This European Standard gives guidance on methods for determining and classifying the durability of wood against biological wood-destroying agents, its permeability to water and its performance in use. The methods can be applied either to individual wood species, batches of wood and wood-based materials. This standard is not intended to test the efficacy of biocides. The wood-destroying agents considered under in this standard are: ¾ð wood-destroying fungi (basidiomycete and soft-rot fungi); ¾ð beetles capable of attacking dry wood; ¾ð termites; ¾ð marine organisms. Data on the biological durability of selected wood species considered of economic importance in European countries are presented in Annex B (informative), which also provides information relating to their geographical origin, density, sapwood width and treatability. NOTE 1 The guidance on the durability classification appropriate for a particular use class is given in the EN 460 standard. NOTE 2 Annex C (informative) provides a methodology allowing the classification of wood treatability Wood durability is an important factor that influences service life of a wood product. This standard provides input to service life prediction of wood and wood-based products as it ranks durability against wood-destroying organisms of various wood species thereby allowing species of appropriate durability to be selected for a particular use class. It shall however be emphasized that the biological durability rating of wood species given in Annex B cannot be regarded as any guarantee of performance in service. NOTE 3 There are many other factors influencing service life of a wood product, such as principles of good design, use conditions, climate, maintenance (& ) and should be taken into consideration.