Wood Decay Hazard in Canada Based on Scheffer's Climate Index Formula

Abstract

Scheffer's formula for determining the overall decay hazard in above ground wooden structures was applied to Canada. For the most heavily populated areas of southwestern British Columbia, southern Ontario, southern Quebec and the Maritimes, the decay hazard fell into Scheffer's revised intermediate decay hazard range of 35 to 70. Based on the weather station data used, Cape Scott at the northern end of Vancouver Islano, had the highest decay hazard level of 79.7. This contrasted with a decay index of 0.6 at Alert, NWT at 82° N latitude. Keywords: Decay, decay hazard, wooden structures, wood preservation, wood deterioration, meteorology, Canada.