Some poles are treated with preservatives and put into service while they still have high internal moisture content. As checks deepen, they expose untreated wood to attack by wood destroying organisms, so the poles decay internally.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Cannot be determined
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Preservation protection is strongest where the preservative actually penetrates, but it may not extend to all internal wood once moisture and cracks develop. When a pole has high moisture content, fungi and other wood-destroying organisms are active and ready to attack wood tissue as soon as they access it. If checks deepen, they expose interior, untreated wood to those organisms. That means decay can start and progress inside the pole even though the outer portions were treated. So the statement is true: surface-treated poles with high moisture can still decay internally once internal wood is exposed through cracks.