Professor Hee-joon Park (Department of Housing Environmental Design, College of Human Ecology) developed, through a research and development project funded by the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute, the 'Treatment Technology for Improving Flame Resistance, Weather Resistance, Termite Resistance and Antifungal Properties of Domestic Timber'. This technology was selected as one of the top 10 news items in the agriculture and fisheries sector among the six major science and technology priority areas for 2023 chosen by the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies (hereinafter KOFST).

Professor Park, who has been developing functional wood treatment technologies for exterior domestic timber construction members, developed in June last year a transparent wood preservative, 'ANTI 200+', that resists combustion and prevents termites, mold and discoloration. He also developed a 'Treatment Method for Improving Chemical Penetrability of Difficult-to-Impregnate Timber Species' that enables uniform chemical impregnation even for domestic timbers that are difficult to treat for flame retardancy, and has filed a patent application for this method.

Experimental tests under this research showed that flame-retardant (semi-noncombustible) treated domestic Japanese cedar timber achieved a Flame Spread Index (FSI) of 10 and a Smoke Development Index (SDI) of 10 in the representative flame spread test, the U.S. 'ASTM E84-21a (Steiner Tunnel Test)', earning the highest 'Class A' rating.

Under Article 27 of the 'Standards for Quality Approval and Management of Building Materials', in the 'Full-Scale Mock-Up Test of Exterior Wall Composite Finishing Materials', it was the first in Korea not to ignite even under intense flames reaching up to 900°C for 30 minutes. In the evaluation of exceeding 600°C for more than 30 seconds, the timber's maximum surface temperature was 256°C and internal temperature 122°C, demonstrating fire-safety performance suitable for use as exterior wall cladding.

In addition, tests conducted on domestically sourced larch and cedar wood products showed excellent performance in termite resistance, weather resistance, antifungal and antibacterial properties, and obtained accredited test reports. A patent application has also been filed for the 'Method for Manufacturing Antibacterial and Antifungal Building Finishing Materials.'

Recognized for the excellence of this technological development, Professor Park received a commendation from the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service at the end of last year for his contributions to the advancement of forest science and technology.

The Principal Investigator (PI), Professor Hee-joon Park, said, "Through this technology development we have demonstrated that wood resistant to fire and pests has immense value as an interior building material, and being selected as one of last year's top 10 news items in the domestic agriculture and fisheries sector gives me great pride as a researcher. I will continue efforts to apply this technology to real buildings to promote timber construction and to contribute to the nation's carbon neutrality."