ORGANIC NZ July/August 2008 Promote Educate 46

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or the last 70 years merchants around the world have
been infusing timber with chemicals to increase their
durability. Fortunately the last ten years has given
us not only a new generation of slightly better treatment
choices but also a renewed understanding of some traditional
chemical free alternatives.
This level of understanding and acceptance has not yet
been absorbed adequately across the industry, and a huge
amount of serious misinformation exists. Read on to discover
some of the myths, educate yourself on the facts, and arm
yourself with all the options so you can make the best
decision for your situation.
Timber Treatment
New Zealand building regulations nominate durability
requirements for specic areas within buildings, from an
expected lifespan of just ve years to a mandatory minimum of
50 years. How we achieve this is to some extent up to us. NZS
3602 Timber and Wood Based Products for Use in Building,
is one document that councils refer to when assessing your
building consent application and actually provides a fair
degree of choices including non-chemical alternatives, if
youre willing to point them out to sometimes uninterested
building inspectors.
Treatment requirements range from H1.1 to H6, which
is actually a reference to the chemical hazard classication
but serve us as an indication of the durability of the timber
and therefore its suitability for different applications. Refer
to table 1.
The chemicals that plant operators use to achieve this
durability varies. As a consumer you are able to identify
the chemical type and its level of durability by checking the
branding on the end of the timber. Each piece of treated
timber bears a branding mark to identify the plant responsible
for its preservative treatment, the preservative code number
(chemical type), and the treatment class or level of treatment
the timber has received, listed in that order. See table 2.
A third generation of benign, or organic treatments are
rumored to be in the laboratory pipeline but until they are
available lets look at the current options.
Copper Chrome Arsenate preservative (CCA)
Unfortunately NZ still allows the use of CCA (copper chrome
arsenate) salts, and oxides, when other countries have long
since fazed them out because of toxicity concerns.
CCA may no longer be used in Australia when intended
for use as garden furniture, picnic tables, exterior seating,
children play equipment, patio and domestic decking boards,
and handrails. Some countries have issued a complete
Timber Treatment
and your
Alternatives
Table 1. Applicability of Different Timber Preservatives
Hazard
Class Typical Use C
C
A
A
C
Q
C
u
A
z
B
o
r
o
n
L
O
S
P
H1.1 Interior nishing timber
H1.2 Wall framing
H2 Not used in NZ termite protection
H3.1 Cladding, fascia, joinery
H3.2 Decking, posts
H4 Fence posts, landscaping
H5 House piles
H6 Marine applications
* A number of different LOSP mixtures are covered under this heading,
and not all mixtures are suitable for all the indicated hazard classes.
Source: CCA review 2005 by Dr B Graham.
Tina Booth asks: Is a chemical free home a viable possibility or the holy grail of eco building?
Building
July/August 2008 ORGANIC NZ Advocate Connect 47
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blanket ban on CCA and others
restrict their use to commercial
applications only, or where human
contact is unlikely. NZ government
has only gone as far as a byline
warning in some publications,
advising against their use in
situations where children may
touch the treated wood.
CCA treatment is still used
in NZ in all hazard classes, even
though there are other less toxic
treatments available for H1.1
through to H5. It is up to the
consumer to check which treatment has been used on the
piece of timber they want to purchase and to pick accordingly.
At this point in time, we have limited choice when it comes to
timber requiring durability levels H4 and H5. Unless we can
procure a CAF (copper and arsenate free) treatment such as
ACQ (see below), which is difcult to come by because of its
expense, we simply have to use CCA treatment or preferably
design our structure to not need them. CCA is the only
treatment available in NZ for timber requiring H6.
Borate preservatives
These contain boric acid, oxides and salts and are used widely
throughout the world. The preservative is not xed in the
timber and therefore leaches easily. It is considered to have
a low toxicity to humans. Treatment for level H1.1 and H1.2
only.
Alkaline copper quaternary
preservatives (ACQ)
ACQ is the most widely use alternative
to CCA, as it is free of chrome and
arsenate. Its suitable for all applications
requiring H1.1 to H5 timber. However
ACQ treatments contain high levels
of copper salts and didecyldimethyl
ammonium chloride (DDAC) to
displace the chrome and arsenate
found in traditional CCA. The copper
content makes the timber highly
corrosive (some research indicates ten
times more corrosive) therefore double
dipped galvanising or stainless steel xings are necessary.
DDAC is highly toxic to sh and other aquatic organisms,
but is believed to have only moderate acute toxicity to
humans. Although still toxic, this is by far the best product to
use where H4 or H5 are unavoidable, but difcult and pricey
to obtain.
Light organic solvent preservatives (LOSP)
White spirits are used as a carrier to deliver preservative
compounds into timber. Although this formulation contains
no heavy-metal compounds, there are still serious warnings
regarding its use. Some people may experience health
problems, such as skin rashes, eye irritations, headaches or
light-headedness and nose bleeds when working with this
timber.
Formulations containing tributyltin (TBT) compounds
Table 2. Chemical Codes
CCA oxide 01
CCA salt 02
Boron, Boric 11
TBTO (losp) 56
Copper naphthenate (losp) 57
Copper azole (CuAz) 58
TBTN (losp) 62
IPBC (losp) 63
Propiconazole+ tebuconazole (losp) 64
Permethrin 70
Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) 90
Building
July/August 2008 ORGANIC NZ Advocate Connect 49
are banned as a timber treatment by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and also in other countries. TBTs are a
toxic, corrosive fungicide known to be harmful to aquatic life
in amounts as low as a few parts per million. Permethrin is
used as an insecticide even though it is a known neurotoxin
and carcinogen. It is highly toxic to honey bees, benecial
insects, and aquatic life. For many species, concentrations of
less than one part per billion are lethal. However this is the
same ingredient used in many head lice treatments that we
routinely use on our school age children.
