Know your treated wood marks

lnorecr BorH buyer and con- sumer, the industry has developed a system requiring ink-stamped grademarking of each piece of treated lumber under adequate quality control measures. This assures deliverv of the grade specified for its intended use. Lumber grading and marking is monitored and inspected by agencies accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee. A valid agency grademark on lum-

Follow the Label

To avoid misuse on the job site, framing crews should follow instructions on required labels affixed to treated wood products, usually a plastic end tag or ink stamp.

Following are terms and abbreviations typically found on these labels.

&tailU s,ut6fnPine lumber lsgtdd in Mrdaw wlfli he $adw illes of he futhen Pine lnff,ectidt Bureau (SPlg). SP,B, nnfur M$8 l''s'rytkn, lnc., R$evable RfsdnceAggociates,lnc, fiM) ffid affiar organlffions- erc Ndedlb{t blnswtand g,ade nw*Sduilren PilE lunbil in a@rMtEe wltt SPIB gnding rubs.

Inspectiofl Service: Southem Pine

Inspeclion Bureau (SPl8)

Inspec{ion Service: limber

Pmducb Inspection, Ine. (IP) lnspection Service: Renewable Rosource Asociates, Inc. (RM)

Lumber Grade

Mill ldentifi cation Number

LumberSpeies

(optional) Logo denoling a momber millol Southem furest

Pmduc{s Associafion (SFPA}

Moisture Content {MC): Xiln-dried (KD) to a maximum of 19%

HeatTreated

.rftE OttH agdsioo a[e ffir€dited by ,lL$C b Insp€ct and gmd€ all or sd*td Sontrsn Pino goducls acsdil{ b SnB GradkE tubs,indud-

|m: Catibmh-tunb8rlnsp6c{onS€Mis(CuS);ttitndsitl'rbortlhrubctonlsochtid|{ilS-[tA]Y{s$coastLumb0tbBpoc{mBuroau 0r[Cl8)i ild tlbslsm ltbod Plodsb Assochuq| (Y{WPA).

Above Ground Use applications: Continuously Protected from Liquid Water

General Use Framing Lumber Vertical Use Fence Boards

Decking Use Only

G roun d Contact Use applications : Ground Contact (Fresh Water)

Foundation Use applications: Permanent Wood Foundation (PWF, FDN)

Marine Grade applications: Marine Seawall (This Side Seaward) ber indicates the product meets structural and appearance requirements established for that grade.

In addition, all treated lumber should be identified with an inspection agency quality mark (either plastic end tag or ink stamp) conforming to building code standards. For the quality mark to be valid after treatment, the lumber must adhere to the grade requirements and the moisture content of the grade represented by the mark.

It is recommended that the buyer specify pressure treated wood bearing inkstamped quality marks and/or plas- tic end tags denoting the material was produced under supervision of an accredited inspection agency. Use of such marks provides assurance that preservative retention and penetration complies with manufacturing specifications, that the preservative used is EPA-approved, and the lumber is treated in compliance with federal law. Use of treated wood that does not bear an approved agency quality mark will not meet requirements of the International Code Council.

"Pressure treated wood end tags must display an approved inspection agency quality mark to be code compliant, such as Southern Pine Inspection Bureau or Timber Products Inspection," explained Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets for the Southern Forest Products Association. "Typically, tags will also bear the mark of the AWPA, if the preservative is approved by the American Wood Protection Association, or the ICC Evaluation Service. Builders should know that preservatives listed in the AWPA Book of Standards are approved by reference in the building code, but ICC Evaluation Reports are onlY advisory. The local code official has the final say as to product accePtance."

Although the end tags' information has not changed much over the Years, Kleiner said, "since CCA was delisted for residential use there are now nearly 20 formulations on the market to fill the void, all with different preser- vative retention levels. Framers should heed the exposure condition printed on the tag (such as 'Ground Contact') to avoid misapplication of the lumber."

Osmose Earns Patent for MicroPro Technology

Wood preservative supplier Osmose, Griffin, Ga., was issued a U.S. patent for its micronized copper technology.

The new patent involves a method for treating wood with different aqueous compositions of particles of copper compounds, such as copper carbonate, basic copper carbonate, or copper hydroxide. The original patent application was filed in 2003.

Related micronized patent applications have been examined and granted internationally. The MicroPro treated wood process is Environmentally Preferable Product certified and has earned Green Approved Product certification from the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.

Osmose will continue to build on its micronized technology and has filed additional patent aPPlications both in the U.S. and abroad.

Updated Guide to Treated Wood

the Southern Pine Council has updated its Pressure Treated Southern Pine specifrcation guide to include a comprehensive listing of the commercial trade names of each preservative.

"This marks another year of breakthroughs for wood-preservation science," says Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets for the Southern Forest Products Association. "Formulations are now being marketed that are addressing green-building concerns, and more earth-friendly products will be introduced as technology advances."

The new guide includes five new codeapproved preservatives: three new micronized copper formulations; a new carbon-based, non-copper preservative, and a new fixated borate formulation. Glulam timbers also have been added to the list of salt-water, end-use products, and a new page is devoted to temite-resistant framing.

A PDF copy can be downloaded free at www.southernpine.com. Hard copies can be requested by calling (504) 443-4463 or emailing info@southernpine.com.

By Carla Waldemar