Evaluation of Moisture Pins in Wood Claddings

The wood moisture content (MC) is vital for the wood performance and durability in external applications. Moisture pins sensors are widely used for measuring the MC of wood materials by measuring the electrical resistance of the material. The pin sensors are durable and respond quickly to changes in the moisture conditions in the wood. This paper presents a laboratory study of moisture pins used in an extensive field investigation on wood claddings. Attempts were made to use moisture pins for monitoring the moisture profile in the cladding boards. The quality of these measurements is evaluated and compared with gravimetric measurements. The paper also discusses the accuracy of moisture pins measurements. In order to monitor the wood cladding MC fluctuations resulting from the quick response to the ambient climate, the MC measurements in external applications should be continuous. The laboratory measurements conclude that continuous measurements of the moisture profile was not possible for coated wood cladding. 1