Effect of natural weathering on the fire reaction of wood cladding

Vrhovec, Matevž (author), Knez, Nataša (author), Kitek Kuzman, Manja (author), Lesar, Boštjan (author)

In construction and architecture, modern trends are moving towards the reuse of old wood in both interior and exterior spaces. Wood can be reused for many purposes. In interiors, it can serve as furniture, wall cladding, or ceiling covering. The advantages of old wood include greater dimensional stability, aesthetic appeal, and historical value. However, when reusing wood, the question arises as to how its behaviour in the event of fire changes with age. To compare the fire properties of wood of different ages, we used a cone calorimeter, which allows evaluation of a material’s reaction to fire. For testing, we used larch and spruce wood. For comparison, we took fresh wood, which we surface-treated using different techniques (planing, sanding, and brushing) to facilitate comparison of surface roughness between samples of different ages. The old comparative samples had been exposed to weathering for 10, 40, 80, or 100 years. Testing with the cone calorimeter showed that old wood ignites slightly earlier than fresh wood but releases less heat in the event of fire. The final classification indicated that it can be placed in the same category as fresh wood. Based on the results, we conclude that despite the changes caused by ageing, old wood remains suitable for further use in construction and architecture.

• Language: English
• Keywords: reused wood, reaction to fire, weathering, cladding
• Work type: Other
• Typology: 1.08 - Published Scientific Conference Contribution
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-183351
• UDC: 630*8
• COBISS.SI-ID: 280980227
• Publication date in RUL: 11.06.2026

Record is a part of a monograph

• Title: IRG documents database and compendium
• Place of publishing: Stockholm
• Publisher: IRG Secretariat
• Year: 2004
• COBISS.SI-ID: 82640387

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: ponovna uporaba lesa, reakcija na ogenj, preperevanje, obloge