Designation: D 1413 – 99

Standard Test Method for

Wood Preservatives by Laboratory Soil-Block Cultures1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1413; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope ity of Wood Preservatives5

1.1 This test method covers determination of the minimum 3. Summary of Test Method
amount of preservative that is effective in preventing decay of
selected species of wood by selected fungi under optimum 3.1 Conditioned blocks of wood are impregnated with
laboratory conditions. solutions of a preservative in water or suitable organic solvent
1.2 The requirements for preparation of the material for to form one or more series of gradient retentions of the
testing and the test procedure appear in the following order: preservative in the blocks. After periods of conditioning or
Section
weathering, the impregnated blocks are exposed to one or more
Summary of Test Method 3 strains of wood-destroying fungi, one fungus for each test
Apparatus 4 series. The minimum amount of preservative that in the
Reagents 5
Wood and Test Blocks 6
prescribed testing protects the impregnated blocks against
Test Fungi 7 decay by a given test fungus is defined as the threshold
Culture Media 8 retention for that organism. Failure to protect is evidenced by
Preparation of Test Cultures 9
Preparation and Impregnation of Test Blocks 10
loss of wood from the treated wood blocks, as indicated by a
Conditioning of Treated Blocks 11 loss in weight.
Preservative Permanence: Weathering Procedure 12 3.2 Provision must be made for coordinated preparation of
Stabilization of Treated Test Blocks and Placement in Culture 13
Bottles
the test cultures and for impregnation, conditioning, or weath-
Incubation and Duration of Test 14 ering and conditioning, of the test blocks.
Handling Test Blocks After Exposure to Test Fungi 15
Calculation of Weight Losses 16 4. Apparatus
Evaluation of Test Results 17
Refining the Threshold 18 4.1 Conditioning Chamber or Room, maintained at a se-
Report 19 lected temperature between 20 and 30°C (68 and 86°F) and a
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the selected relative humidity between 25 and 75 %. The selected
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the temperature shall not vary more than 61°C (62°F) and the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- selected humidity not more than 62 %.6
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 4.2 Incubation Room or Incubation Cabinet, maintained at a
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. selected temperature between 25 and 27°C (77 and 81°F) and
a relative humidity between 65 and 75 %. The selected
2. Referenced Documents temperature shall not vary more than 61°C (62°F) and the
2.1 ASTM Standards: selected humidity percentage not more than 2.
D 841 Specification for Nitration Grade Toluene2 4.3 Drying Oven—A suitable, vented oven, maintained at a
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water3 temperature of 105 6 2°C (220 6 4°F).
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur- 4.4 Steam Sterilizer.
poses4 4.5 Balances, fast-acting types preferred, sensitive and ac-
2.2 AWPA Standard: curate to 0.01 g.
M-1-66 Method to Determine the Comparative Leachabil- 4.6 Vacuum Pump or Water Suction Pump, capable of
reducing pressure to 100 mm (3.94 in.) Hg, or less.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-7 on Wood 4.7 Impregnation Apparatus—A suitable desiccator or bell
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.06.03 on Evaluation of jar shielded to protect personnel in event of breakage, provided
Preservatives. with suitable separatory funnel or auxiliary flask for holding
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published July 1999. Originally
published as D 1413 – 49. Last previous edition D 1413–76(1994)e1.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.04. 5
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. American Wood Preservatives Assn., 1625 Eye St., N.W. Washington, DC
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. 20006.
6
Scheffer, T. C., “Humidity Controls for Conditioning Rooms,” Forest Products
Laboratory Report No. 2048, U.S. Forest Service, 4 pp., 5 Figs., January 1956.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 1413
the treating solution and vacuum gage or manometer (Fig. 1).
4.8 Trays or Racks, or Pin Bars—Trays or racks made from
suitable screening to permit free air movement around each
block during initial drying and for convenient handling of the
test blocks. Pin bars facilitate handling (see 6.2).
4.9 Weathering Apparatus:
4.9.1 Forced Draft Oven. 7
4.9.2 Apparatus designed for weathering salts-treated
blocks is described in AWPA Method M-1-66. A—Wood cubes, 19-mm or 0.75-in.
4.10 Culture Bottles, cylindrical or square (Note 1), capacity B—Test fungus growing over feeder block.
C—Wood feeder block.
nominal 225 or 450 cm3 (8 or 16 oz), fitted with screw caps D—Soil.
without liners (Fig. 2).
FIG. 2 French Square and Cylindrical 225 cm3(8 oz) and
NOTE 1—Culture Bottles: cylindrical 450-mm (16-oz) Culture Bottles with Metal Screw Lids
(1) 225-cm3 (8-oz) French square, for use with one block only.
(2) 225-cm3 (8-oz) cylindrical, for use with one or two blocks. 5.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
(3) 450-cm3 (16-oz) cylindrical, for use with two blocks only. to water shall be understood to mean reagent water conforming
4.11 Soil Sieves—U.S. No. 6 sieve in accordance with to Type IV of Specification D 1193.
Specification E 11. 5.3 Toluene, conforming to Specification D 841.

