Experimental procedures for determining the equilibrium moisture content of twenty timber species

Predictions of the expected equilibrium moisture content (EMC) for timber are frequently made by reference to published charts for relative humidity versus temperature, which often give values founded on amalgamated data for a number of species. When applying such charts to specific species, discrepancies can be substantial. This paper describes a series of pilot tests and a mainstream experiment to establish the EMC on an individual basis for 20 commercially important species used in the United Kingdom. The paper also explains the rationale for carrying out the project, the results from the pilot experiment, the hardware and methodology developed, and the species of timber selected for the main experiment.