Where Durability Counts

Where Durability Counts

There are so many possibilities when you’re given materials that are made well and have unique capabilities. Talking about outdoor wood projects we couldn’t help but talk about Accoya as well.

Accoya wood has been thoroughly tested for dimensional stability, durability, UV resistance, paint retention and in-ground conditions to ensure optimal performance. Indeed, it is so reliable that for many years it has been – and continues to be – used by scientists as the benchmark against which other treatments and modifications are measured.

Accoya wood has been modified right through to the core and the acetylation process does not weaken the original wood – in fact, its hardness is improved – nor does it compromise its bending strength. Therefore combined with exceptional durability and stability Accoya wood can be an ideal material for structural requirements and has been used in bridges and other large structures around the world

Cellulose is a major structural ingredient of wood but it is also a major food source for several different insects and decay fungi and makes a great shelter for others, too. Rot causes wood to degrade – particularly when it is used outdoors and exposed to moisture – limiting its service life. Thanks to the acetylation technology pioneered by Accsys Technologies, Accoya wood offers you an environmentally compatible, durable wood that can be used with confidence in outdoor applications and will last for many, many years.

Where Durability Counts…

Heavy Traffic Road Bridge: “Several independent European research institutes tested Accoya’s suitability for this project. After rigorous testing, we found that its dimensional stability and incredible durability put it head and shoulders above other species and showed that it is suitable for laminating in large sections measuring 1080 x 1400 mm. Accoya also has superior UV resistance, is non-toxic and made from sustainably grown timber and these things were also considerations,” Sieds Hoitinga, Project Manager, Province of Friesland, the Netherlands.

Canal Lining: Certain environments are particularly punishing and few are harsher than canal banks where wood is used to hold back the earth, exposing it to water, microbe-rich soil and – most obviously at the waterline – air. Accoya offers unparalleled performance in this application, replacing tropical hardwood.

Moses Bridge, The Netherlands: As part of a recent restoration programme, Fort de Roovere, required the addition of an access bridge. The fort is surrounded by a moat and was originally built without a bridge so it was a challenge to create one that would be discreet. RO&AD architects’ solution was to build a ‘sunken’ bridge that follows the line of the fort slope and sits almost flush with the soil and the level of the water, making it practically invisible as you approach the fort. Accoya wood’s durability and guaranteed performance in-ground and in freshwater made this possible.

Simply The Best:

Whilst some wood species are naturally durable, natural durability is known to be a variable and inconsistent property. Accoya wood, on the other hand, is consistently durable. The properties of every batch are analyzed by standard scientific measurements after modification, enabling its durability to at least match and even exceed the performance of nature’s most durable species, including teak.

Additionally, durable woods tend to be slower growing species, whereas Accoya is made using fast growing, sustainably forested radiata pine, so old growth forests are not threatened or depleted to create Accoya.

Longer Lasting:

Accoya wood’s durability makes it very long lasting, at least:
– 50 years above ground, 25 years in-ground or freshwater contact
– Swelling and shrinkage reduced by 75% or more
– Paints and varnished last 3 or 4 times longer
– Accoya wood forms an effective barrier to mould and insect attack and is virtually rot-proof.