DETERIORATION OF WOOD PILES

Wood piles are subject to deterioration caused by decay, insect

attack, marine borer attack, mechanical wear and fire. Timber
piles are said to be durable when driven below the normal water
level, on the otherhand, the life span of timber pile above water
!J level even if treated with creosote under pressure will only last for
a duration of about 40 years. Tirriber piles penetrated by salt
water are subject to deterioration caused by marine organism called
Teredo and limnoria. Wood piles under attack by marine borer
maybe terminated within a few years under extreme favorable
condition of which no amount of chemical treatment could cure
in any manner.

6-13 PROTECTION OF TIMBER PILES:

The methods of wood protection depends upon the local conditions,
types of expected economic life of the structure, severity
of service, e(!se of repairs, costs, etc. The two methods applied in
eliminating or reducing wood attack are:
1. Poisoning the wood by creosote through pressure
treatment.
2. Mechanical protection.
Untreated wood piles is capable of resisting decay indefinitely
if driven below the normal water table. CreosOte treatment protects
the outer surface of wood through penetration of the chemical
that ranges from 20 to 25 mm. Piles shall retain preservative in at
least the amount given in the following table.
TABLE 6-3 MINIMUM PRESERVATION PER CUBIC METER
OF WOOD
Uses and Type
General Use
Marine Use
114
Type of Processing

Empy Cell Process Full Cell Process

190 Kg.

200 Kg.
320 Kg.
350 Kg.