2.11.1. Retention and Penetration Checks

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does retention measure in timber preservation?

   Hint

   Think about how much treatment is 'left' in the wood.

2. 2.

   Why is penetration depth important?

   Hint

   How deep is the treatment into the wood?

3. 3.

   What is 'retention' in timber preservation?

   • A) Depth of preservative
   • B) Amount of preservative in wood
   • C) Type of preservative

   Hint

   Think about what retention signifies in preservation.

4. 4.

   True or False: Penetration indicates how deeply the preservative has treated the wood.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider the meaning of penetration in context.

5. 5.

   A new batch of timber has a total weight of 80 kg and retains 10 kg of preservatives. How would you calculate the retention, and why is this important for the longevity of the wood?

   Hint

   Think about the proportion in relation to the weight.

6. 6.

   A timber piece shows that the preservative only penetrated 5 cm deep after testing. If the expected depth was at least 10 cm, discuss the implications for the wood’s durability.

   Hint

   What happens if the treatment does not go deep enough?