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information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities,
in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority,
and whereas the attached publication of the Bureau of Indian Standards is of particular interest
to the public, particularly disadvantaged communities and those engaged in the pursuit of
education and knowledge, the attached public safety standard is made available to promote the
timely dissemination of this information in an accurate manner to the public.

“जान1 का अ+धकार, जी1 का अ+धकार” “प0रा1 को छोड न' 5 तरफ”

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Jawaharlal Nehru
“The Right to Information, The Right to Live” “Step Out From the Old to the New”

IS 6791 (1973): Method of testing natural durability of

timber and efficacy of the wood preservatives against
marine borers [CED 9: Timber and Timber Stores]

“!ान $ एक न' भारत का +नम-ण”

Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda
“Invent a New India Using Knowledge”

“!ान एक ऐसा खजाना > जो कभी च0राया नहB जा सकता ह”

है”
ह
Bhartṛhari—Nītiśatakam
“Knowledge is such a treasure which cannot be stolen”
( Reaffirmed 2005 )
 IS t 6791- 1973

Indian Standard
METHOD OF TESTING NATURAL DURABILITY
OF TIMBER AND EFFICACY OF THE WOOD
PRESERVATIVES AGAINST MARINE BORERS

Timber Sectional Committee, BDC 9

Chairman Rejmsenting
SHRI T. N. SRIVAETAVA Ministry of Agriculture
Members
SHBI B. K. BHALLA Western India Match Company Ltd, Bombay
Ssrar G. C. DAS National Test House, Calcutta
SHRI V. N. DESEPANDE Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch ( Ministry of Defence )
DIRECTOR, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION Naval Headquarters ( Ministry of Defence )
DR JOSEPH GEORQE Indian Plywood Industries Research Institute,
Bangalore
Da D. C. ROY ( Alternate)
SHRI D. P. GHOSH Ministry of Defence ( DGI )
SHRI S. A. HEJMADI Ministry of Agriculture
SHRI K. C. JAIN Forest Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh
DR S. KRISHNA SWAMY Railway Board, Ministry of Railways
SHRI K. S. LAULY Federation of Indian Plywood & Panel Industry,
New Delhi
SHRI K. S. NAIR ( AlZernote)
SERIJ. S. MATEARU Directorate General of Technical Development
&RI J. N. MULLICK Forest Department, Government of Himachal
Pradesh
SERI BIMAL NAG Assam Railways & Trading Company Ltd,
Margherita ( Assam )
DR A. N. NAYER Ministry of Defence ( R & D )
&RI U. B. KANCHAN (Alternate)
PRESIDENT Forest Research Institute St Colleges, Dehra Dun
DR A. V. R. RAO National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
DR R. S. RATRA ( Alternate )
SHRI K. RAMESH RAO Forest Research Institute & Colleges (Wood
Anatomy Branch ), Dehra Dun
SHRI A. C. SEKHAR Forest Research Institute & Colleges (Timber
Mechanics Branch ), Dehra Dun
( Continued on page 2)

@ Copyright 1973
BUREAU OFINDIAN STANDAI<DS
This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act ( XIV of 1957 ) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
 IS t 6791-1973

( contimedfrompuge 1 )
Membars Representing
!hlbI SRARANSINQH Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals
SHRI F. C. SEARMA Directorate-General of Civil Aviation ( Ministry of
Tourism & Civil Aviation )
SHEI N. K. SHARMA Forest Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh
SBBI R. C. SAXENA ( Alternnte)
SHBI M; SWARUP Paharpur Timbers Private Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI D. AJITHASIXHA, Director General, IS1 ( Ex-o&o Member )
Director ( Civ Engg )

SHRI K. M. &‘fATEUR
Assistant Director ( Civ Engg ), ISI

Timber Seasoning and Treatment Subcommittee, BDC 9 : 3

Conoener
DR A. PIJRUSHOTE~M Indian Plywood Manufacturing Company,
Dandeli ( Mysore )
Members
CHIEFCONSERVATOR OFFORESTS Agriculture & Forest Department, Government of
Maharashtra
CHIEE CONSERVATOR ov FORESTS Agriculture & Forest Department, Government of
Mysore
FOREST UTILIZATION OBFICER ( Altemuts )
CHIEP CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS Forest Department, Government of Asram
-DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, SAW Eorest Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
~MILL DIVISION, RAJAHMUNDRY
DR JOSEPH GEORQE Indian Plywood Industries Research Institute,
Bangalore
DR S. ANANTHANARAYANAN (Alternate )
SHRI S. K. KAPUR Ministry of Defence ( DC1 )
DR S. KRISANA SWA~UY Railway Board, Ministry of Railways
Sam J. S. MATHARTJ Directorate General of Technical Development
Sanr GEORQE PHILLIP Shalimar Tar Products ( 1935 ) Ltd, Calcutta
DR R. S. RATRA National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
Da M. C. TEWARI Forest Research Institute & Colleges, Dehra Dun
SHRI S. N. SHARMA Forest Research Institute & Colleges ( Wood
Seasoning Branch ), Dehra Dun
SHRI V. R. SONTI ASCU Hickson Private Ltd, Calcutta
SRRI S. SHIVAJI ( Alternate )