5. Reagents 6. Wood
5.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be 6.1 General Properties—Pine sapwood, free of knots and
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that visible concentration of resins, and showing no visible evi-
all reagents shall conform to the Specifications of the Com- dence of infection by mold, stain, or wood-destroying fungi,
mittee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical with 21⁄2 to 4 rings/cm (6 to 10 rings/in.) should be used for
Society, where such specifications are available.8 Other grades standard comparative tests intended to show comparative wood
may be used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is preserving values of preservatives under test. If southern pine
of sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening is used, it should be 40 to 50 % summerwood. Whenever
the accuracy of the determination. practicable, selection of the wood for the test blocks should
begin at the sawmill. Quartersawed boards are preferable.
Newly cut boards, nominally (25 mm) (1 in.) thick, that are
7
Blue M Model OV 490 A. immediately kiln dried without antistain treatment provide
8
“Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications,” Am. Chemi- chemical-free wood that has had minimum opportunity for
cal Soc., Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by fungus infection or deterioration before use in the soil-block
the American Chemical Society, see “Reagent Chemicals and Standards,” by Joseph
Rosin, D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York, NY, and the “United States
culture test.
Pharmacopeia. 6.1.1 Sapwood Identification—When the boundary between

A—Vacuum desiccator, internal diameter 250 mm.

B—Plastic or glass treatment beaker.
C—Test wood blocks.
D—Glass or other suitable weight.
E—Treating solution.
F—Polyethylene tubing.
G—Three-way stopcock with TFE-fluorocarbon plug.
H—Flask containing treating solution.
I—Glass joint with O-ring leading to either vacuum gage or mercury manometer.
J—Glass joint with O-ring.
K—Flask for vacuum trap.
L—Stopcock to atmosphere.
M—Line to source of vacuum.
FIG. 1 Apparatus for Vacuum Impregnation

