National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life (NCTDDL)

University of the Sunshine Coast | University of Queensland | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries | Forest and Wood Products Australia

The National Centre is a joint venture between the University of the Sunshine Coast, University of Queensland, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Forest and Wood Products Australia. It aims to be global leader in timber durability and design life research including coordinated research in timber durability and the development of a new cadre of timber research scientists. Research priorites include developing process-based predictive models for wood decay, and evaluating durability and durability enhancement of Australian commercial species, and new timber building products.

Website

https://www.usc.edu.au/research/forest-research-institute/national-centre-for-timber-durability-and-design-life

Organisation type

• Queensland government-funded collaborative research precinct

Number of research staff

Up to 20 research staff

Address

Block A, The Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park QLD 4102

Strengths and capabilities

• Improve biological performance of timber
• Improve/ expand service life prediction models for wood and Engineered Wood Products (EWPs)
• Improve the understanding of fire performance of timber
• Timber Circularity
• Reuse and recycling of treated and EWPs
• Development standards related to timber durability
• Mass timber and moisture management
• Mould in buildings
• Biodeterioration in wood
• Moisture intrusion and effects on connections
• Timber Bridges
• Timber treatment and Preservation
• Natural Durability of timber species

Facilities and major equipment

• Centre is hosted at QDAF facility at Ecosciences Building, 41 Boggo, Road, Brisbane

Lead researchers

• Centre Director, Prof Tripti Singh was recently recognised as Women Ambassador for Wood Science by the International Society of Wood Science and Technology.
  • Prof Singh also serves on the executive council of the International Research Group on Wood Protection, highlighting her substantial contributions to the field.
  • Establishment of Australia’s Reuse/recycling program for treated timber and Engineered Wood Products
  • Successful annual showcase

Achievements of the centre

• Establishment of new field trials and revitalisation of older test sites to assess the durability of new timber products
• Identification of the smouldering mechanisms for Cu-based systems timber preservatives
• Directly progress made on standards of importance to the industry
• Establishment of Australia’s Reuse/recycling program for treated timber and Engineered Wood Products

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Biotechnology
• Engineering