TCNA’s laboratory offers a full line of testing to assess a material’s ability to resist attack by fungi. ANSI A118.10.4 is the test method used to evaluate waterproof membrane for fungal resistance. ANSI A118.12.4.1 is the test method used to evaluate crack isolation materials for fungal resistance and ANSI A136.1.6.4 is the test method used to evaluate organic adhesives for fungal resistance. ASTM G21 is used to evaluate resistance of backing materials and polymeric synthetic materials to fungi. Let’s have a closer look at the fungi that are used in these tests.

This fungus is found very commonly both indoors and outdoors. Aspergillus niger can attack a wide range of materials and use them as food sources. In fact, some rare strains of this fungus can even use people and animals as a host. It has been speculated that “King Tut’s curse” may have been caused by a particularly toxic strain of this fungus. It profusely sporulates (spores are the fungal equivalent of seeds) and the round balls seen in the picture are spores attached to a stalk-like head. This fungus is the workhorse of our fungal resistance testing. A. niger is used in all of our fungal resistance test methods.

This member of our “staff,” Aureobasidum pullulans, is often found in indoor environments. It has the ability to degrade a wide range of materials and has even been found thriving on limestone with very little organic contamination. This fungus can also be responsible for indoor allergies. A. pullulans is one of five fungi used in ASTM G21.

Trichoderma virens is another of the fungi that is used in ASTM G21. It has a very strong ability to degrade paper and cellulose containing materials. This fungus produces abundant green spores, hence, its Latin species name ‘virens’.