2
 D 1413
heartwood and sapwood is difficult to recognize, use a color 7.3.2 Coriolus versicolor (L.) Quél. = [Polyporus versi-
test9 to distinguish between the two. Uneven absorptions may color L. ex. Fr.] (Madison 697, ATCC No. 12679), a white-rot
be caused by the presence of heartwood. fungus prevalent on hardwood products.
6.1.2 Conditioning of Parent Boards—Open-stack the 8. Culture Media
boards under shelter and permit.
6.2 Test Blocks (Note 2), should be cubes milled as accu- 8.1 Malt Agar Substrate—For both stock test-tube and petri
rately as possible to 19 mm (0.75 in.). If desired (for example, dish cultures of the test fungi use a nutrient medium consisting
for convenience in handling), blocks may be drilled through of about 2 weight % malt extract and 1.5 weight % agar.
the center of a tangential face with a 3-mm drill (approximately Sterilize the medium at 103 kPa (15 psi) for 20 min and allow
0.125 in. or a No. 30 drill). Pin bars may then be used for to cool before inoculations.
handling. The volume of the blocks without the hole should be 8.2 Soil Substrate—Use a soil substrate with a water-
6.9 6 0.2 cm3, determined by caliper or by mercury displace- holding capacity between 20 and 40 % (Note 4) and pH
ment. between 5.0 and 8.0 and weighing not less than 90g/120 cm3.
After breaking up all clumps, mix and screen the soil through
NOTE 2—Store working stocks of test blocks and feeder strips in the the U.S. No. 6 sieve and store in large covered containers. The
conditioning room. It is desirable to weigh the blocks after they come to soil should not be so wet when it is sifted that the particles
approximate equilibrium moisture content in storage or in the conditioning
room, and to sort them into fairly narrow-range weight groups. Since the
again stick together. Pass a sample of air-dry soil through a
blocks are cut accurately to size this division into weight groups is, in U.S. No. 6 sieve. Determine the water-holding capacity as
effect, a segregation into density groups (see 10.4). follows. Use the sieved soil to fill a small Buchner funnel
approximately 50 mm in diameter and 25 mm in depth, and
6.3 Feeder Strips:
fitted with rapid-filtering paper, to somewhat more than capac-
6.3.1 General Considerations—One feeder strip is needed
ity. Compact the soil by dropping the funnel three times
for each block in a culture bottle. If test blocks other than pine
through a height of 10 mm (0.4 in.) on a wooden tabletop.
are used for special investigations, the sapwood selected for
Level the soil surface by cutting off excess soil with a spatula
feeder strips should be capable of furnishing a satisfactory
at the top of the funnel without further compaction. Then place
growth of the test fungus; for example, sweetgum sapwood
the filled funnel in a 400-cm3 beaker and retain in an upright
often is used with hardwood test blocks and Coriolus versi-
position by wedges at the sides of the funnel. Add water to the
color (L.) Quél. = [Polyporus versicolor L. ex. Fr.] fungus.
beaker to a depth slightly beyond the level of the filter paper.
6.3.2 Size—The feeder strips should be approximately 3 by
Allow the soil to wet by capillarity so as to reduce the danger
