Field durability testing of wood above ground - Part 1: 15 years' experience with the Bundle method

A ‘jack of all trades’ method for above-ground wood durability testing has been sought for decades, but until now no method has found its way into standardization. The method of choice shall be applicable for untreated and treated wood – ideally also for wood composites. It shall be reproducible, objective, fast, easy, and inexpensive. Finally, it shall provide high predictive power. This study aimed at a review of results and practical experience with the Bundle-test method which could serve as a standardisable procedure for above-ground field tests of wood-based materials. The method allows for water-trapping, creates a moderate moisture-induced decay risk, and is applicable for a wide range of materials. Based on Bundle-tests with different modifications and performed at different locations, a guideline has been developed which will be presented in Part 2 of this paper.