Specialty Timbers New ZealandSearch technical reports
Douglas fir
- Understanding outdoor durability of specialty species - Assessments for 2024 and 2025
FGR-ST21
December 2025
The problem A key barrier to the wider use of New Zealand's specialty species in outdoor environments is the limited durability data available to support market approval. Durability is a…
- The decay resistance of alternative species in an accelerated framing test - Assessment of decay after two years' exposure
Specialty Timbers NZ report n/a
June 2024
These assessment results have been made available to industry by Scion, but funding was not available for Scion to produce a report. Sets of framing samples were exposed in high…
- The decay resistance of some wood species used as framing - Final report on the condition of samples
SWP-T096
July 2023
Sets of framing samples were exposed in high humidity conditions of 85-90% relative humidity and 25 – 27°C. The species included in this test were: Untreated Cupressus lusitanica. Untreated Douglas fir. Untreated Eucalyptus nitens (installation…
- The condition of thermally modified cypress and Douglas fir decking after one year’s field exposure
SWP-T172
June 2023
After one year exposure, there was no decay on any of the untreated Cupressus macrocarpa, Cupressus lusitanica, Cupressus x.ovensi and Douglas fir decking samples. No decay was observed on any of the thermally modified Cupressus…
- The condition of thermally modified cypress and Douglas fir flat panels after one year’s field exposure
SWP-T171
June 2023
After one year exposure at the Whakarewarewa test field site in Rotorua, there was no decay on any of the untreated Cupressus macrocarpa, Cupressus lusitanica, Cupressus x.ovensi and Douglas fir flat panel samples. No…
- Experimental Studies on Single and Coupled Douglas-fir CLT Shear Walls with High-Capacity Connections
SWP-T169
June 2023
As an engineered timber product, cross-laminated timber (CLT) is currently gaining popularity in New Zealand and globally. This two-year project aims to develop high-capacity Douglas-fir CLT shear wall structures that…
- The decay resistance of alternative species in an accelerated framing test Assessment of decay after one year’s exposure
SWP-T160
March 2023
Sets of framing samples were exposed in high humidity conditions of 85-90% relative humidity and 25 – 27°C. The species and preservative treatments included in this test were: Eucalyptus fastigata, mixed heartwood\sapwood,…
- Evaluation of Douglas-fir progeny test FR508/1 and FR508/2
SWP-T161
March 2023
Scion’s Douglas-fir breeding program is continuing in genetic improvement of traits related to productivity and stem form by establishment of new generation of progeny trial. The latest generation of progeny…
- Evaluation of genetic gain trials in Douglas-fir
SWP-T162
March 2023
The field experiments for the evaluation of realised genetic gain were established in 2012 and 2013 across New Zealand and measured for productivity and stem-form attributes in 2022. We have…
- Interim fungus cellar results, thermally modified Douglas fir and Cupressus lusitanica
SWP-FN
June 2022
Durability screening using the AWPC accelerated field simulator (AFS) test (Australasian Wood Preservation Committee, 2015) has been underway for 4 years. The species tested are as follows: Douglas-fir (SWP funded)…
- Techno-economic analysis of producing engineered and thermally modified products from specialty wood species
SWP-T141
January 2022
This report covers an analysis of making a range of engineered and modified wood products from non-radiata species. The products and wood species considered were: Non-durable eucalypt peeled veneer Non-durable…
- Experimental and Parametric Studies on Douglas-fir CLT Shear Walls with High Capacity Connections
SWP-T128
July 2021
As an engineered timber product, cross-laminated timber (CLT) is currently gaining popularity around the world including New Zealand and Australia. Compared with Radiata pine, Douglas-fir is underutilised in the New…
- Experimental testing of high capacity screwed connections in Douglas-fir CLT
SWP-T119
January 2021
This report presents experimental results of high capacity hold-down connections in Douglas-fir Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) using self-tapping screws installed with mixed angles (inclined and 90° angle to the timber…
- Douglas-fir Regional Processing Strategy: Douglas-fir Strategy
SWP-T117
December 2020
Wooden It Ltd has been asked by the Specialty Wood Products research initiative (SWP) to prepare a paper on the regional strategic processing options available to growers of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga…
