Search
- Home
- Sites
- Communications
- News
- News Archive
- 2009
- September
- Headline News
- LSU AgCenter wood lab adds accreditation
News Release Distributed 09/18/09
The LSU AgCenter’s Wood Durability Laboratory recently received accreditation for additional test standards by the International Accreditation Services, according to the lab’s director.
In 2008, the lab, which is in the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, was first accredited by the International Accreditation Services to perform basic wood durability tests, said lab director Dr. Todd Shupe.
Additional test standards added this year expand the scope of services the lab can provide to Louisiana companies that produce and market wood products, he said.
The tests are based on standards developed by the American Wood Protection Association, ASTM and the Window & Door Manufacturers Association, Shupe said.
The Wood Durability Laboratory is now accredited to test for a wide variety of lab-based standards that cover a broad range of important wood durability areas such as testing for termites, mold, fungi, preservative leaching, wood strength and corrosion of nails and screws in contact with preservative-treated wood, he said.
“When the lab passed an on-site inspection by on Sept. 7-8, it obtained accreditation to perform eight new tests, including marine borers, ground proximity testing of wood, sapstain resistance of wood and field test methods for treated wood,” Shupe said.
Manufacturers primarily use the test results from independent ISO labs to verify the efficacy of their products and to meet requirements for building-code approval through the International Code Council or submit the data for consideration by the American Wood Protection Association, Shupe said.
“The accreditation process includes a complete audit of the laboratory facility to assure testing equipment is properly calibrated and all lab personnel are competent and receive continuing education and participate in continual improvement programs,” he added.
“Louisiana companies and those throughout the world can be certain their data are of the highest quality possible by using the Wood Durability Laboratory’s testing services.”
Rick Bogren