LOSPs can be formulated for uses H1.1 to H3.1 or ( H3.2
for CuN only ). The NZ government has been lobbied to
restrict its use to H3 and above -if not ban it all together - with
more pressure placed on them since builders have reported
coughing up blood. One national chemical supplier has
discontinued the supply of this product as less toxic options
are available and in their opinion should be supported.
Copper Azole preservatives (CuAz)
Copper Azole is a water-based wood preservative that prevents
fungal decay and insect attack; a mixture of copper salts and
a triazole fungicide, -tebuconazole. It has low acute toxicity to
humans, but is noted as a possible human carcinogen. It has
come into wide use in the USA, Europe, Japan and Australia
following restrictions on CCA. It can be used in situations
requiring H3.1 to H4.
Chemical Free Alternatives
New Zealand has a fairly diverse planting of trees across the
country, so it is not necessary to rely solely on Radiata Pine for
our buildings. Although the mainstream building merchants
may stock pine almost exclusively there are other stockists and
sawmills who do routinely deal with other species. Supply
of these alternative timbers may vary from time to time and
will probably have a direct impact on their moisture content.
Most untreated timbers allowed by the NZS are required to
be dry, with moisture content lower than 18%. All timbers
listed in the code are referred to by their grading. This is often
the downfall of smaller owner operated sawmills, as they may
not have a trained timber grader to check and ensure that
what they are selling is actually suitable by law.
The following species are a sample of our most commonly
available and suitable timbers. This list is not intended to be
exhaustive; rather it lists the species mentioned and accepted
within the limits of NZS 3602. The NZS also recognises other
timbers even though they may not be mentioned by name in
the standard, but its usually up to you to convince the local
body council of its suitability for your use.
Radiata Pine Structural, No 1 and No 2 framing graded
pine can be used untreated if its kiln dried and machine
gauged for situations such as interior framing, mid oor
joists, some roof trusses, internal nishing timbers and
some exterior wall framing depending on cladding type.
Other Pinus species are acceptable in some cases, check
NZ3602.
Eucalyptus Species Includes E.botryoides, E.saligna,
E.globoidea, E.muellerana, E.obliqua, E.pilularis.
This is generally a very hard timber, great for decking and
ooring. Structural graded sapwood can be used in place
of timber requiring treatments H1.1 and premium grades
such as A, structural or dressing grade heartwood can be
used to replace pine requiring H3.2.
Cypress Species Includes Lawson Cypress, Cupressus
Macrocarpa and Mexican Cypress.
These species are a moderately durable timber and can be
placed in similar situations to eucalyptus. Cypress is softer
than eucalyptus and often preferred as its easier to work
with. Use the sapwood grades in situations requiring H1.1
and H1.2 and the premium heartwood grades in place of
pine usually requiring treatment up to H3.2.
Douglas r Douglas r can be used in place of untreated
pine and pine requiring H1.1 level treatment. It is a
stable timber, suitable for beams and framing (other than
exterior bottom plate) where there is no risk of trapped
moisture.
Larch This is deemed slightly less durable than the eucalyptus
species in the eyes of the NZ timber design journal but as
slightly more durable in the NZS3602. It is suitable for a
reasonably wide range of applications. Structural grades
can be used as general framing, roong members and
truss construction, sub-oor and mid-oor joists, and
nishing timbers.
Vitex and Kwila Both species are imported. Kwila is not
recognised as a sustainably grown timber and is best
avoided to prevent deforestation in other countries.
ORGANIC NZ July/August 2008 Promote Educate 50
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More information
Copies of the Timber Treatment Guide published by
the Department of Building and Housing can be
downloaded or ordered via their website
www.dbh.govt.nz.
For more technical information on treatment regulations
refer to NZS 3602: 2003 Timber and Wood Based
Products for Use in Building. Available from most
public libraries or purchase your own copy from
www.standards.co.nz.
Vitex is touted as the new eco friendly hardwood that has
a creamy light colour. However it is imported and even
though it may be grown sustainably, if there is a suitable
local timber, your best eco choice lies there.
Cedar and Redwood Both cedar and redwood are
dimensionally stable, preferred timbers for weatherboards
and joinery.
As suggested earlier there is a lot of misinformation out there.
For example while researching this article, one chemical
supplier seemed deeply offended when questioned about the
toxicity of some timber treatments, he swore nothing had
been proven. A treatment plant operator warned us not to
use any other treatment as CCA was the only product with a
50 year guarantee. Yet another unqualied timber salesperson
categorically stated that by law you must use CCA treatment
throughout your house.
All these statements are wrong and misleading to the
individuals who may trust advice from so called professionals
in the industry. The author has successfully used and specied
many alternative chemical free timbers in eco homes she
has designed, along with the hundreds of homebuilders
throughout our history prior to the invention of timber
treatment.
Now that sustainability and green considerations are
talked about a little more openly, and not referred to as the
sole domain of barefooted hippies, we are free to make healthy
informed decisions, without bias, if we choose to.
You may still meet resistance and ignorance even in the
building trade, perhaps especially so, but know that you do
have legal and documented support.
Tina Booth is an Architectural Designer specializing in green homes and
frequently writes for magazines on sustainable building and business
topics.