EN 73:2020/prA1

Overview

EN 73:2020/prA1 is a European standard developed by CEN Technical Committee 38 that specifies an evaporative ageing procedure for treated wood and wood-based products. This process is conducted prior to biological testing to assess the durability and longevity of wood materials. The standard provides a controlled accelerated ageing method designed to simulate natural conditions, enabling consistent evaluation of how treated wood withstands biological degradation.

This evaporative ageing method is also applicable to untreated wood, modified wood, and wood-based panels, whether or not they have undergone preservative treatment. This versatility makes EN 73:2020/prA1 a critical reference for industries relying on wood durability, from construction to furniture manufacturing.

Key Topics

• Accelerated Ageing of Wood: Procedures to artificially age treated wood specimens by controlling moisture and evaporation before subjecting them to biological tests.
• Test Specimen Arrangement: Standardized setup recommending test specimens be rested on small faces parallel to grain, with a minimum 20 mm spacing to prevent interference during ageing.
• Applicability: Method suitable for both preservative-treated and untreated wood, including modified wood and wood-based panels.
• Biological Testing Preparation: Enhances reliability and reproducibility of subsequent biological durability tests such as fungal decay resistance.
• Standard Compliance: Aligns with the harmonized regulatory framework of CEN member states ensuring consistent test results across Europe.
• Multi-language Documentation: Official versions available in English, French, and German to support broad accessibility.

Applications

The EN 73:2020/prA1 evaporative ageing procedure supports practical wood durability assessment in the following areas:

• Wood Preservation Industry: Validates efficacy of chemical treatments and coatings by simulating long-term ageing effects.
• Construction and Building Materials: Ensures wood and wood-based products used in structural applications maintain durability against biological attacks.
• Wood-Based Panel Manufacturing: Assists in quality control and product development by pre-conditioning test samples.
• Research and Development: Provides a standardized method for accelerated ageing in scientific studies focused on wood degradation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Supports manufacturers and testing laboratories in conforming to European wood durability standards.

By facilitating accelerated ageing under controlled evaporative conditions, the process allows stakeholders to predict wood performance reliably, optimize preservative formulations, and reduce the time required for durability certification.

Related Standards

For a comprehensive understanding and application of wood durability testing, EN 73:2020/prA1 should be used in conjunction with other relevant standards, including:

• EN 350: Durability of wood and wood-based products - Natural durability of solid wood.
• EN 113: Wood preservatives - Test method for determining the protective effectiveness against wood destroyers - Laboratory test with wood-destroying basidiomycetes.
• EN 599: Wood preservatives - Performance criteria and test methods for impregnated wood.
• EN 84: Wood preservatives - Accelerated ageing of treated wood prior to biological testing - Leaching procedure.
• EN 927: Paints and varnishes - Coating materials and coating systems for exterior wood.

These standards complement the evaporative ageing procedure by covering natural durability assessment, preservative effectiveness, and pre-conditioning protocols.

Keywords: evaporative ageing, accelerated ageing, wood durability, treated wood, biological testing, wood-based products, preservative treatment, wood preservation standards, EN 73:2020/prA1, CEN wood standards.