EN
Timber obtained after snow or wind calamity cannot be usually processed at once, so it is necessary to store and protect the raw material often in provisional conditions. The classic wet protection is difficult to apply for the lack of water or insufficient equipment of the landfills. Protection with reduced oxygen content is a relatively new method, based on the biological activity of extracted wood, which consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide. The aim of the work was to verify and document the success rate of long−term storage of wood raw materials by the method of limited access of oxygen in the Czech Republic. Two piles protected by the described method were established in 2008. The first pile contained 1203 logs with a total volume of 304 m³. 179 samples were selected and documented and their quality was determined at the beginning of the storage. The other pile included 1241 logs with length of 5 m with a total volume of 302 m³, 168 samples were evaluated and documented. The piles were gradually opened year by year. The quality of the protection was evaluated according to the changes in the quality of the log samples before and after the storage. The defects and quality were assessed. Log quality of the first pile declined in grade A by 1.91%, quality B increased by 5.1%, quality C increased by 10.83% and quality D decreased by 14.02%. Log quality in the second pile increased in grade A by 4.93%, grade B decreased by 4.93%, grade C increased by 3.52% and grade D decreased by 3.52%. Identified defects included mainly cracks and stain. Stain has increased in first pile by 4%, while by 15.6% in the other one and led usually to the deterioration of the quality. The compensation of moisture inside the individual logs during the storage period resulted in the reduction in checks size and number (12.1% and 8.2% in the first and second pile. respectively). Obtained results show that the storage without free oxygen access is very effective. During the storage the logs are protected sufficiently against fungi and insects.