28 by 35 mm (1⁄8by 11⁄8 by 15⁄8 in.) with the grain of the wood
of entrapping air within the column. When the upper soil
parallel to the short dimension.
surface shows signs of wetting, add more water until the water
7. Test Fungi level approximates the upper surface of the funnel. Place a
cover over the beaker, and allow the soil to soak for 12 h or
7.1 General Considerations—Always include a compara- overnight. Then place the funnel in a suction flask which is
tively tolerant fungus (see 7.2 and 7.3) in testing a preservative. connected to a water aspirator or vacuum pump, and apply full
Other economically important fungi may be used in addition to suction for 15 min. During suctioning, cover the funnel with a
the tolerant fungus in special investigations, or in some cases moist cloth on which an inverted cup is placed to prevent
substituted for it. evaporation of water from the exposed soil surface. After 15
NOTE 3—The following numbers refer to standard strains of test fungi min remove the funnel from the suction flask, scrape the soil
maintained in the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 into a weighed receptacle, and weigh to obtain the wet weight,
Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852. W1. Ovendry for 24 h at 105 6 2°C (220 F 6 4°F) and reweigh
7.2 Fungus Species for Softwood Sapwoods: soil, W2. Determine soil moisture content (water-holding ca-
7.2.1 Lentinus lepideus Fr. (Madison 534, ATCC No. pacity) based on the ovendry weight of soil.
12653)—A fungus particularly tolerant to creosote or to Water2holding capacity ~WHC!, % 5 @~W1 2 W2!/W2# 3 100 (1)
mixtures containing creosotes.
NOTE 4—The water-holding capacity of a soil should be considered as
7.2.2 Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers. ex. Fr.) that percentage of water, based on the ovendry weight of the soil, that is
Murr. = [Lenzites trabea Pers. ex. Fr.] (Madison 617, ATCC retained after subjecting the soil to the following procedure based on a
No. 11539)—A fungus particularly tolerant to phenolic and method of Bouyoucos, G. J. A., “A Comparison Between the Suction
arsenic compounds. Method and the Centrifuge Method of Determining the Moisture Equiva-
7.2.3 Poria placenta (Fr.) Cook = [Poria monticolor Murr.] lent of Soils.” Soils Science, Vol 40, 1935, pp. 165–170.
(Madison 698, ATCC No. 11538)—A fungus particularly 8.2.1 Preparation of Soil Culture Bottles—The soil sub-
tolerant to copper and zinc compounds. Suggested for testing strate, sifted and lightly compacted by tapping, should half-fill
mercury compounds. a culture bottle. This amount of soil, about 120 cm3 for an 8-oz
7.3 Fungus Species for Hardwood Sapwoods: culture bottle, should weigh not less than 90 g when ovendried.
7.3.1 The three fungi listed in 7.2. The water in the completed soil culture bottle should be 130 %
of the water-holding capacity of the soil. To determine the
amount of additional water needed, weigh the volume of soil
9
“Standard for Inspection of Treated Timber Products,” AWPA Standard M 2-73, that will be used to half-fill a culture bottle, W3. Dry this soil
Section 5.51. at 105 6 2°C (220 6 4°F) for 12 h and reweigh, W4. Calculate

