Quality Treated Wood
The Hidden Danger of Illegally Treated Timber
A recent study by the South African Utility Pole Association (SAUPA) revealed the alarming growth of illegal timber treatment across South Africa, particularly impacting the Eastern Cape. The influx of poor-quality, structurally unsound timber flooding the market poses significant risks to the integrity and safety of construction projects.
At first glance, non-compliant, under treated timber may look identical to compliant products, but the true difference is deep within its core.
Wood Preservation - It's What's Inside That Counts
Properly treated timber undergoes a process where preservatives are impregnated into the wood at precise depths and concentrations, as defined by national specifications. Standards are in place to ensure that the treated timber can perform as promised, withstanding years of exposure without significant degradation.
Timber that is not treated according to the national specifications and possibly only dip treated (no deep penetration to protect the timber) instead of vacuum-pressure treated, does not comply to the penetration levels required and specified in the national specifications. Such poor quality treatment will lead to premature failures inexposed environments.
This makes compliant treatment essential for the long-term stability and safety of structural frameworks in residential and commercial buildings, as well as the protection of foundation pilings and supporting structures from deterioration due to termite attack and soil moisture, that can lead to fungal attack.
In addition to the dangers to human health and the environment, illegally treated timber poses a substantial risk to the future economic stability of South Africa’s forestry industry jeopardising jobs in the forestry sector in an economic ripple effect.
A Collaborative Effort
Rooting out illegal treatment practices in the timber industry is not a challenge that can be overcome by individual efforts alone. It requires a collaborative effort from industry stakeholders throughout the value chain. This underscores the vital role of architects, specifiers, and building contractors in overseeing product quality within their respective segments by performing diligent compliance checks and requesting certification to ensure that all standards for the treatment of timber have been met.
Treated Timber Checklist
To recognise the signs of a quality treated wood product compared to non-compliant treated wood, download a copy of our treated timber checklist.
