Dry rot species of fungi cause brown rot decay, preferentially removing cellulose and hemicellulose from the timber leaving a brittle matrix of modified lignin. The term "dry rot" is somewhat misleading, as both species of fungi "Serpula lacrymans" and "Meruliporia incrassata" require an elevated moisture content to initiate an attack on timber (28–30%). Once established, the fungi can remain active in timber with a moisture content of more than 20%. At relative humidities below 86 percent, growth of "Serpula lacrymans" is inhibited, but it can stay dormant at relative humidities down to 76 percent. These relative humidities correspond to equilibrium moisture contents
The Society for the Preservation of Historic Buildings The Society for the Preservation of Historic Buildings The Society for the Preservation of Historic Buildings of the United Kingdom was founded initially as a pressure group to counter the demolition of historic buildings and it resolved later to acquire historically significant properties in order to maintain and protect them itself. In a 2007 merger, the goodwill of the Society was acquired by a registered Nonprofit organisation, Ruins on the Roam Limited, which adopted the Society's name and assets, with the intention to continue its work. The Society is noted in an architectural journal of 1969. The Society was dissolved