Institute of

Head of Division

Dr. Martin Ohlmeyer

Institute of Wood Research
Leuschnerstraße 91
21031 Hamburg-Bergedorf
Phone: +49 40 73962 635
Fax: +49 40 73962 699
martin.ohlmeyer@thuenen.de

Human Health and Consumer Protection

Consumer-related products have to meet special requirements. Does this account for wood products and their production processes as well?

Requirements on wood and other bio-based products for consumer-related applications are continuously changing. Technical modifications, adaptations of standards as well as global changes may affect the utilization of sustainable wood-based products.

To evaluate the impact of these effects we advance testing methods on a scientific basis. In the context of product safety and consumer protection we also investigate production processes, products and trade routes. Additionally, we represent the German interests in international standardization procedures.

We are working on the following key topics

Emissions from wood products

Engineered Wood and solid timber emit volatile organic compounds (VOC). For the evaluation of wood products, the understanding of origin, delivery and toxicology of VOCs is required.

Probengefäße (©  Thünen-HF, Ralph Lehnen)

Quantification of biocides in preservative treated wood

The quality control of preservative treated timber requires validated analytical methods for identification and quantification of wood protection agents.

Markierter gescheckter Nagekäfer (©  Uwe Noldt, Thünen-HF)

Monitoring of wood damaging insects and fungi

Wood is exposed to a variety of biotic factors. The characterization, detection and control of wood-destroying organisms is one of the national and international tasks.