Climatic actions on functional and usability properties of wooden window made of selected species of exotic wood – permeability and watertightness

Climatic actions on functional and usability properties of wooden window made of selected species of exotic wood – permeability and watertightness. This paper presents test results for windows made of different species of exotic wood and changes in their functional and usability properties following climatic testing, i.e. exposure to variable conditions in terms of heat and moisture. The dominant factor in the tests was a high moisture level which - in the case of a highly hygroscopic material such as wood - may affect timber products, e.g. windows, in a highly destructive way. Before and after applying the variable climatic conditions, usability parameters like, among others, air permeability and watertightness were determined for the windows, which later on allowed evaluating the tested products in terms of their usability in construction.