3
 D 1413
the amount of water to be added to each culture bottle with that T2 = weight of the test block immediately after impregnation and
particular soil as follows: wiping (equals T1 plus grams of treating solution absorbed),
T3 = weight of test block plus remaining preservative after condi-
Water required, g 5 ~WHC 3 0.013 3 W4! 1 W4 2 W3 (2)
tioning and before exposure to the test fungus,
8.2.2 Add the required amount of water to each culture T3w = weight of the test block plus remaining preservative after
bottle. Then add the corresponding volume of soil to each weathering or leaching and conditioning and before exposure
to the test fungus,
bottle. Level the soil surface and place directly on the soil one Tm = weight of the test blocks immediately after removal from the
sapwood feeder strip for each test block to be used. Steam test bottle and after adherent mycelium has been brushed off,
sterilize the prepared bottles, with caps loosened, at 103 kPa and
(15 psi) for 30 min. This sequence of steps generally leaves the T4 = weight of the test block after test and after final conditioning.
inside surfaces of the culture bottles clean above the soil level
10.1.2 Ovendrying—Dry the marked blocks in the drying
and the water diffuses through the soil during sterilization
oven (see 4.3) for 24 h. Remove the blocks to a desiccator and
without puddling. A funnel with a stem of large diameter that
when cool weigh each block to the nearest 0.01 g. This weight
reaches nearly to the bottom of the culture bottles can be made
and used to admit soil with minimum dust settlement on the is the initial or untreated weight of the block (T1). Keep the
glass. ovendried blocks over phosphorus pentoxide in an appropriate
desiccator until impregnated.
9. Preparation of Test Cultures 10.2 Preparation of Treating Solutions of Preservatives
Under Test—Make up the treating solutions of the preserva-
9.1 After the sterilized soil culture bottles are thoroughly tives in appropriate gradient concentrations so as to leave in the
cooled, cut approximately 10-mm square fungus inoculum blocks, after removal of the solvent, a range of retentions
sections from a petri dish culture that is not more than 3 weeks running from below to above the anticipated threshold. The
(Note 5). Immediately place the square of inoculum in contact lowest retention (exclusive of blocks treated with solvent only,
with an edge of the feeder strip on the soil. Close the culture see 10.6) shall be low enough to permit fungus attack and
bottles with lids released one-fourth turn from a tightened consequent decay and definite weight loss. When the preser-
position, and incubate at the desired temperature for approxi- vative is soluble in water make the required concentrations
mately 3 weeks or until the feeder strips are covered by with reagent water. Preservatives that are insoluble in water,
mycelium. The culture bottles are now ready to receive the test such as creosote, creosote-coal tar solutions, and solutions of
blocks. pentachlorophenol or copper naphthenate in an oil carrier,
NOTE 5—When not in active use, store the test cultures in test tube agar dilute with toluene. The dilutions are necessary to provide a
slants in a refrigerator maintained between 2 and 5°C (35 and 40°F). uniform distribution of preservative at retentions low enough to
When the slants are used to inoculate petri dishes, inoculate and incubate permit fungus attack and to determine threshold values for the
replacement slants until the surface of the slant is covered by mycelium various test fungi employed. All preservatives should be in
prior to refrigeration. The test tube that works well is a 150 by 16 mm, such a state of solution before use that the active ingredients
equipped with a plastic screw cap. It is recommended that the liner in the
will be well distributed throughout the treated wood. The
cap be removed before using. Depending on the type of refrigerator used,
check the agar slants every 1 to 2 months for loss of moisture. When the number of concentrations to be made up for any given
culture appears excessively dry, prepare new slants and inoculate (see 8.1). preservative depends on whether it is possible to anticipate a
It is suggested that three test tube slants of each test fungus be maintained threshold and how close it is necessary to determine it. The
as outlined above. preferred procedure is to run a preliminary test to locate an
approximate threshold, and then to run a critical series of tests,
10. Preparation and Impregnation of Test Blocks narrowing the interval between concentrations around the level
10.1 Initial Conditioning and Initial Weights—Before im- of the approximate threshold.
pregnation, condition the test blocks by either of the following 10.3 Number of Blocks in a Treatment Group—The number
methods: of blocks to be treated with a given concentration of preserva-
10.1.1 Conditioning at Specified Temperature and Relative tive, for testing by a single fungus, may vary. Usually, it is
Humidity—Mark each block (for example, with waterproof desirable to treat the least number of blocks per concentration
ink) and bring the test blocks to a constant moisture equilib- required to prepare no less than four test bottles. The smaller
rium in the conditioning room. Weigh the blocks to the nearest the interval between concentrations of treating solution, the
0.01 g just before treatment. This weight (T1) is referred to as smaller the number required. The primary concern should be to
the initial or untreated weight of the test block (Note 6). After see that the number of blocks is sufficient to define clearly the
weighing keep the test blocks in the conditioning room until relation between preservative retention and weight change in
they are to be impregnated with the preservative. the blocks during test.
10.4 Treatment Procedure—It is desirable to choose blocks
NOTE 6—Coding the different weights as T1, T2, etc., avoids confusion
and simplifies recording data. The suggested system of T designations is
for treatment that have the narrowest practicable spread in
as follows, record all weights in grams: density; for example, weight differences not exceeding 0.5 g
among blocks in a given test are desirable and should be
obtainable. Place the blocks to be treated with a given
T1 = initial weight of the conditioned or oven-dried test block concentration of preservative in a suitable beaker and weight
before impregnation,
them down to prevent eventual floating on the treating solution.