- Douglas-fir Processing Opportunities: Douglas-fir Strategy
SWP-T113
November 2020
Douglas-fir, as the second most widely grown exotic species in New Zealand, has an important role in New Zealand forestry and all wood consuming industries. Its greatest asset lies in…
- Experimental testing of high capacity screwed and nailed connections in Douglas-fir CLT
SWP-T098-
April 2020
This report presents experimental results of two project tasks. The first task is to study withdrawal behaviour of self-tapping screws (STS) in Douglas-fir CLT by conducting 167 withdrawal tests. It…
- Dimensional Stability of Specialty Species (final report)
SWP-T090
December 2019
Changes in the moisture content of wood changes its dimensions. The magnitude of these changes (dimensional stability) can have a large impact on how the wood performs in service. Poor…
- Implementation of genomic selection in provenance/progeny test of Douglas-fir
SWP-T084
June 2019
Two Douglas-fir progeny trials planted in Kaingaroa and Gowan Hill in 1996 were assessed in 2007 and re-assessed in February 2017. Since this material contains genetically broad material coming from…
- Evaluation of wood stiffness in Douglas-fir progeny test FR280_2 and FR280_3
SWP-T075
May 2019
The key outcome from this research is that wood stiffness was found to be moderately heritable, had low genotype by environment interaction and good potential still exists for improvement in…
- Dimensional Stability of Specialty Species (interim report)
SWP-T074
May 2019
Dimensional changes caused by changes in wood moisture content (dimensional stability) can have a large impact on how the wood performs in service. Poor dimensional stability can lead to cracking,…
- Identifying processing opportunities for key specialty tree species; - processing options analysis using the WoodScape model
SWP-T073
May 2019
The Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership wish to know where there are opportunities to develop processing of Douglas-fir, Cypress and Eucalyptus species (nitens and fastigata). A previous report covers the…
- Identifying processing opportunities for key specialty tree species – resource analysis
SWP-T068
May 2019
This report covers the current and projected supply of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Cypresses and Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden across all the major wood supply regions of…
- The decay resistance of some wood species used as framing - Progress report on the condition of samples
SWP-T064
September 2018
Sets of framing samples were exposed in high humidity conditions of 85-90% relative humidity and 25 – 27°C. The species included in this test were: untreated Cupressus lusitanica untreated Douglas-fir…
- Core funded aligned research on insects and fungi on species other than radiata pine 2017/2018
SWP-T061
June 2018
Plantation species other than Pinus radiata (radiata pine), specifically Douglas-fir and eucalypts, form an important part of a diversified forest estate. Douglas-fir is planted over approx. 105,000 ha. and is the most…
- LVL Stiffness Calculator User Guide
SWP-T059
June 2018
This software is only intended to be used as a decision tool that enables questions to be asked about the potential suitability of a wood resource being able to supply a range of LVL grades.…
- Douglas-fir breeding and genomics, Specialty Wood Products Research aligned SSIF
SWP-T058
June 2018
Douglas-fir research in the SWP programme has taken a huge step towards testing genomics for implementation of genomic selection methodology in the breeding programme. Genomics research has been funded through…
- Experimental studies on rolling Shear Strength properties of Douglas fir CLT and Monotonic Behaviour of Dowelled Connections
SWP-T053
June 2018
Cross laminated timber (CLT) production and research in NZ is currently dominated by Radiata pine. However, there is a significant resource of Douglas-fir (D. fir) available in NZ, not widely processed on-shore.…
- Evaluation of the Ernslaw One Douglas-fir progeny tests
SWP-T049
May 2018
This project evaluates a Douglas-fir open-pollinated progeny trial established on two New Zealand sites (Gowan Hill and Tramway), using seedlots from three Oregon (US) seed zones. The material was measured…
- Thermal Modification of Douglas fir for Improved Durability
SWP-T047
May 2018
Douglas fir has been thermally modified at two temperatures; 220°C and 230°C (each for 2 hours). These modifications are expected to improve the durability of the sapwood, while maintaining the…