2
 fSr6791.1973

Indian Standard
METHOD OF TESTING NATURAL DURABILITY
OF TIMBER AND EFFICACY OF THE WOOD
PRESERVATIVES AGAINST MARINE BORERS

0. FOREWORD
0.1This Indian Standard was adopted.by the Indian Standards Institution
on 16 February 1973, after the draft finalized by the Timber Sectional
Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
0.2 Timber is extensively used under marine conditions for a variety of
purposes, such as for jetties, piles, wharves, bulwarks, floating fenders,
fishing crafts and other sea-going vessels for its anti-corrosive and anti-
magnetic properties, high elasticity and high salvage value. However, it
is susceptible to attack by the marine organisms and this hazard is quite
severe in tropical seas. In our own waters, as-many as 36 species of
wood-boring organisms have so far been identified as riddling the wooden
structures and causing great concern to all the users of timber in this
environment, namely, the Indian Navy, the harbour authorities and the
various fisheries departments. It is imperative, therefore, to assess the
natural durability of various indigenous timbers under marine conditions
before actually putting them to use and also to find out the efficacy of
wood-preservatives which could be utilized to increase the service-life of
particularly the low naturally durable timber species. These aspects of
timber are considered in this standard.
0.3 Details of preservatives and method of preservative treatment of
timber have been covered in IS : 401-1967*. The present standard covers
the method of laboratory test for efficacy of such wood preservatives
under marine conditions. c

0.4 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been given to
international co-ordination among the standards and practices prevailing
in different countries in addition to relating it to the practices in the
field in this country.
0.5 In the preparation of this standard valuable data were supplied by
the Forest Research Institute & Colleges, Dehra Dun.
‘Code of practice for preservationof timber ( secondr&ion ).

3
IS : 6791.1973

0.6 In reporting the results of a test or analysis made in accordance with

this standard, if the final value, observed or calculated, is to be rounded
off, it shall be done in accordance with IS : 2-1960*.

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard covers the following methods of testing under marine
conditions:
a) the natural durability of heartwood of indigenous timber species,
and
b) the efficacy of wood preservatives.

2. TESTING PROCEDURE
2.1 Size - Size of the specimens to be tested shall be 30 x 5 x 5 cm.
2.2 selection of Timber for Specimens-All commercial species of
timbers suitable for use in sea water should be tested from specimens
taken from the heartwood for evaluating natural durability. For each
species, at least two trees should be selected for taking out specimens. If
any species occurs in more than one growing area and there are conside-
rable variations in their properties, sets of two trees should be obtained
from each of the growing areas,
2.3 Number of Specimens to be Taken Out for Tests -For the
purpose of comparison between treated and untreated specimens, it is
preferable to select one preservative belonging to the oil type, creosote,
and another of the water soluble type, such as copper-chrome-arsenic
composition. These should be impregnated in the timber at least at 2
different levels of absorption ( 160 kg/mS and 320 kg/m3 in case of creo-
sote or creosote-fuel oil mixture 1 : 1, and 16 kg/m5 and 32 kg/ma dry salt
in case of copper-chrome-arsenic-composition). Thus, 4 treated and 1
untreated specimens should be used for each tree of the same species.
Three sets of similarly prepared test specimens shall be used for each level &
of absorption.
2.4 Method of Exposure - Each of the specimens so treated with these
two different preservatives shall be suspended vertically at the opposite
sides of a rectangular raft ( see Fig. 1 ) and the untreated specimens
( controls ) on the other two sides of the raft using suitable ropes for tying
at 5 cm intervals commencing from 0.35 m below the low water mark.
If the number of specimens to be tested is large, the ‘central hall’ of the
raft can also be used.
*Rules for roundingoff numericalvalues ( revised).

