• Biological Decay – marine borers, fungi, insects, bacteria
  • By impregnating fibers with a preservative, wood is eliminated as a food, therefore we can prevent biological decay.

• Physical and Chemical Decay – fire, wear, chemicals
  • These are natural occurrences that can not be prevented.

All wood species are composed of two systems of interwoven cells – one from the roots to the top of the tree (fiber tracheids) and the other (ray tracheids) from the branches to the bark. When the tree is alive these cells transmit water and minerals throughout the tree. When seasoned, the natural passageways are useful when the softwood is vacuum/pressure treated with preservatives to transport chemicals deep into the wood.

American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA) sets standards for a wide range of end use treated lumber. These standards allow for several species of wood to be preserved.

1. Southern Yellow Pine

2. Ponderosa Pine

3. Red Pine These three species allow a penetration depth, which is important to provide a barrier thick enough so that any checking or splitting will not expose any untreated wood to decay or insect attack.

4. Others: Most other species do not readily accept chemical preservatives. This does not mean you can not treat other species. The AWPA requires incising to aid both chemical penetration and uniform retention.

(Chromated Copper Arsenate) Water-borne preservatives. The three active ingredients perform a different and important function

1. Chromate – affixes the C and A chemically to the wood. The chromate reacts to make it safe for people, pets, and plants to come into contact with the wood.

2. Copper – prevents decay from various fungi.

3. Arsenate – stops decay plus it eliminates damage from insect and termite attacks.

(Micronized Copper Quaternary) Same basic ingredients as ACQ providing protection to the wood and has corrosion rates similar to CCA treatment. This treatment does not require the use of stainless steel fasteners or the barrier tape. This is because the MCQ treatment is non-corrosive in contact with metal. Micro pressure-treated lumber is clean and safe for handling and for the environment and has a fresher, more natural appearance than other treated wood. MCQ is also odorless, non-staining and non-irritating to humans, animals and plants and is ideal for a wide range of outdoor uses such as structural lumber, decks, docks and railings.

Bundles of lumber are placed on tramcars, which roll into the cylinder. Lumber must have moisture content of 25% or below in order to be treated.

1. Initial Vacuum – air is taken out of the lumber. This affects the amount of CCA left in the wood at the end. The amount of time in the initial vacuum is determined by the species and its dimensions.

2. Flooding the vessel – completely flooding with preservative while maintaining the vacuum.

3. Pressure period – once full the pressurization begins. The preservative solution is pumped into the tube while the pressure is raised to approximately 150 psi. The pressure is held long enough to reach penetration and uptake.

4. Initial drain – The pressure is released and the preservatives are drained back into their tanks for reuse.

5. Final vacuum – There is some preservative left between the units after the initial drain, therefore in order to dry the surfaces and not waste the preservative a final vacuum is applied.

6. Conditioning building – The lumber is placed in a conditioning bailing. This serves as a controlled environment, protecting the pressure treated material from the weather. While in the bailing the highly resistant bonds are founded to make it safe for people, plants, etc.

Retention levels are standards set by the AWPA for a wide range of end uses. .25 above ground .40 ground contact/water immersion .60 wood foundations Non-conforming – treated for appearance only The .25,.40,.60 means the use of CCA or MCQ preservatives by actual weight is retained in each cubic foot of lumber.