Journal article
Effect of a Water Repellent on Moisture Intrusion Patterns in Small-Scale Mass Ply Panel Floors
Forest Products Journal, Vol.75(4), pp.426-432
2025
Abstract
Mass timber has gained increased global interest as builders seek more carbon neutral materials. These products are primarily intended for interior uses where the wetting risk is minimal. One relatively new mass timber material is mass ply panel (MPP), which uses multiple layers of orthogonally placed veneers in different patterns to create thicker wall and floor panels. Moisture intrusion is worth considering in these materials because it can have many detrimental effects on engineered wood products, including swelling, cracking, delamination, and, if prolonged, fungal decay. These products are manufactured using wood that is well below the fiber saturation point (generally <27% to 30%), but wetting can occur between manufacturing and final building closure. Understanding rates and degree of moisture intrusion can guide moisture-management strategies to mitigate risk of wetting and ensure performance. Water uptake was assessed in Douglas fir MPPs with and without a topically applied water repellent. Moisture contents in noncoated panels exceeded 40 percent in the upper four plies after 1 day of wetting but increased more slowly further inward. Moisture contents also increased in the first few veneers in water repellent–treated panels but at a much slower rate. Prolonged wetting (24 days) of nontreated panels resulted in moisture levels above 20 percent deeper in the panel. The results highlight the speed with which MPP sorbs water near the surface and can be used to develop mitigation methods to minimize wetting risks. They also show that water repellents slow, but do not completely inhibit, water ingress.
Details
- Title
- Effect of a Water Repellent on Moisture Intrusion Patterns in Small-Scale Mass Ply Panel Floors
- Authors
- Jeffrey J. Morrell (Corresponding Author) - University of South AustraliaDiego R. Ramirez - Oregon State UniversityIan Morrell - Tennessee Technological UniversityTripti Singh - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design LifeArijit Sinha - Oregon State University
- Publication details
- Forest Products Journal, Vol.75(4), pp.426-432
- Publisher
- Forest Products Society
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.13073/FPJ-D-25-00037
- ISSN
- 2376-9637; 0015-7473
- Grant note
- The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the US Department of Agriculture Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program in the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human sciences for Diego Ramirez.
- Organisation Unit
- National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991184198102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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