4
 ulysis made in accordance with
x calculated, is to be rounded
: 2-1960*.

lethods of testing under marine

Dad of indigenous timber species,

"S.

tested shall be 30 x 5 X 5 cm.

tens - All commercial species of

tiould be tested from specimens
mg natural durability. For each
:;ted for taking out specimens. If
,wing area and there are conside- -2--- -.-_- -----_
- _ -.

of two trees should be obtained

GENERAL VIEW, OF RAFT k__ g*--
--go m
~- 360 .--- _-__-_-_

z&m Out for Tests - For the ILOCK 3Dx5x5cm

rd and untreated specimens, it is
-longing to the oil type, creosote,
le, such as copper-chrome-arsemc
,mated in the timber at least at 2
‘ims and 320 kg/ms in case of creo-
nd 16 kg/m3 and 32 kg/m3 dry salt
(position >. Thus, 4 treated and 1
Yor each tree of the same species.
cecimens shall be used for each level

Bhe specimens so treated with these

Impended vertically at the opposite
1 ) and the untreated specimens
Ule raft using suitable ropes for tying
035 m below the low water mark.
zd is laqe,
\ the ‘ central hall ’ of the

DETAILS OF RAFT DESIGN

NoTm - There are 15 rack.s, 7 in the central hall and 8 around the raft ( each Ml-cm long ), and capable of holding 5 strings SvitIl 4 or
mnre blocks per string, thus allowing a total of 300 blocks per raft.
.lII dimensions in centimetrcs.
FIG. 1 RAFT
c I
.
5
As in the Original Standard, this Page is Intentionally Left Blank
 IS : 6791 - 1973

2.5 Test Sites - The number of test sites would depend upon the variation
found in the fauna1 composition and also, on the intensity of their attack,
As many test sites as possible should be selected.
2.6 Observations - Monthly observations in the first year, quarterly in
the second year, half-yearly in the third year, and yearly later on, are
considered sufficient.
2.7 Recording of Data - The number of borer holes of each major
borer species in this test site are to be counted on each of the four surfaces
and the two end surfaces separately. The approximate area of the borer
holes made by each major borer on each of the six surfaces is then evalu-
ated and finally the percentage of the borer holes on all the surfaces put
together, as the percentage of total surface area evaluated. Even though,
it is not easy to correlate the area of borer holes with the loss in strength,
the specimens may be rejected when 50 percent -of the total area is covered
by borer holes. If there are facilities for evaluating the strength, this
additional information could also be collected, which may be useful in
correlating the intensity of attack by any borer species with the corres-
ponding damage on strength properties of the specimens.
2.8 Efficacy of Wood Preservatives - The efficacy of wood preserva-
tives could be evaluated by using at least three levels of absorption of
each preservative and employing at least two non-durable species of
timber, such as Mangz~m indica (mango ); Pinus roxburghii ( chir ) which
are easy to impregnate. Other details for carrying out these tests will be
the same as given in 2.4 to 2.7.
2.8.1 A suitable statistical design shall-be worked out for installation
of the specimens according to the number of species selected for testing.
The result of the observations shall be subjected to standard statistical
analysis. If tests are carried out at different times, at least two standard
species, one belonging to the broad-leaved ( hardwood ) and the
other to the coniferous ( softwood ) ( sfe 2.8 ) treated by two standard
preservatives as in 2.3, shall be tried each time, the results of which
could form a link for the purpose of evaluating the results obtained at
different times. The preservatives and treatment processes shall conform L
to IS : 401-1967*.

-*Code of practice for preservationof timber (,&md revision ).

7
ON

SEASONING AND TREATMENT OF TIMBER

IS:
287-1973 Recommendations for maximum permissible moisture content ‘of timber used
for different purposes in different climatic zones (second revision )
401-1967 Code of practice for preservation of timber (second revision )
1141-1973 Code of practice for seasoning of timber (first rsuision )
1902-1961 Code of practice for preservation of bamboo and cane for non-structural
purposes
2683-1966 Guide for installation of pressure impregnation plants for timber (first revision )
2753( Part I )-I964 Method of estimation of preservatives in treated timber and in
treating solutions: Part I Determination of copper, arsenic, chromium, zinc,
boron, creosote and-fuel oil
2753( Part II)-1968 Methods of estimation of preservatives in treated timber and in
treating solutions: Part II Determination of copper ( in copper napthenate )
and pentachlorophenol
4833-1968 Method for the field testing for preservatives in wood species
4873-1968 Method for the laboratory testing of wood preservatives against fungi
6341-1971 Method of laboratory testing of efficacy of wood preservatives against soft rot
by agar-block method
6497-1972 Method of testing the efficacy of preservatives and evaluating the natural
durability of timbers in cooling towers