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Seminar at UBB Sought to Promote Good Practices and Quality in Construction with Impregnated Wood
The technical seminar "Impregnated Wood in Construction: Responsible Use, Regulations, and New Challenges" was held at the Innovation Building of the Universidad del Bío-Bío, organized by the National Center of Excellence for the Wood Industry (CENAMAD) together with the UBB Impregnated Wood Quality Control Laboratory.
The project aims to develop advanced solutions for wood protection, bringing together representatives from academia, business, technical, and institutional sectors to analyze, from a multidisciplinary perspective, the challenges and opportunities presented by impregnated wood in construction.
The use of impregnated wood has become established as an effective alternative to extend the lifespan of structures and expand its application in various regions of the country. However, its implementation requires rigorous knowledge of regulations, industrial processes, and good practices to ensure safety and sustainability in construction.
During the opening, the Director of Innovation at UBB, Dr. Mario Núñez, emphasized: "It is a pride to be here, as my background comes from the wood industry. I congratulate Dr. Aguayo and her team for organizing this seminar, which allows us to reflect, share experiences, and project advances in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer regarding wood durability."
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Patricio Álvarez, stated: "This seminar is a key space for dialogue between academia, industry, and the public sector, strengthening good technological and regulatory practices inspired by bio-based materials as drivers of a more sustainable economy."
For her part, the General Manager of CENAMAD, Francisca Lorenzini, highlighted the importance of the event: "We work to promote wood construction from forest productivity and sustainability to the challenges of building. Wood durability is directly linked to the circular economy and the development of excellent human capital."
Researcher Dr. María Graciela Aguayo, one of the organizers of this event, commented on the purpose of the activity, stating that the main goal is to support local companies, both construction firms and wood impregnators, by creating a space for conversation about current regulations, new challenges, and the impact these will have on the future of the wood industry. "In this seminar, we have brought together the business, academic, and public sectors to dialogue on a highly relevant topic such as wood protection and durability, as well as to collectively reflect on the new challenges faced by this noble material."
Seminar
The seminar included two thematic sessions. The first addressed the regulatory requirements for impregnated wood, with presentations by Susana Jara (MINVU), Cristian Barría (Arxada Quimetal), Jorge Fernández (UBB), and Gina Cerda (CMPC).
The second session, on the use and future challenges of impregnated wood in construction, featured presentations by Dr. María Graciela Aguayo (CENAMAD–UBB) and Juan Carlos Ortigosa (Industrializadora de Viviendas Chile).
The initiative is part of the Fondef ID25I10258 project, recently awarded to Dr. María Graciela Aguayo, a professor in the Department of Process and Bioproduct Engineering of the UBB Faculty of Engineering.
The event was sponsored by CENAMAD and Arxada Quimetal, supported by CORMA and Madera21, and collaborated with the Doctorate in Engineering of the UBB Faculty of Engineering. Participants included UBB researchers, MINVU representatives, sector companies, and members of the wood construction industry.
The seminar aimed to promote the responsible use of impregnated wood by articulating knowledge, exchanging technical-industrial experiences, and strengthening networks to drive its incorporation into construction in Chile.
