soil, of the size
mentioned above. Sterilize the prepared bottles
with caps loosened at 0.1 Nzmm' for 60 min on two
consecutive days.
2.7 Preparation of Test Culture
After the sterilized culture bottles are thoroughly
cooled, cut the fungus inoculum (see 2.7.1)
approximately 10 mm? from a not more than
3-week old culture and place on the edge of the
feeder blocks. Incubate the inoculated bottles with
slightly loosened lids at 27e loe and 70 4
percent relative humidity for approximately
3 weeks. The bottles are then ready to receive
the test blocks.
2.7.1 The test fungi which are resistant to
ant iseptics, grow quickly and rapidly cause a loss
in weight of test timber, shall be chosen. The test
fungi given in 2.7.1.1 and 2.i .~ .2 generally satisfy
these factors .
2.7.1.1 For conifers
a) Lentinus lepideus Fr. particularly tolerant to
creosote or mixture containing creosotes;
and
b) Poria moniticola Murr. particularly tolerant
to copper and zinc compounds.
2.7.1.2 For non-conifers
a) Coriolus versicolor (L. ex Fr.) or Pycnoporus
sanguineus (L.ex Murr.), and
b) Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers. ex Fries) Murr.
NOT E - Some strains of this fungus are resistant to high
concentration ofarsenic.
2.7 .2 The tolerant fungus shall always be included
in testing any preservative. Other important wood
rotting fungi may be substituted for the non-
tolerant organisms in special investigations.
2.8 Infection of Test Blocks
Before putting the test blocks in the culture bottles,
place them by retention groups into tightly fitting
containers and steam at loo oe for 20 min at
atmospheric pressure. After cooling, place the test
2
blocks with cross-section face down on feeder blocks
in previously prepared test bottles.
2.9 Incubation and Duration of Test
The bottles containing the test blocks shall be
placed in an incubator at 25 l oe and relative
humidity 70 4 percent and kept there for a period of
12 weeks.
At the end of the incubation period the blocks shall be
removed from the culture bottles, cleaned of the
adhering mycelium, taking care not to remove the
splinters of the wood , and weigh them immediately if
the moisture in the blocks is to be determined. The
blocks shall be dried in the warm air of the laboratory
and then conditioned (30C and relative humidity 70
4 percent) to a constant weight (W4 ) .
2.10 Calculation of Mass Loss
Percentage mass loss will be calculated from the
conditioned mas s of the blocks before and after
testing.
Mass loss. percent x 100
where
WJ =' conditioned mass of the block before test,
and
W4 =' conditioned mass of the block after test.
2.11 Threshold Retention
The purpose of the test is to determine the
minimum amount of preservative that is effective in
preventing decay, under the condition of test, by
a particular fungus . The amount of preservative 10
terms of kg/m' of wood is referred to as 'threshold
retention' . The 'threshold value' is determined by
estimating the point at which percentage weight
loss not exceeding 5 percent, caused by decay
occurs.
3 ALTERNATIVE METHOD AGAR-BLOCK
(KOLLE-FLASK) METHOD
3.1 Preparation of Test Blocks
The test blocks shall be made from all sapwood
portion of chir (Pinus roxburghii'i and mango
(Mangifera indica), free from knots and moulds .
The test blocks shall be made of the size 50 mm x
25 mm x 15 mm along the length of the grain.
3.2 Conditioning of Test Blocks
The procedure shalI be the same as given
in 2.2.2.
 IS 4873 (Part I) : 2008

3.3 Treatment Procedure 3.6 Infection of Test Blocks

The procedure shall be the same as given in 2.3 and
2.4.
3.4 Test Fungi
The test fungi shall be the same as given in 2.7.1.
3.5 Medium for Growing Culture
A nutrient medium consisting of20 g of agar and 20 g
of malt extract in a litre of distilled water shall be
prepared. Pour about 60 ml of this into each flask
(Kolle-flask), then plug with cotton wool and sterilize
by autoclaving at 0.\ Nzmrn' (120C) for
a period of 20 min. After sterilization, the flask shall
be laid flat so that the medium is retained by the ridge
in the neck of the flask. The medium is inoculated
with test fungus within 6 days after preparation of the
flask. Sterile water should be poured over the cotton
wool pad in the neck of the flask in order to maintain
the ideal conditions for fungal growth in the flask.
The blocks shall be exposed to fungal attack by placing
them aseptically in the flask in which there are actively
growing cultures of the test fungi. The blocks should
be placed on rings or frames made ofthin glass rod, so
that the blocks come in contact with the aerial
mycelium of the fungus and not the medium itself into
which some of the preservative might otherwise leach
out. Not more than two blocks shall be placed in each
flask. Sterile water should be added aseptically in the
neck of the flask to maintain the ideal condition for
test.
3.7 Incubation and Duration of Test
The procedure shall be the same as given in 2.9.
3.8 Calculation of Mass Loss
The procedure shall be the same as given in 2.10 .
3.9 Threshold Retention
The procedure shall be the same as given in 2.11.