4
 D 1413
Place the beaker in the desiccator or bell-jar of the impregna- To convert kg/m3 to lb/ft3, divide by 16.0.
tion apparatus (Fig. 1) directly below the outlet from the 10.6 Control Blocks—For each fungus used in a preserva-
separatory funnel or treating solution flask. Attach the appara- tive test, condition and treat with solvent only at least five
tus to the vacuum or suction pump and reduce the pressure in blocks taken from the density lot being used in that particular
the treating chamber to 100 mm (3.94 in.) Hg or less and hold test. Put these control blocks through all steps of the decay test.
this pressure for 20 to 30 min. Pour the prepared solution of the The uniformity of weight loss caused in them by the test fungus
preservative into the separatory funnel or solution flask, using serves as an indication of the normalcy of the individual tests
sufficient solution so that the blocks will remain covered after and an indication of the stability of test conditions from one
the treatment is completed. At the end of the holding period test to another. The control blocks also provide weight change
close the stopcock to the vacuum or suction pump and open the data for use when it is desired to correct the weights of blocks
access to the separatory funnel or solution flask so that the for changes in moisture content in solvent retention. Similarly,
treating solution flows into the beaker with the test blocks and untreated control blocks in the same density range should be
covers them. Then the partial vacuum is broken. Remove the put through all stages of the decay test when evaluating, for
beaker from the treating chamber and cover with a watch glass example, undiluted creosote or some chemical modification of
or plastic film to minimize loss of treating solution by wood.
evaporation. Leave the blocks submerged in the treating
solution for at least 30 min. A longer time is necessary for some 11. Conditioning Treated Blocks
treating solutions in order to obtain maximum and uniform 11.1 After the blocks have been impregnated and weighed
absorptions in the blocks (Note 7). Remove the blocks from the to obtain absorption, space them on trays or racks and expose
solution individually, wipe lightly to remove surface preserva- them under open laboratory room conditions for 48 to 72 h.
tive solution, and immediately weigh to the nearest 0.01 g (T2). Then place all such treated blocks, whether initially condi-
Record the gain in weight (T2 − T1) as the grams of treating tioned or ovendried, in the conditioning room and leave them
solution absorbed (Note 6). there for 21 days, unless the blocks are to be weathered (see
12.1).
NOTE 7—Calculated retentions are based on equal distribution of the
preservative in the wood. Such distribution is obtained only if the
11.2 Weigh the individual blocks to the nearest 0.01 g (T3)
absorptions represent the total amount of liquid a block will hold. Most of just before they are sterilized and subsequently placed in
the air has been evacuated from the wood before the preservative solution contact with the test fungus on the feeder strip (see Section 13).
is introduced, leaving the cell cavities free to be filled with the solution. This weight (Note 5) will be used in determining the loss
The amount of air space available to hold liquids has been determined for during the decay test (see Section 16).
woods of different density and moisture content.10 The approximate
maximum absorption to be expected can therefore be computed from the 12. Preservative Permanence
percentage of air space and the specific gravity of the treating solution.
The greater the volume of air space (the lower the density), the greater the
12.1 Weathering Procedure for Oil-Type Preservatives—
absorption that should be obtained if all air cavities are filled. With Start the weathering procedure 3 days after treatment of the
water-soluble preservatives, absorptions are higher than for oil-type blocks. Expose the blocks first to a leaching test and then to a
preservatives because water not only fills the air spaces, but is also volatility test. The schedule for both totals is approximately 14
absorbed in the cell walls. days.
10.5 Calculation of Retentions—Calculate the amount of 12.1.1 Leaching Test—Space equally all blocks of a given
preservative absorbed by the block, that is, the retention, as retention group, but no more than eight per beaker, on
kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3) of wood as follows: hardware cloth supports in 600-cm3 beakers. Weight down the
blocks in each beaker and add water to fill the beaker. Keep the
Retention, kg/m3 5 ~GC/V! 3 10 (3) water at room temperature for 2 h. Then pour off the water,
and as pounds of preservative per cubic foot (lb/ft3) of wood remove the weights and proceed with the volatility test.
as follows: 12.1.2 Volatility Test—Prior to placing the beakers contain-
Retention, lb/ft3 5 ~GC ~62.4!/100 V! (4)
ing the blocks in the weathering apparatus (see 4.9.1), check to
make sure that the blocks are still spaced equally on the
where: hardware cloth without touching the side of the beaker or one
G = (T2 − T1) = grams of treating solution absorbed by another. Weather the blocks for 334 h (13.9 days) at a suitable
the block (initial weight of block before treatment temperature to maintain the blocks at 48.9 6 1.1°C (120 6
subtracted from the initial weight plus the treating 2°F). Periodically, measure the temperature inside an untreated
solution absorbed), block by means of a thermocouple snugly or tightly fitted in a
C = grams of preservative in 100 g of treating solution, small hole drilled halfway through the block, to assure that the
V = volume of block, cm3, and specified temperature is being maintained. Repeat for different
62.4 = factor for converting grams per cubic centimetre to beakers or trays to ensure uniform temperature throughout the
pounds per cubic foot. oven.
12.2 Leaching Procedure for Water-Borne Preservatives—
Expose the blocks to leaching by reagent water in a constant-
10
MacLean, J. D., “Effect of Moisture Changes on the Shrinkage, Swelling,
temperature room maintained at 27 6 1°C (80 6 2°F). For
Specific Gravity, Air or Void Space, Weight, and Similar Properties of Wood,” each retention group, place four treated blocks in a 225-cm3
Forest Products Laboratory Report No. 1448., U.S. Forest Service, 1958. (8-oz), widemouth, screw-capped bottle and weight them down