- Development of the Douglas-fir Productivity Spatial Surface using the Process-based model 3-PG
SWP-T038
August 2017
The objective of this report was to provide a New Zealand-wide productivity surface for Douglas-fir. This output addresses limitations of an earlier study of Douglas-fir spatial productivity that was based…
- Initiation of genomic selection research, collection of cambium and extraction of DNA from a Douglas-fir breeding programme
SWP-T034
June 2017
The implementation of genomic selection (GS) in a Douglas-fir breeding programme has been initiated within the Specialty Wood Partnership Programme (SWP), to explore the potential for genomic tools to increase…
- Economic comparison of traditional and genomics breeding for Douglas-fir
SWP-T033
June 2017
An economic analysis was undertaken to compare the value of the genomic and traditional breeding programmes for Douglas- fir in New Zealand. This report also attempts to demonstrate the value…
- Phenotypic assessment and quantitative genetic analysis of two Douglas-fir progeny tests
SWP-T032
June 2017
Two Douglas-fir progeny trials planted in Kaingaroa and Gowan Hill in 1996 were assessed in 2007 and re-assessed in February 2017. These two progeny trials are also training populations in…
- Scion’s core funded experiments on scCO2 wood extracts (proof of concept)
SWP-T013
August 2016
Initial experiments to carry out scCO2 (supercritical fluid) extractions were undertaken on two species of interest: Douglas fir and Eucalyptus nitens and four tissue types: leaves/needles, bark, sapwood and heartwood. The…
- Douglas-Fir Optimised Engineered Lumber (OELTM) Trial
SWP-T007
July 2016
The OELTM (Optimised Engineered Lumber) technology produces structural products with known, uniform and reliable properties. There is financial advantage derived from the fact that all the merchantable OELTM production output is certified…
- Breeding plan for the development of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) in New Zealand
SWP-T003
June 2016
Douglas-fir is renowned for its stiff wood and is one of the finest structural timbers in the world. Eighty per cent out of 105,000 hectares planted Douglas-fir in New Zealand…
- Results of assessments in FR375, Beaumont controlled-pollinated 1999 Douglas fir progeny trial
SWP-T001
December 2015
The 1999 controlled-pollinated Douglas-fir trial at Beaumont (FR375) was designed to compare selections from the first Douglas-fir breeding population. They had been selected as the best individuals in the best-adapted…
- Summary of Tests on Untreated Douglas-fir, Treated and Untreated Radiata pine for Use as Framing in Domestic Construction in New Zealand
FFR-DS029
February 2011
The aftermath of the “Leaky Building Crisis” of the late 1990s to early 2000s led to a raft of changes in building standards, with particular reference to preservative treatment requirements…
- A comparison of rates of decay and loss in stiffness of radiata pine and Douglas fir framing lumber 2009
Hedley_et_al_2009_Scion.pdf
September 2009
Stiffness loss with time was recorded for preservative-treated and untreated radiata pine and untreated Douglas fir framing size lumber, which had been pre-inoculated with Oligoporus placenta, a brown rot decay…
- A comparison of rates of decay and loss in stiffness of radiata pine and Douglas fir framing lumber 2008
IRGWP-04
May 2008
Stiffness loss with time was recorded for untreated radiata pine and Douglas fir framing size lumber and preservative treated radiata pine which had been pre-inoculated with Oligoporus placenta, a brown…
- The Decay resistance of Douglas fir, Macrocarpa, Lawson Cypress and European Larch Framing - Summary of Results after 52 weeks Exposure
Mick_Hedley_BRANZ_52_week_mould_decay_trial
November 2005
Short pieces of 90 x 45mm framing timber of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), European larch (Larix decidua), Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata) were…
- The “Alternative Solution” For Untreated Douglas-fir (New Zealand Oregon) in Building Construction
douglas-fir_alternative_solutions
July 2004
This document aims to provide adequate documentation to satisfy the requirements of Territorial Authorities in approving an “Alternative Solution” for Douglas-fir (New Zealand Oregon) in building construction under the verification method B2/VM1.…
- Proposed Changes to B2/AS1 - Proposed Changes to B2/AS1
dbh-durability
November 2003
Attachment 2: Risk Matrix Approach considering Weathertightness and Durability The risk matrix approach was developed in order to provide a rational basis for deciding on appropriate claddings as part of…