ANNEX A
(Foreword)
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION
Timber and Timber Stores Sectional Committee, CED 9

Organization Representativets)
In personal capacity (2989 /D, 12th Main HAL /I Stage, SHRJ SIIYAM SUNDER (ChairmJlll)

Bangalore 560008)
AndamanChamber of Commerce & Industries, Kolkata SHRJ HARISH KHArrAN

Bambooand Cane TechnologyCentre, Guwahati PROJECT COORDINATOR

BambooSociety oflndia, Bangalore SHRJ A. C. uKsHMANA

DR K. A. KUSHAUJ'PA (Alterna/e)
Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee DIRECTOR
DirectorateGeneral of Civil Aviation, New Delhi DIRECTOR GENElW.
DirectorateGeneralof Supplies & Disposals,New Delhi D!REcroR GENEJW.
Directorateof Standardization,New Delhi DIRECTOR
Engineer-in-Chief's Branch. Army Headquarters. New Delhi SHIU C. R. SAHA
SHRI N. B. SHEU.R (Altemate)
Federationoflndian Plywood & Panel Industry, New Delhi SHIU SAlIAN BHAJANKA
SECRETARY [Alternate)

ForestDepartment,Raipur PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVA"lOROF FORESTS

ForestDepartment,Bhopal PRINcIPAL CIIIEF CoNsBtvATOR Of FORESTS
ForestResearchInstitute. Dehra Dun DRS. S. NEG!
DR VIMAL K01lllVAL (Altemate)
IndianAcademyof Wood Science, Bangalore PREsmerr
IndianCouncil of ForestryResearch and Education, Dehra Dun DIRECTORGENEJW.

Indian PlywoodIndustriesResearch & Training Institute,Bangalore DIRECTOR

SHRI S. PADMANAIlHAN (Alternate)

3
IS 4873 (Part 1) : 2008

Repres entative ts)

Organ ization
DlRE CfOR
Institute of WoodScience & Technology, Bangalore
DR R. V. RAO (Alternate)
DlRE CfOR
Kerala Forest ResearchInstitute, Peechi
DR GNAN AHARAN (Alternate)
SHRJ K . S ANKARA KJuSIINAN
KuttyFlush Doors & Furnitures Co Pvt Ltd, Chennai
COL Y. G. KRISHNAN (Alterna te)
DlRE CfOR
Ministryof Defence, Gwalior
SHRI H. C. PAr-.,- (Alt ernate)

Ministryof Environment& Forest, New Delhi DEPlIlY INSPECfOR GENERAL Of FoREST

DrRECfOR
Rubber Board, Konayarn
KarnatakaState ForestIndustriesCorporation Ltd, Bangalore SHRJ V. P. HlREMATIi
SHRI S. SHrVA PRAKAsH (Alternate)
Timber Development Association of India, DehraDun SECRETARY

CHIEF ExEClJ11VE OmCER

\"lM CO Limited,Mumbai
In personal capacity (606 B, I Block. III Stag e, UVCE Layout, SHRJ K. DAMODARAN

JVOC Road. Basaveshwaranagar; Bangalore 5600 79,

Karnataka )
BIS DirectorateGeneral SHRI A. K. SAmI, Scientist ' F' & Head (CEO)
[RepresentingDirector General (Ex-officio)]

Member Secretary
SHRI J. Roy CHOWDHURY
Scientist 'E' (CEO), BIS

Timber Terminology, Conversion, Seasoning, Preservation,

Grading and Testing Subcommittee, CED 9 : 1

Organization Representattvets)

Institute of WoodScience & Technology, Bangalore DR RV RAO (Con ven er)

AndamanTimberIndustries, Kolkata SHRI HARISH KHMrAN
ASCU Hickson Limited, Kolkata SHRI Rxnv AGARWAL
SHRI J. BASu (Alternate)
BoraxMorarji, Coil SHRI H. 1. KAPADIA
SHRI S. RANGARAJAN (Alternate)
Building MaterialsTechnologyPromotionCouncil, New Delhi REPRESENTAllVE

Central Building ResearchInstitute, Roorkee DIRECfOR

SHRI B.S. RAWAT (Alternate)
Central Mining ResearchStation (CSIR), Dhanbad DIRECfOR

