FEATURES
Eight years later , this new generation preservative still holds full market share as the only alternative with environmental advantages over its predecessor solvent-based wood preservative products – namely TBTN , TBTO-L and PCP .
“ The key attribute of promoting the use of more wood in construction is that it is a truly renewable resource which plays a vital role in reducing the carbon footprint of a building , as wood products store carbon for the duration of the product ’ s lifetime . But equally important to choosing wood in construction is the decision to use a metal-free , organic-based wood preservative ,” says JJ du Plessis , business manager at Lonza Wood Protection South Africa .
Since the launch of Vacsol Azure in South Africa , the demand for the product has grown exponentially and du Plessis provides insight into the reasons behind its success .
“ The facts speak for themselves . Vacsol Azure has achieved a solid track record of performance excellence in the organic solvent treatment segment for H2 and selected H3 hazard classes . We attribute this success to its innovative design that ticks all the boxes for treating re-manufactured , appearance , and engineered wood products where both moisture content during processing and water repellence in the end-use product are critical . As a result , the last eight years has seen Vacsol Azure become an essential component of wood preservation in the South African market ,” says du Plessis .
MAINTAIN NATURAL COLOURS
One of the popular features is the clear liquid preservation solution , which on application maintains the wood ’ s natural colour with a beautiful light honey shade . This makes it the logical choice for treating architectural features such as stairways , laminated beams , roof trusses , ceiling boards , flooring , panelling , doors , cupboards , skirting and window frames amongst others .
The solvent-based solution is another practical feature that is very appealing to treaters of engineered products and structural wood . Because the solution does not affect the wood ’ s moisture content , strength , dimensions or glue bonds during the treatment process , wood products can be treated in their final shape and form .
According to du Plessis , the Ecospecifier Global endorsement , and the fact that Vacsol Azure is rated among the contributing products to the achievement of the Green Building rating tool credits , have been instrumental in building product confidence – not only for their customers , but also for their customers ’ customer .
Initially , Lonza launched Vacsol Azure at four treatment plants , one of which was Lamtim Products situated in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands . Lamtim is the country ’ s largest specialist producer of laminated timber materials , so being one of the first treaters to use Vacsol Azure meant ensuring that the product met the company ’ s commitment to providing quality products to its customers .
PROTECTION AGAINST ATTACK
Lance Chapman , director at Lamtim Products says that Vacsol Azure gives the company the assurance that its beams will remain stable without any dimensional distortion through the treatment process and into service . “ What really stands out for us is that our beams retain their natural colour . This is not only attractive , but also highly sought after . The protection against wood decay and insect attack is of the highest quality and it has environmental benefits – which is an important consideration in our company . I can honestly say that the investment made into our treatment plant with Vacsol Azure has added value to our business ,” says Chapman .
The advanced protection against fungal decay , woodborers and insect attack is a result of preservative constituents made up of a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide – permethrin , and organic azole fungicides – Tebuconazole and Propiconazole . In addition , the low pressure , double vacuum treatment process drives the preservative deep into the cellular structure of the wood to provide this enhanced protection .
However , du Plessis stresses that without an effective on-site quality control management system to ensure that the correct penetration requirements are met , the quality and service life of wood treated with Vacsol Azure is compromised .
“ Inadequate and non-uniform penetration for pressure processes is always a concern as it leads to failure of the product in the end-user stage . Regular and effective penetration tests are essential to ensure
ALL IMAGES : LONZA WOOD PRESERVATIVES
Vascol Azure is ideal for engineered and structural wood products .
www . timberiq . co . za // FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021 23