Testing + R&D

Our approach to Research and Development is design-led and guided by our values: solve real problems, create change, and champion people. Dedicated testing sites and cross-functional teams ensure that new products and services are fit for purpose and exceed customer expectations.

What We Test

Abodo timber undergoes long-term durability and weather performance field testing of 10-12 years or longer at our Mangere and Ohinewai sites in New Zealand, plus third-party sites in Australia, the USA, and Europe. We conduct independent lab testing for durability (EN 350 Class 1), thermal performance, coatings, and structural integrity.

Termite Resistance

Heat tempered timber can be susceptible to termite attack without further preservative treatment. We have conducted termite trials with our Vulcan products - with additional anti-termite chemically treatment applied - in various locations, including Australia and Taiwan, to accepted standards.

Full System Validation

Abodo has designed a full system of our own coatings, fixings, flashings, and feature timbers that work together and have been tested together. This holistic approach provides added reassurance that the whole system will perform optimally, rather than just each of its components individually.

Flame Spread and Smoke Development Testing

Our feature timbers are independently tested for flame spread and smoke development using globally recognised methods, ensuring they meet strict fire performance requirements. For designers and homeowners, that means confidence in a timber that not only comes from renewable resources, but also contributes to safer, longer-lasting buildings. Vulcan has been tested for fire performance with many globally recognised test methods, including ASTM E84 Tunnel Test and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in the USA, ISO5660 Cone Test in Australia and New Zealand, and EN 13283:2020 European Single Burn Item (SBI) in the UK. By reducing risk and improving resilience, our tested timbers help ensure that sustainable choices are also smart, practical ones.

Customer Peace of Mind

Abodo timbers have been tested and proven in harsh New Zealand conditions for over a decade, where they have been shown to be stable with a lower risk of failure that is backed up by up to a 25-year pro rata warranty. We provide more than just timber; our complete, tested systems reduce design and installation risk and align with our values of full lifecycle sustainability and circular economies.

Projects like the Raglan Sleepout demonstrate the real-world benefits of Abodo’s innovation, testing and R&D. This family home has endured harsh conditions on its exposed coastal site for more than 10 years. Since it was first built in 2013-2014, Raglan Sleepout’s Vulcan timber cladding has experienced minimal movement and required only one recoat of Protector, our complete, waterborne coating system – designed specifically for Vulcan timber.

Quality and Compliance

We stand behind our products and the processes that go into making them. And we want you to trust and believe in us too. That’s why we’ve challenged ourselves to meet or exceed a number of industry ratings and standards. Our proprietary 230°C heat tempered system includes multipoint Quality and Compliance, and our cladding system is CodeMark certified for NZ Building Code compliance and Declare certified.

These added layers of certification and testing, along with our Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and FSC chain of custody, provide confidence that Abodo products are made to the highest manufacturing and environmental standards.

• Living Building Challenge, Red List Free

This gives Abodo’s customers the confidence that our products are free from harmful chemicals. The Living Building Challenge has certified Abodo Vulcan® and Abodo Wood with the Declare Label, the leading international label in transparency for building products.

• CodeMark Certification –

CodeMark provides easy-to-understand assurance that a building method or product meets the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code, including our Abodo Weatherboard Cladding System.

Featured Projects: Among the Pines - California, Ragland Sleepout - Raglan