Controllerateof QualityAssurance, Kanpur DIRECfOR

DirectorateGeneral of Civil Aviation, New Delhi OIRECfOR GENERAL

DirectorateGeneralof Supplies & Disposals, New Delhi OIREcroR GENERAL
Directorateof Standardization,New Delhi DIRECfOR

Federationoflndian Plywood& Panel Industry, New Delhi SHRI JAYDEEP CHIll.ANGIA

SECRETARY(Alternate)

ForestDepartment,Bangalore PRINCIPAL CIUEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS

ForestDepartment,Gandhinagar PRl!'iCIPAL CIIlEF CONSERVATOR OF FoRESTS

ForestDepartment,Dehra Dun PRINCIPAL CHIEF CoNSERVATOR OF FORESTS

ForestDepartment, GovernmentofChhattisgarh, Raipur PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS

Forest Research Institute(Forest ProductsDivision), Dehra Dun SHRI V.K. JAm

SHIU VIMAL KOrnrYAL (Alternate)
ForestResearchInstitute(PathologyDivision), DebraDun DR A. N. SHUKLA
DRN . K. S. HARSH (Alternate)
 IS 4873 (Part 1) : 2008

Organization Representativets)

ForestResearchInstitute (Systemaic BotanyBranch), DehraDun DR S. A. S. BISWAS

DRSMER CHAND (Alternate)
ForestResearchInstitute(WoodAnatomy), DehraDun DR (MRS) S.4NGrrA GUPTA
DR P.K. P.4NDEV (Alternate)
ForestResearchInstitute(WoodSeasoning),DehraDun SHRI NIRMAL UPIUTI
DR KISIlAN KUMAR (Alternate)
ForestResearchInstitute(WoodPreservation), DehraDun DR SADHANA TRlPAl1ll
SIIRI AzMAL SAMANI (Alternate)
Gurdit Institute Pvt Limited, Dharwar SHRI Y ASH KAJ..-'oN SINGH
HimachalPradeshState ForestCorporation, Shimla M.4NAGING D!REcroR
ExEcunvE DnlEcroR (Alternate)
IndianCouncilof ForestryResearchand Education, Dehra Dun SHRI B. K. BHATIA
SHRI S. K. KOHLI (Alternate}
Indian Instituteof Technology, New Delhi SHRI G. S. BENIPAL
IndianPlywoodIndustriesResearch & Training Institute, Bangalore SHRI K. SHYAMA SUNDER
SIIRI S. Z. M. KAMAL (Alternate)
IndianPlywoodIndustries.Research & TrainingInstitute, Bangalore SHRJ K. C. MAlllEWS
SIIRI M. VENUGOPAL NAIDU (Alternate )
IndianPlywoodIndustriesResearch& TrainingInstitute, Bangalore SHRI S. PADM.4NABHAN
SHRJ S. Z. M. KAMAL (Alternate)
IndianRubber WoodTask Force,Kottayam SHRJ C. BHASKAR NAYAR
SIIRI V. J. MA1lIEW (Alternate)
Instituteof WoodScience & Technology (WoodProperties& Uses REPRESeIT!JlVE

Division), Bangalore
KarnatakaState ForestIndustriesCorporation, Bangalore SHRI V. P.HIREMAllf
SHRI S. SHIVA PRAKASH (Alternate)
KeralaForestResearchInstitute, Peechi DIRECTOR
REPRESeITATIVE (Alternate)

Kutty FlushDoors & FurnituresCo Pvt Ltd, Chennai SHRI K. S.4NKARA KRIsHNA
COL Y. G. KRISHNAN (Alternate)
Madhya PradeshRajya VanVikasNigam Ltd, Bhopal SHRJ A. K. DUBEY
Ministryof Environment & Forests,New Delhi DR BIPIN BEHARJ
Ministryof Railways(Representedby ROSa), New Delhi DIRECTOR GENERAl.
National TestHouse, Kolkata DIRECTOR (PHYSICAL)
Officeof Development Commissioner(Handicrafts), NewDelhi 0EPurY DIRECJOR
RegionalResearchLaboratory, Jorhat DIRECJOR
Rubber ResearchInstituteofIndia, Kottayarn DIRECIUR
SivakasiChamberofMatch Industries,Sivakasi REPRESeITAllVE
SouthernVeneers& WoodWorksLtd,Tillicherry SHRJ P. K . Hxarss
U.P. ForestCorporation, Lucknow SEl'IlOR MANAGEIl
In personalcapacity (Clo American Connexion, 214, Phase II DRSAnsH KUMAR
Vasant Vihar; Dehra Dun 248006, Uttaranchaly

5
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Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

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