ASTM D4442-16

Standard Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Moisture content is one of the most important variables affecting the properties of wood and wood-based materials. The procedures in these test methods are structured to permit the full range of use from fundamental research to industrial processing. Method A is designed for obtaining the most precise values of moisture content consistent with the needs of the user. It also provides means of assessing variability contributed by the oven or specimen hygroscopicity, or both. In addition, criteria are described for defining the endpoint in oven-drying. Method A is the reference (primary) standard for determining moisture content of wood and wood-based materials. Methods B through D are secondary methods to permit relatively simple procedures of measuring moisture content, but with less precision than Method A.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the moisture content (MC) of wood, veneer, and other wood-based materials, including those that contain adhesives and chemical additives. The test methods below describe primary (A) and secondary (B through D) procedures to measure moisture content:    
Method A—Primary Oven-Drying Method  
Method B—Secondary Oven-Drying Method  
Method C—Distillation (Secondary) Method  
Method D—Other Secondary Methods.  
1.2 The primary oven-drying method (Method A) is intended as the sole primary method. It is structured for research purposes where the highest accuracy or degree of precision is needed.  
1.3 The secondary methods (B through D) are intended for special purposes or under circumstances where the primary procedure (Method A) is not desired or justified. In these procedures, moisture content values cannot be reported with an accuracy greater than integer percentage values (that is, lower than in Method A).  
1.4 Distillation (secondary) method is intended for use with materials that have been chemically treated or impregnated such that the oven-drying procedures introduce greater error than desired in the results.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2016
• ICS: 79.040 - Wood, sawlogs and sawn timber
• ICS: 79.060.01 - Wood-based panels in general
• Technical Committee: D07 - Wood
• Drafting Committee: D07.01 - Fundamental Test Methods and Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4442-15 - Standard Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Replaced By: ASTM D4442-20 - Standard Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2020
• Referred By: ASTM D5824-98(2023) - Standard Test Method for Determining Resistance to Delamination of Adhesive Bonds in Overlay-Wood Core Laminates Exposed to Heat and Water
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7469-22 - Standard Test Methods for End Joints in Structural Wood Products
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E2579-23a - Standard Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Wood Products to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7147-21 - Standard Specification for Testing and Establishing Allowable Loads of Joist Hangers
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7119/D7119M-21 - Standard Guide for Sampling Spray Polyurethane Foam and Coating in Roofing
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D5751-99(2019) - Standard Specification for Adhesives Used for Laminate Joints in Nonstructural Lumber Products
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E2779-10(2017) - Standard Test Method for Determining Particulate Matter Emissions from Pellet Heaters
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E2632/E2632M-20 - Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Under-Deck Fire Test Response of Deck Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D1037-12(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Properties of Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7033-22 - Standard Practice for Establishing Design Capacities for Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM E72-22 - Standard Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels for Building Construction
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7433-19 - Standard Test Method for Measuring Surface Water Absorption of Overlaid Wood-Based Panels
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D1761-20 - Standard Test Methods for Mechanical Fasteners in Wood and Wood-Based Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2016

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4442 − 16
Standard Test Methods for
Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-
1
Based Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4442; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the
moisture content (MC) of wood, veneer, and other wood-based
2. Referenced Documents
materials, including those that contain adhesives and chemical
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
additives. The test methods below describe primary (A) and
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Prod-
secondary (B through D) procedures to measure moisture
ucts
content:
D4933 Guide for Moisture Conditioning of Wood and
MethodA—Primary Oven-Drying Method
Wood-Based Materials
Method B—Secondary Oven-Drying Method
Method C—Distillation (Secondary) Method
Method D—Other Secondary Methods.
3. Terminology
1.2 The primary oven-drying method (Method A) is in-
3.1 Definitions:
tended as the sole primary method. It is structured for research
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
purposes where the highest accuracy or degree of precision is
to Terminology D9.
needed.
