Top 25 Treaters

4 4 CulpeperWoodPreserverc NfP 500

Culpeper, Va.

4 plants: Culpeper, Fredeilcksburg, Va.; Shelbyville, In.; Columbia, S.C.

Treatments: CCA, ACQ, Borates, FRT, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Pilings, Posts F C r'rn Rocky Top Building Prducts NfP

Rocky Mouni, Va.

5 plants: Rocky Mount; Sfeator, ll.; Hagerstown, Md.; Youngstown, Oh.;Fombell, Pa.

Treatments: CCA, CA, Borates, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties

6 McFarland Cascade NfP NfP

Tacoma, Wa.

5 plants: Tacoma; Sandpoint, ld.; Eugene, Or.; Broken Bow, Ok.; Electric Mills, Ms.

Treatments: CCA, CA, Borates, Penta, Creosote, WR, Colorant

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Speciahies, Pilings, Posts, Cross Ties f 10 Robbins Manufac-tudng Co.

Tampa, Fl.

5 plants: Tampa, Fort Meyers, Ocala, Orlando, Fl.; Thomaston, Ga.

Treatments: CCA, CA, Borates, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Pilings, Posts

Pageland, S.C.

1 plant: Pageland

Treatments: CCA, ACQ, Borates, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Posts

Cortland, N.Y.

5 plants: South Lancaster, Ma.; Gortland, Gouverneur, N.Y.; Stony Point, N.C.; Cresco, Pa.

Treatments: CCA, ACQ, CA, FRT, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Posts

St. Claire, Mi.

3 plants: Seneca, ll.;Lansing, Mi.; Prentice, Wi.

Treatments: ACQ, CA, FRT, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Pilings, Posts, Ties

Orangeburg, S.C.

8 plants: Augusla, Ga.; Orangeburg, Eutawville, North, Sumter, S.C.; Coleridge, Cove City, Leland, N.C.

Treatments: CCA, CA, Penta, FFT

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Pilings, Posts

12e nrm*therwoodrreaters

Washougal, Wa.

161 15e +i%

5 plants: Washougal, Ferndale, Wa.; Fort Collins, Loveland, Co.; Medford, Or.

Treatments: CCA, ACQ, Borates, ACZA, FRT, WR, Colorant

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties

Myrtle Beach, S.C.

2 plants: Conway, Camden, S.C.

Treatments: ACQ, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties

14zl pacincWood Preserving Co.

Bakersfield, Ca.

Is Your Lumber Third-Party Inspeeted?

(Continued from page 1 2 ) that they're getting what they're paying for. Likewise, this also protects the dealer's reputation by maintaining high levels of customer trust. Lastly, in terms of product liability, verification through third-party inspection minimizes returns and customer issues associated with product failures. It provides protection in case of product failure by showing that the dealer took every possible step to ensure the quality of the treated lumber.

"If it's not third-party certified, the liability, in the event of product failure, is shared with the retailer," explains Rick Green, president of Anthony Wood Treating, Hope, Ar. "Retailers need to demand third-party inspection from their vendors in order to protect themselves and their customers."

lleliverlng Added Value to Gnstomen

Ricky Stroup, assistant director and senior product line manager of lumber for Stock Building Supply, the largest supplier of building materials to professional home builders and contractors in the U.S., admits, "It's important for customers to understand third-party inspection for treated wood, but most probably do not. Stock Building Supply mandates third-party inspection to ensure that the treated wood products we sell comply with industry and building code standards and will perform in the long term to meet the expectations of our customers."

"In order to meet building code requirements, contractors have to use quality products," explains Green of Anthony Wood Treating. "Third-party inspection provides measurable standards by which to guarantee quality."

"Without third-party inspection, the contractor may have difficulty proving that his treated wood complies with the applicable building code standards for quality," cautions Fowlie.

Most product warranties also require certification. "Without third-party protection, most product warranties are null and void," Fowlie explains. He points out that the warranty for CSI's Preserve treated wood products states, "Each piece of wood covered by this warranty... must bear the logo of an inspection agency that is sanctioned_by the American Lumber Standards Committee."

Therefore, by purchasing only certified treated lumber and by educating builders and contractors about the value of certified products, dealers add value to their customer relationships.

Implemen 'ng Change

There are several ways that building products dealers can make a change to increase usage of third-party inspection for treated lumber:

130 10g +26ok

4 plants: Bakerslield, Eloy, Az.; Silver Springs, Nv.; Sheridan, Or.

Trealments: CCA, ACQ, Borates, Penta, Creosote, Copper Naphthenate, FRT, Colorant

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Pilings, Posts, Ties

Require third-party inspection on all treated wood: "Retailers need to require third-party inspection on all treated wood products. Be specific, not just 'treated wood.' Make sure 'third-party inspected' is on the invoice," explains Greer of Timber Products Inspection. . Mandate vendors to provide proof of inspection: Make sure that every piece of treated lumber is properly tagged and marked with the appropriate quality marks and AWPA specifications.

Change product mix, if necessary: Many building products dealers offer their customers a range of lumber products to meet their various needs. If the product mix includes non-inspected treated wood or proprietary composite lumber, be sure the benefits of each individual product outweigh the potential risks associated with sub-standard preservative treatment and educate customers to make the best possible choice.

. Challenge or change vendors: Reputable wood treaters should be able to comply with dealers' third-party inspection requirements. Be prepared to challenge or change vendors if necessary.

Build customer arvareness about the benefits of third-party inspection: By educating professional contractors, dealers have the opportunity to promote thirdparty inspection as a cost-effective, sensible value-added service.

"The bottom line is that dealers and contractors alike need to know that they can trust the products they're buying," summarizes Rick Green. "There's a watch dog out there that they can trust-it's third-party inspection."

Ileeoding the Tag

Lumber produced and inspected in accordance with the AWPA standards and ALSC enlorcement regulations is marked or tagged by the third-party inspection agency.

Information on the tag will include:

Treater's name and location of home office and/or company number

Exposure category (e.9., Above Ground, Ground Contact, Permanent Wood Foundation, etc.)

Preservalive used

Preservative retention (the amount of preservative retained in the wood in a specific assay zone-measured in pounds per cubic foot)

Year of treatment (if required by AWPA standards)

Applicable AWPA commodity standard or use category ldentifying symbol, logo or name of accredited agency

Moisture content after treatment

Length or class (if applicable)