5
 D 1413
with inert material and cover the blocks with 50-cm3 of water Weight loss, % 5 ~100 ~T3 2 T4!/T3! (5)
for each block. Place the bottles containing the blocks covered Use T3w instead of T3 in the case of weathered blocks.
with water in a vacuum desiccator and evacuate to a pressure
of 100 mm (3.94 in.) Hg or less for 1⁄2h or until air bubbles
17. Evaluation of Test Results
cease to escape from the submerged blocks. Then break the
vacuum to allow the impregnation of blocks by the water, and 17.1 Threshold Retention—Determine the minimum
remove the weights from the blocks. After 6, 24, and 48 h, and amount of preservative that is effective in preventing signifi-
thereafter at every 24-h interval for a period of 2 weeks remove cant decay, under the conditions of the test, by a particular
the leach water from the bottle, measure in a graduate and save fungus. This amount of preservative in terms of kilograms per
for analysis if desired. Replace the amount of leach water cubic metre (kg/m3) or pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3) of wood,
removed by a fresh change of water.5 is referred to as the “threshold retention.” The threshold is
12.2.1 Loss of Preservative—Remove any film, especially determined by visual inspection and by estimating the point at
in the case of copper bearing preservatives, adhering to the which weight loss caused by decay does not occur.
glass walls of the bottles with hydrochloric acid and add to the 17.2 Visual Evidence of Decay—Examine the blocks after
leach water for analysis. Check 10-cm3 aliquots of the 6-h they have been conditioned and weighed at the completion of
leach water qualitatively for each of the components in the the test. Distortion, shrinkage, and softening of the blocks
original salt formulation. When the presence of leached com- should be considered as evidences of decay. The abnormalities
ponents has been established qualitatively, determine their are usually pronounced in the blocks with the lower retentions
amount by appropriate chemical analysis. Calculate the loss of preservative, but they become progressively less evident
from the original retention, as determined by the weight with higher retentions, until they are no longer apparent. Visual
increase of the blocks (T2 − T1). inspection should not be relied on since decay is sometimes not
12.3 Weight After Weathering or Leaching—At the end of readily seen, especially near the threshold retention level.
the weathering or leaching procedure, place the blocks directly 17.3 Use of Weight-Loss Percentages—The calculated
in the conditioning room. As soon as the blocks have reached weight-loss percentages (see Section 16) may contain certain
a constant moisture equilibrium, weigh each block to the operational complications. These may be the result of loss of
nearest 0.01 g (T3w). preservative during the test period or failure of the blocks to
13. Sterilization of Treated Test Blocks and Placement in come to exactly the same moisture equilibrium as before the
Culture Bottles test period. Such losses, which are not due to decay, may show
a progressive increase from lower to higher retentions (Fig. 3),
13.1 Before putting the test blocks in the culture bottles,
particularly in the case of a volatile preservative. When the
place them by retention groups into closed containers and
weight losses in blocks show an increase, and the increase is
steam at 100 6 2°C (212 6 4°F) for 20 min. After cooling,
progressive as the retention decreases, decay loss, in addition
aseptically place the test blocks, with a cross-section face
to any operational loss, is indicated. The threshold value is then
centered in contact with the mycelium-covered feeder strip, in
considered to be the average retention at which this transition
the previously prepared culture bottles (see 4.10 and 9.1).
in weight loss is indicated. Slight surface decay that is not
14. Incubation and Duration of Test progressive may be shown by blocks having retentions that are
somewhat above the threshold. In such instances, decay losses
14.1 Place screw cap snugly on each culture bottle, then
leading to determination of thresholds are not considered to
loosen one-quarter turn (see Section 9). Place the culture
occur until there is a definite increase in weight losses over and
bottles containing the test blocks in the incubation room and
above those relatively low ones that result from surface decay.
keep them there for 12 weeks.
15. Handling Test Blocks After Exposure to Test Fungi 18. Refining the Threshold
15.1 At the end of the incubation period (see Section 14), 18.1 If the threshold is indeterminate because of wide
remove the blocks from the culture bottles. Carefully brush off intervals in the retention gradient chosen, or for any other
the mycelium. If data on moisture content in the blocks are reason, repeat the test using closer gradient intervals near the
desired, weigh the individual blocks to the nearest 0.01 g (Tm). approximate threshold level, with a view to locating the
Then place the blocks on trays or racks in the conditioning threshold as accurately as possible.
chamber or room until they reach equilibrium weight. (Heat in
excess of 32°C (90°F) should not be used.) Then weigh the 19. Report
blocks individually to the nearest 0.01 g (T4).
19.1 Reports of test results should include concise informa-
16. Calculation of Weight Losses tion and data on all essential phases of the test.
16.1 Calculate the weight loss from the conditioned weights
20. Keywords
of the block immediately before and after testing, as follows
(see Note 5): 20.1 cultures; laboratory; preservatives; soil block

6
 D 1413

FIG. 3 Weight Loss for Pentachlorophenol Treated Blocks Put Through Soil-Block Test—Test Fungus Madison 617

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