ASTM D2921-98(2024)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D2921 − 98 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Test Method for
Qualitative Tests for the Presence of Water Repellents and
Preservatives in Wood Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2921; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope provides a means to verify the presence of a significant level of
water repellent protection.
1.1 This test method covers simple qualitative field or
laboratory tests to determine water repellency or the presence
4. Apparatus
of chlorinated phenol preservative chemicals in wood prod-
ucts that are specified to be water repellent preservative treated.
4.1 Eyedropper, plastic squeeze bottle or similar means for
metering drops of water.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
4.2 Flame Source, such as bunsen burner, butane torch, or
only.
alcohol burner.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.3 Copper Wire Coil Specimen Holder (or Other Suitable
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Copper Holder)—A suitable copper wire coil can be made by
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
using a lead pencil as a mandrel to form a helix using copper
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1 3
wire of about 1.6 mm to 2.4 mm ( ⁄16 in. to ⁄32 in.) in diameter.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Leave a space of approximately the diameter of the wire
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
between each loop. The helix should be 19 mm to 25 mm
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
( ⁄4 in. to 1 in.) in length. Leave a pigtail of about 152 mm (6
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
in.) of wire at one end of the helix and form a loop of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
approximately 25 mm (1 in.) in diameter to be used as a holder
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
for the coil.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.4 Sharp Knife.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Water Repellent Test
2.1 U.S. Federal Specification:
TT-W-572 Wood Preservative Water-Repellant
5.1 Place uncut wood items to be tested so that the end grain
2.2 NIST Standard:
is exposed as a horizontal surface. If the end grain cannot be so
262-63 Water Repellent Preservative Non-Pressure Treat-
positioned, comparisons can be made on the flat grain but with
ment for Mill Work
less definitive results.
5.2 With an eye dropper, or similar device, allow several
3. Significance and Use
drops of water to fall from about 13 mm ( ⁄2 in.) on the end
3.1 Although chlorinated phenol-treated wood has become
grain of the wood. Wait 5 min and then observe the degree of
less common due to environmental concerns, repellent-treated
penetration. With flat grain or vertical grain surfaces, waiting
wood is commonly specified in construction. This test method
periods of 10 min to 15 min may be necessary.
5.3 Water drops that immediately flatten out, penetrate and
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
darken the wood, indicate that the wood has not been treated
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
with a water repellent.
Subcommittee D01.52 on Factory Coated Wood Products.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2024. Published February 2024. Originally
5.4 Water drops that “bead-up” and remain as spheres, with
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D2921 – 98 (2017).
little or no color change or penetration, indicate that the wood
DOI: 10.1520/D2921-98R24.
Pentachlorophenol, tetrachlorophenol and other chlorinated phenols.
has been treated with a water repellent. Water repellent
Available from DLA Document Services, Building 4/D, 700
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