CEN/TR 15046:2005

Wood preservatives - Artificial weathering of treated wood prior to biological testing - UV-radiation and water-spraying procedure

This document specifies a method for the artificial weathering of test specimens of treated wood, which are used in the testing of the biological efficacy of wood preservatives.
This method is applicable to:
a)   the pre-conditioning of test specimens prior to their being subjected to a biological test; or
b)   assessment of loss of effectiveness by comparing the performance in a biological test of treated test specimens subjected to this procedure with others that have not undergone any artificial weathering procedure.
NOTE   The method can also be used for pre-conditioning of wood-based panel products, which may or may not have received preservative treatment.

Holzschutzmittel - Künstliche Bewitterung von behandeltem Holz vor biologischen Prüfungen - Beanspruchung mit UV-Strahlung und Wassersprühen

Produits de préservation du bois - Exposition artificielle aux intempéries des bois traités avant essais biologiques - Epreuves de rayonnement UV et de pulvérisation d'eau

Le présent document prescrit une méthode d'exposition artificielle d'éprouvettes de bois traité utilisées lors de l'essai de l'efficacité biologique des produits de préservation du bois.
Cette méthode s'applique :
a)   au conditionnement préalable des éprouvettes avant de les soumettre à un essai biologique ; ou
b)   à l'évaluation de la perte d'efficacité, en comparant, lors d'un essai biologique, les performances d'éprouvettes traitées soumises à cette épreuve à celles d'autres éprouvettes n'ayant pas subi d'exposition artificielle aux intempéries.
NOTE   La méthode peut également être appliquée pour le conditionnement préalable de panneaux à base de bois ayant pu avoir subi un traitement de préservation ou pas.

Zaščitna sredstva za les - Umetno vremensko staranje zaščitenega lesa pred biološkim preskušanjem – Postopek UV-sevanja in vodnega škropljenja

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-Mar-2005
• ICS: 71.100.50 - Wood-protecting chemicals
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 38 - Durability of wood and derived materials
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 38/WG 25 - External Factors and Preconditioning
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 09-Mar-2005
• Completion Date: 09-Mar-2005
• Directive: 305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Directive: 89/106/EEC - Construction products
• Ref Project: SIST-TP CEN/TR 15046:2005 - Wood preservatives - Artificial weathering of treated wood prior to biological testing - UV-radiation and water-spraying procedure

Overview - CEN/TR 15046:2005 (Wood preservatives, artificial weathering)

CEN/TR 15046:2005 defines a standardized artificial weathering procedure for treated wood test specimens used in the biological testing of wood preservatives. The method uses UV-radiation (UVA‑340) and water-spraying cycles to simulate outdoor degradation before exposing specimens to fungi or insect test methods. It is intended both for pre-conditioning specimens and for assessing loss of preservative efficacy after accelerated weathering.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Purpose: Pre-conditioning of treated wood or comparison of biologically tested specimens with/without artificial weathering.
• Exposure system: Corrosion‑resistant test chamber with UVA‑340 lamps, heated water tray, spray nozzles, and stainless steel specimen holders.
• Lamp and irradiance: Lamps commonly called UVA‑340 (spectral distribution specified). Maximum irradiance set point: ≤ 1,03 W/(m²·nm) at 340 nm. Monitor with calibrated irradiance control and black panel thermometer.
• Weathering programme: Defined cycle of UV, spray (demineralised water), and condensation/conditioning steps. Programme runs 672 hours (4 weeks)-two repeats of a 336 h cycle. Specimen holder positions rotated every 7 days.
• Water and spray: Use demineralised water (no recirculation); recommended spray flow around 3 l/min; intermittent spray programmable.
• Temperature controls: UV exposure temperature ≤ 50 °C; dark/conditioning phase ≤ 40 °C.
• Freezing and drying: Specimens are transferred to a deep freezer at (-18 ± 2) °C during specific steps. After weathering, specimens are dried in a conditioning chamber at (20 ± 2) °C, 65 ± 5 % RH until constant mass (±0.1 g between 24 h weighings).
• Post‑weathering: Repair end-seals where necessary and proceed to biological tests. Exposed faces should face test organisms when applying EN biological methods.

Practical applications and users

This technical report is used by:

• Test laboratories performing biological efficacy tests on wood preservatives.
• Manufacturers of treated timber and wood-based panels who need pre-conditioning protocols for product evaluation.
• Research organizations studying accelerated weathering effects on preservative performance.
• Certification bodies referencing standardized conditioning prior to biological testing.

Typical applications: pre-conditioning specimens for EN 113, EN 46 / EN 47, ENV 839 and other biological test standards; evaluating loss of preservative effectiveness after simulated outdoor exposure.

