Thermo-treated wood is environmentally friendly, practical and beautiful

Thermo-treatment

Heating wood to protect it from rot is a method that has been practiced for thousands of years. Industrial thermo-treatment became possible only a few decades ago.

Unlike other widespread technologies, Thermory uses a closed autoclave system: the wood is treated in a special chamber and the process is managed by a computer. Wood is heated up to 180 degrees and pressure is increased up to 9 bars. This process requires less time for processing and it can be done at a lower temperature.

The total annual capacity of our four WTT thermo-treatment devices is 19,000 m³. WTT devices are among the best in the market because their design ensures that special attention is given to improving the quality and static characteristic of the wood at high temperatures.

Summary of the results of biological tests on wood:
* Durability test (EN 350-1, EN 113 with EN 84) at 180 ºC processing temperature.
* Durability class 1 (EN 113/350-1) – over 25 years (thermo-ash).
* Durability class 2 (EN 113/350-1) – 15-25 years (thermo-spruce and thermo-pine).

Studies about the compliance of various wood types with standards have been conducted at the University of Freiburg in Germany.

Advantages of thermo-treatment

The biggest advantage of thermo-treatment compared to chemically treated wood is its environmental friendliness: wood is only processed with high temperature and water vapour.

Our pressure chamber enables to process wood at high temperatures without completely drying out moisture, this reduces the tensions that form in wood and drying defects. Thermo-treatment reduces wood density and changes its structure, so the humidity absorption and humidity output of the wood decreases. As a result, the wood is more stable in quickly changing weather conditions.

Thermo-treatment removes the organic nutrients of wood pests from the wood and transforms the structure of the wood, thereby improving the characteristics of the wood: the wood becomes more resistant to weather conditions and fungal damage.

Thermo-treated wood is mostly free from resin and much more fireproof than untreated wood. The thermal and sound isolation of the wood are also improved.

In addition to practical value, thermo-treatment also creates a great visual effect: heating gives the wood a nice brownish colour. The intensity of the colour depends on the duration of the process and temperature. This allows clients to choose between lighter and darker materials.

Thermo-treated wood has a variety of applications: cladding, decking, balconies, garden elements, windowsdoors, saunas and pool rooms, floor boards, parquet, furniture.

Thermory offers a range of internal sauna materials, decking and cladding panels from thermo-treated wood. Pictured from left to right: thermo-aspen, thermo-alder, thermo-spruce, thermo-pine, thermo-radiata pine, dark thermo-alder and thermo-ash.

Tests:

EPH test certificate for thermally treated Pine nr: BT-13-06-04-01

EPH test certificate for thermally treated Ash nr: BT-13-06-04-02

Test protocol EN 113 (CEN/TS 15083-1)

Test protocol ENV 807 (CEN/TS 15083-2)