Research on Nondestructive Testing of Wood in Canada

Since early in Canada's history men have, in effect, applied the principles of nondestructive testing of wood. They visually graded timber for the specific purposes they had in mind. With increasing competition from other construction materials whose properties have been capable of more precise evaluation, wood has, in many cases, found itself superseded. Modern, nondestructive tests can accomplish much towards rectifying this unsatisfactory situation. Since 1951, the Ottawa and Vancouver Forest Products Laboratories have been engaged on research which has led to some notable advances in this field. Some of these have been adopted by industry while others have not. Although much research remains to be done to identify and perfect new and improved means of nondestructive testing, it nevertheless behooves the forest industry to make use of every technique presently available to the fullest extent possible and at the same time keep abreast of every new development. Failure to do so could result in further advantage to those materials in competition with wood.