Abstract
LIFETIME Wood Treatment made up of naturally occurring plant and mineral substances was investigated for its effectiveness against fungi by an accelerated laboratory decay test. Japanese cedar blocks treated with it acquired high durability against the white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor. They also showed weak resistance against the brown-rot fungus, Fomitopsis palustris. How-ever, in the latter case, about 30% of mass loss was observed after decay treatment for 12 weeks. In the Japanese Industrial Standard K 1571, 3% of mass loss is the maximum percentage allowed for wood preservatives to pass the decay test. LIFETIME can improve wood durability against fungi but its effectiveness is lower than that of wood preservatives certified by the standard such as JIS K 1571.
