TALKING TIMBER
Ensuring your timber endures
for many years to come
Timber is the most sustainable of all materials available for
construction whether you're building a home, farm fence,
bridge or shopping mall.
By Dolphin Bay
44 JUNE / JULY 2019 //
T
imber from pine and eucalyptus trees – the
species most commonly used for
construction purposes – is not durable,
making it subject to damage from water, fungus,
insect larvae and the pesky termite. To prevent
this natural process of decay, timber must be
treated with the appropriate preservative
chemical.
There is a dangerous misconception that
timber simply needs to be sealed with a
protective coating. Sealants merely protect
against weathering and do not penetrate the
timber, leaving it vulnerable to attack from
insects and fungus. Make sure the timber you
use has been treated by a reputable company, in
line with industry standards, using the chemical
best suited for its hazard class (see more detail
below).
Timber treatment should take place at a
treatment plant where it undergoes a vacuum
and pressure-cycle process in a treatment vessel
and is treated with preservative chemicals at
different strengths or loadings, depending on
the intended purpose of the wood. This ensures
that the wood will last for its intended use.
Consumers may ask for proof that their
timber has been properly treated, as all wood
sold as preservative-treated timber in South
Africa must comply with the relevant national
standards and be marked as such. In round
poles, this information is displayed on a small
metal disc attached to either end or with sawn
timber, the information is applied with ink
stamps. In either case, the information displayed
should include the trademark of the
manufacturer, the hazard class, a quality mark
from the South African Bureau of Standards or
auditing body SATAS, and the applicable national
standards number.
It is helpful to understand the various timber
‘hazard classes’ and the wood preservative that
best fits each class. The hazard classifications
Timber must be treated with the appropriate preservative chemical to avoid
the natural decay process.
were established by The South African Wood Preservers Association,
with the South African Bureau of Standards and representatives of the
timber industry.
CCA (chromated copper arsenate) is the world’s most versatile wood
preservative, with the best track record. It is suitable the highest
hazard classes three to five and can be used for all hazard classes,
although this is not always necessary. CCA-treated timber is light green
and fades to grey in time. We’ve all seen this timber in children’s
timber playgrounds, boardwalks and fencing.
Dolphin Bay is a leading supplier of wood preservatives to the
timber market in southern Africa since the company was established in
1996. Dolphin Bay’s product Permacure CCA is sold to 13 countries
across the world, meeting international standards and has gained an
excellent reputation in the industry.
“Treated timber is used for a multitude of purposes in the
construction industry,” says Dolphin Bay MD Bertus Coetzee. “Make
sure your timber is correctly treated, and it will serve you for decades
to come.”
www.timberiq.co.za