Review of Modern Wood Fungal Decay Research for Implementation into a Building Standard of Practice

• Published in: Journal of materials in civil engineering 2019-12, Vol.31 (12)
• Main Authors: Kim, Jae H, Sutley, Elaina J, Martin, Felix
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building envelopes; Building materials; Carbon sequestration; Civil engineering; Construction materials; Construction standards; Decay; Fungi; State-of-the-Art Review; State-of-the-Art Reviews; Structural engineering; Wooden structures
• ISSN: 0899-1561; 1943-5533
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002998

AbstractWood is one of the most advantageous structural materials available today because of its renewability, natural carbon sequestration, affordability, and relative ease to construct. Unfortunately, this ease of fabrication makes it possible to change wood structures in the field without extensive review and planning. Forensic studies have pointed to poor construction execution or material specification. Thus, as part of a Structural Engineering Institute (SEI)-funded special project awarded to the SEI Performance of Wood Structures Committee to lead towards the development of a standard of practice for the performance of wood structures, this paper examines the role of damage mechanisms caused by decay fungi through the review of the state of the art in research regarding common wood-affecting fungal species in the US. While a properly designed and constructed building envelope is most important, techniques in both the identification and prevention of fungal wood decay are reviewed in this paper as leverage in the development of a standard of practice for wood structures for design, construction, and service.