The graveyard test (Dutch “kerkhofproef”) is a simple field test that determines the rot resistance (durability) of a wood species. A wooden stake — often about 5 × 5 cm — is driven partly into the ground, at the boundary between damp and dry where fungi are most active. Over the years it is monitored to see after how long the wood starts to rot. The name refers to the image of grave markers in a graveyard.
How it works
- The ground line is the harshest zone: moisture and oxygen alternate there, ideal for wood-destroying fungi
- The longer a species lasts without decay, the higher its durability class
- It is a field test: the real conditions (soil, climate, fungi) count, unlike a laboratory test
Application
- Comparing wood species — for example hardwood such as bangkirai against spruce or pine
- Supporting the durability class (class 1 = very durable to class 5 = not durable) for use in ground contact
- Choosing garden timber, posts and revetment that stand partly in the ground
Points to note
- It is a long-running test; results only come after years
- Only the heartwood is durable; sapwood rots quickly in almost every species
- For structural timber in the ground, better to choose a demonstrably durable or treated species than to rely on a single test
Related terms
- Wood rot
- Durability class
- Wood species
- Insects in wood
- Accoya
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