3.1.2 moisture content—the amount of water contained in
the wood, usually expressed as a percentage of the mass of the
1.3 The secondary methods (B through D) are intended for
oven-dry wood (in accordance with Terminology D9).
special purposes or under circumstances where the primary
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The moisture content of wood or other
procedure (Method A) is not desired or justified. In these
wood-based materials can be expressed either as a percentage
procedures,moisturecontentvaluescannotbereportedwithan
of oven-dry mass of the sample (oven-dry basis) or as a
accuracy greater than integer percentage values (that is, lower
percentage of the original mass (wet basis). The methods
than in Method A).
described in this standard refer to the oven-dry basis. Because
1.4 Distillation (secondary) method is intended for use with
oven-dry mass is used, moisture content values may exceed
materials that have been chemically treated or impregnated
100 %. The term moisture content when used with wood or
such that the oven-drying procedures introduce greater error
other wood-based materials can be misleading since they
than desired in the results.
frequently contain varying amounts of volatile compounds
(extractives that are evaporated when determining moisture
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
content). Definition of the moisture content of wood is further
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
complicated when determined by a thermal method because of
standard.
thermal degradation, which causes the final moisture-free mass
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
to decrease from small but continuous losses.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Moisture content is one of the most important variables
affecting the properties of wood and wood-based materials.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on
The procedures in these test methods are structured to permit
Wood and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.01 on Fundamental
Test Methods and Properties.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2016. Published November 2016. Originally
2
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D4442 – 15. DOI: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
10.1520/D4442-16. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
These test methods replace, in part, Test Methods D2016, for Moisture Content Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
of Wood, discontinued 1989. the ASTM website.
Copyright ©ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4442 − 16
the full range of use from fundamental research to industrial under 5.3.1.1 are used. Equilibration is not required, although
processing. Method A is designed for obtaining the most it is preferable that the material be as uniform as possible in
precise values of moisture content consistent with the needs of moisture conten
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4442 − 15 D4442 − 16
Standard Test Methods for
Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-
1
Based Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4442; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the moisture content (MC) of wood, veneer, and other wood-based materials,
including those that contain adhesives and chemical additives. The test methods below describe primary (A) and secondary (B
through D) procedures to measure moisture content:
Method A—Primary Oven-Drying Method
Method B—Secondary Oven-Drying Method
Method C—Distillation (Secondary) Method
Method D—Other Secondary Methods.
1.2 The primary oven-drying method (Method A) is intended as the sole primary method. It is structured for research purposes
where the highest accuracy or degree of precision is needed.
1.3 The secondary methods (B through D) are intended for special purposes or under circumstances where the primary
procedure (Method A) is not desired or justified. In these procedures, moisture content values cannot be reported with an accuracy
greater than integer percentage values. However, a greater level of accuracy may be reported if the appropriate primary procedures
are used. values (that is, lower than in Method A).
1.4 Distillation (secondary) method is intended for use with materials that have been chemically treated or impregnated such
that the oven-drying procedures introduce greater error than desired in the results.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Products
D4933 Guide for Moisture Conditioning of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D9.
3.1.2 moisture content—the amount of water contained in the wood, usually expressed as a percentage of the mass of the
oven-dry wood (in accordance with Terminology D9).
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on Wood and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.01 on Fundamental Test Methods
and Properties.
Current edition approved June 1, 2015Nov. 15, 2016. Published August 2015November 2016. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20072015
as D4442 – 07.D4442 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/D4442-15.10.1520/D4442-16.
These test methods replace, in part, Test Methods D2016, for Moisture Content of Wood, discontinued 1989.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4442 − 16
The moisture content of wood or other wood-based materials can be expressed either as a percentage of oven-dry mass of the
sample (oven-dry basis) or as a percentage of the original mass (wet basis). The methods described in this standard refer to the
oven-dry basis. Because oven-dry mass is used, moisture content values may exceed 100 %. The term moisture content when used
with wood or other wood-based materials can be misleading since they frequently contain varying amounts of volatile compounds
(extractives that are evaporated when determining moisture content). Definition of the moisture content of wood is further
complicated when determined by a thermal method because of thermal degradation, which causes the final moisture-free mass to
decrease from small but continuous losses.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Moisture content is one of the most importan
...