Managing Timber’s Moisture Content

Poor moisture content (MC) control generates significant problems for timber producers, distributors and end users, especially in appearance applications. This topic explains how to determine an appropriate MC for timber in various applications and how handle and store timber and wood products to maintain their moisture content. The contents include:

• Wood and water relationships
  This outlines how the amount of moisture in timber and wood products changes in the tree, in production and distribution, and in service.
• Measuring timber’s moisture content
  This can be done by either direct measurement or by using a meter to measures an aspect of the wood that relates to its moisture content, e.g. electrical resistance. The benefits and constraints of each process are explained.
• Managing timber’s moisture content in the supply chain
  This includes approaches in MC control in timber storage and transport.

Completing the learning resources in this topic will help you understand the nature of the moisture content of wood, how it is measured, how it changes throughout the supply chain and how to store and handle timber to maintain an appropriate moisture content.