Timber Piles.
Timber piles can be especially susceptible to deterioration because they can be attacked by a variety of organisms. For example, the immersed portions of the wood piles in marine or river environments are liable to severe attack by marine organisms (marine borers, and the like). Timber piles above the groundwater table can also experience decay due to fungal growth and insect attack. To reduce the deterioration due to fungal decay and insect attack, timber piles should be treated with a preserving chemical. This process consists of placing the timber piles in a pressurized tank filled with creosote or some other preserving chemical. The pressure treatment forces the creosote into the wood pores and creates a thick coating on the pile perimeter. Creosote timber piles normally last as long as the design life of the structure. An exception is the case where they are subjected to prolonged high temperatures (such as supporting blast furnaces) because studies show that they lose strength with time in such an environment (Coduto, 1994).
