Mold and decay resistance of common sheathing materials
Laks, P. E., G. M. Larkin, and E. Keranen
1999 Durability and Disaster Mitigation in Wood Frame Housing, November 1-2, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Laks, P. E., G. M. Larkin, and E. Keranen, (1999), "Mold and decay resistance of common sheathing materials", Durability and Disaster Mitigation in Wood Frame Housing, November 1-2, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Abstract:
Sheathing installed in wood-frame housing is prone to mold growth and decay after it has been wet by floods, rainwater, plumbing leaks, or condensation. The objective of this poster is to compare the relative mold and decay resistance of common wood-based sheathing materials-aspen OSB, southern pine OSB, southern pine plywood, and Douglas-fir plywood. In addition, drywall was included in the mold test. Laboratory methods were used. For mold testing, small panels were inoculated with a mixture of common mold spores, incubated at ~100% relative humidity and 80¡ãF and evaluated weekly for mold coverage. Decay rate was determined using the AWPA EI0 80il block test with samples removed at 8-, 12-, and 16-week intervals. Mold growth rate was highest on the southern pine plywood and drywall, intermediate on the two OSBs, and lowest on the Douglas-fir plywood. Decay rate data were not available at the time of writing of this abstract, but will be presented in the poster.