Dr Peter Fitsimmons, Technical Manager at Property Care Association, gives a presentation on the  understanding of the durability of timber and the importance of good design to avoid structural failure in buildings and repair methods.

He gives a review of typical problems such as wood boring insects and dry rot, and the available in situ repair and treatment solutions.   He assesses the role of wood preservatives for both curative and preventative treatments and asks whether modern materials and designs will make timber buildings more, or less, resistant to biological degrade in the future.