Monitoring of Wood Moisture Content in Timber Structures by Electrical Resistance and the Sorption Methods: Current Challenges

The moisture content (MC) in timber structures follows relative humidity and temperature variations due to seasonal climate and building use. It considerably influences the physical properties of wood below the fiber saturation point. The MC’s influence on the mechanical/structural properties of wood and engineered wood products is particularly relevant in the context of current research on tall timber buildings. Whether a timber building is subject to outdoor weather exposure during its construction phase (Kordziel et al. 2019), or to strong indoor climate variations during service life, the MC is of central interest. Besides, it can serve as an important indicator of condition of sensitive components, e.g., where the wood is potentially exposed to leakage or condensation water, i.e. above fiber saturation point.