Appearance of Red Ironbark Timber
The heartwood of Red Ironbark displays a rich, dark red to red-brown hue, contrasting vividly with its pale yellow sapwood. The timber has a fine and even texture with an interlocked grain that adds a subtle visual depth. Its striking color and grain patterns make it as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical for structural and decorative uses.
Applications of Red Ironbark Timber
Red Ironbark is highly durable and hardwearing, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications. It is frequently used in heavy engineering, transport, and marine construction, including wharf and bridge members, poles, railway sleepers, and mining timbers. In building construction, Red Ironbark is suitable for flooring, decking, cladding, framing, and poles. Its durability and rich appearance also make it a sought-after material for both indoor and outdoor furniture, joinery, and expressed hardwood structures. Additionally, it is well-suited for fencing and high-performance decking, both in domestic and commercial contexts.
Workability of Red Ironbark Timber
Red Ironbark is extremely dense and heavy, with a fine and interlocked grain that can make it difficult to work. It is hard to machine and requires careful handling during drying to minimize surface checking. While this density limits its use for intricate detailing, the timber sands and finishes well, producing a smooth and refined surface for applications requiring a polished aesthetic.
Durability of Red Ironbark Timber
Classified as a Class 1 timber for both in-ground and above-ground applications, Red Ironbark offers unmatched durability. Its natural resistance to decay and insects ensures it performs exceptionally well in harsh environments, making it ideal for long-term structural and outdoor use.
Origin and Availability of Red Ironbark Timber
Red Ironbark is native to Australia and is widely available across New South Wales, Victoria, and southern Queensland. While the tree’s tendency to develop hollow piping in the trunk can affect sawn timber recovery rates, the timber remains a reliable choice for high-quality structural and decorative projects.
Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
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Tangential : | 6.30% | ||||
Radial : | 3.50% | ||||
Unit Movement Tangential: | 0.37% | ||||
Unit Movement Radial: | 0.27% |
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 |
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Seasoned: | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
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Structural No. 1 | Structural No. 2 | Structural No. 3 | Structural No. 4 | Structural No. 5 | |
Unseasoned: | F27 | F17 | F14 | F11 | F8 |
Seasoned: | F27 | F22 | F17 | F14 | F11 |
Seasoned: |
1050kg/m3
|
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Unseasoned: |
1160kg/m3
|
Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
Unseasoned: | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
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Seasoned: | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
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White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
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Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: | 107 MPa |
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Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: | 149 MPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: | 15 GPa |
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: | 17 GPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: | 53 MPa |
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: | 79 MPa |
Impact - Unseasoned: | 20 J |
Impact - Seasoned: | 13 J |
Toughness - Unseasoned: | High - 25 Nm and above |
Toughness - Seasoned: | Medium - 15 - 24 Nm |
Hardness - Unseasoned: | 10.7 |
Hardness - Seasoned: | 11.9 |
Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
(0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
In-Ground: | ![]() | |||
(0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
Above ground: | ![]() | |||
(0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
Marine Borer Resistance: | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: | |||||||||||
EFH Smoke-Developed Index: |
Critical Radiance Flux - Lower: | >2.2 and <4.5 |
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Critical Radiance Flux - Higher: | <4.5 |
Smoke Development Rate: | <750 |
1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Group Number - Other: | 3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6-0.85mm |
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Average Specific Extinction Area: | <250 |
Bushfire Resistance: | BAL 12.5, 19 and 29 – All AS3959 required applications |