The benefits from acetylation of wood to enhance resistance against fungal decay and dimensional stability have been known for many years. Since 2007 Accsys Technologies has been commercially producing Accoya wood that is based on acetylation of Radiata pine. Accoya has shown its potential for many applications, even for structural use. However, due to limited engineering data each project had to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Based on research at various universities and institutes, Accsys Technologies has in combination with TimberSolve and ARUP, developed a handbook to assist designers and structural engineers produce reliable, durable and consistent designs utilising Accoya wood in structural applications.

A study is described, carried out on specially prepared specimens, that specifically examines the effect of slope of grain on the bending strength of scaffold boards. Each specimen was visually graded and both the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity in bending determined. From the effect of slope of grain on the reduction of bending strength revised visual grading rules have been suggested that include a slope of grain limit of 1 in 12. It has also been demonstrated that machine grading is as effective at determining the adverse effect of slope of grain on board strength as it is for other defects such as high rate of growth and knots

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