Related standards

• EN 113 - protective effectiveness against basidiomycetes
• EN 46 / EN 47 - insect larval test methods
• ENV 839 - surface treatment efficacy
• CEN/TR 14723 - FACT project summary on field and accelerated conditioning

Cite CEN/TR 15046:2005 in test reports to document the artificial weathering pre‑conditioning used.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2005
=DãþLWQDVUHGVWYD]DOHV8PHWQRYUHPHQVNRVWDUDQMH]DãþLWHQHJDOHVDSUHG
ELRORãNLPSUHVNXãDQMHP±3RVWRSHN89VHYDQMDLQYRGQHJDãNURSOMHQMD
Wood preservatives - Artificial weathering of treated wood prior to biological testing - UV-
radiation and water-spraying procedure
Holzschutzmittel - Künstliche Bewitterung von behandeltem Holz vor biologischen
Prüfungen - Beanspruchung mit UV-Strahlung und Wassersprühen
Produits de préservation du bois - Exposition artificielle aux intempéries des bois traités
avant essais biologiques - Epreuves de rayonnement UV et de pulvérisation d'eau
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 15046:2005
ICS:
71.100.50 .HPLNDOLMH]D]DãþLWROHVD Wood-protecting chemicals
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL REPORT
CEN/TR 15046
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
March 2005
ICS 71.100.50
English version
Wood preservatives - Artificial weathering of treated wood prior
to biological testing - UV-radiation and water-spraying procedure
Produits de préservation du bois - Exposition artificielle aux Holzschutzmittel - Künstliche Bewitterung von behandeltem
intempéries des bois traités avant essais biologiques - Holz vor biologischen Prüfungen - Beanspruchung mit UV-
Epreuves de rayonnement UV et de pulvérisation d'eau Strahlung und Wassersprühen
This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 3 February 2005. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 38.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2005 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 15046:2005: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents
Page
1 Scope .5
2 Principle.5
3 Material and apparatus.5
3.1 Material .5
3.2 Apparatus .5
4 Test specimens.7
4.1 Definition and origin.7
4.2 Number of test specimens.7
5 Procedure .7
5.1 Artificial weathering .7
5.2 Duration of the artificial weathering procedure.10
5.3 Drying.10
5.4 Repairing the end-sealing.10
6 Destination of the test specimens after the artificial weathering procedure .10
7 Test report .10
Annex A (informative) Example of a suitable test specimens holder .11

Foreword
This document (CEN/TR 15046:2005) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 38 “Durability of
wood and derived materials”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Report: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the
United Kingdom.
Introduction
This document is based on the results of the S.M.T. Project: F.A.C.T, SMT 4 CT 96 2135 and in particular in
accordance with the findings of Task 1 which consisted of a study of artificial weathering techniques for the
conditioning of treated test blocks prior to biological test. (see the summary of the research in CEN/TR 14723)
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the artificial weathering of test specimens of treated wood, which are
used in the testing of the biological efficacy of wood preservatives.
This method is applicable to:
a) the pre-conditioning of test specimens prior to their being subjected to a biological test; or
b) assessment of loss of effectiveness by comparing the performance in a biological test of treated test
specimens subjected to this procedure with others that have not undergone any artificial weathering
procedure.
NOTE The method can also be used for pre-conditioning of wood-based panel products, which may or may not have
received preservative treatment.
2 Principle
Artificial weathering for a specified period in a device providing UV-radiation and spraying of demineralised
water, of test specimens that have been prepared for biological testing of the efficacy of a wood preservative
against fungi or insects, using the appropriate standard methods.
3 Material and apparatus
3.1 Material
3.1.1 Water, demineralised.
NOTE For example water conforming to the grade 3 specified in EN ISO 3696 may be used.
3.1.2 End-sealing material, according to the specifications recommended in the standard test method to be
applied after the artificial weathering.
3.2 Apparatus
3.2.1 Test chamber
The test chamber is made from corrosion resistant material in which are housed the lamps, a heated water tray,
spray nozzles and test specimen racks.
3.2.1.1 Lamps
The UV lamp emits UV light from a low pressure mercury arc. The required spectral distribution is achieved by a
careful selection of the type of phosphor coating on the inner surface of the lamp and the nature of the glass
used in the construction of the tubes.
Unless otherwise specified or mutually agreed the lamp shall be of the following type:
Lamp, commonly called UVA 340, has a peak emission at 340 nm and the relative spectral irradiance is given in
Table 1.
Table 1 — Relative spectral irradiance of lamp
a
Wavelength Relative spectral irradiance
nm %
270 < λ ≤ 400
λ ≤ 270
270 < λ ≤ 280
280 < λ ≤ 300
7,8 ± 0,8
300 < λ ≤ 320
29,6 ± 3,0
320 < λ ≤ 340
34,4 ± 3,4
340 < λ ≤ 360
20,9 ± 2,1
360 < λ ≤ 380
7,3 ± 0,7
380 < λ ≤ 400
a
The spectral irradiance between 270 nm and 400 nm is defined as 100 %.

3.2.1.2 Device for wetting the test specimens
The test specimens shall be wetted by spray of water. To prevent spotting on to the test specimens water
demineralised (3.1.1) shall be used.
The spray
...