Key Questions - Preservative Treatments
Simply click on the appropriate question to read the answer.
Should you need more detail from the answers supplied or have other questions, please contact our customer support service on 01977 714117 / 714118 / 714139 or timberprotectionadvice.ukca@lonza.com
- Why has TANALISED Clear treatment been introduced?
- What are the recommended areas of use for TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber?
- What is the difference between TANALISED Clear and TANALISED E pressure treated timber?
- With regard to the specification of preservative treated timbers, what are 'Commodity Codes' ?
- I am doing a COSHH assessment on the treated timber we stock. Can you send me a material safety data sheet for your preservative products?
- How do I dispose of TANALISED Clear treated timbers and can they be incinerated?
- Is TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber safe to use in children's playgrounds?
- Which metal fixings are best suited for use with TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber?
Why has TANALISED Clear treatment been introduced? 
There are some fungi that feed on the content of wood cells and rather than cause decay problems they disfigure and discolour the timber, making it unsightly and unappealing. They are often referred to as staining fungi.
Over the last decade, in response to requests from specifiers and the timber industry, Arch has been developing a new wood preservative that would not only provide traditional protection against wood decay and insects, but also protect against staining fungi, leaving the timber with a natural appearance and allow it to be used outdoors without a coating.
TANALITH M - an innovative and proven wood preservative that provides the added advantage of keeping the timber looking cleaner and brighter for longer. Extensive field testing has shown that TANALISED Clear pressure treated timbers, in a variety of species, have achieved an extended period of stain free protection. Over this period the timber develops a distinctive and attractive sun lightened appearance.
From these field tests, TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber has also proved to more than meet the requirements of European Standards in terms of preservative protection. It can be used in Use Class 1, 2 and 3 situations. However, its main applications are likely to be for Use Class 3.2 applications - exterior timbers, above ground contact and uncoated.
Specifications are available to give a desired service life performance against decay and insect attack: 30 years can be expected for out of ground cladding and cedar shingles and 15 years for out of ground decking timbers, such as deck boards, out of ground contact playground timbers and timbers used for garden buildings, in line with current standards.
What are the recommended areas of use for TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber?
TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber is designed for a wide range of end uses from internal building timbers through to external out of ground contact applications. However, its main applications are likely to be for Use Class 3.2 applications - exterior timbers, above ground contact and uncoated.
Specifications are available to give a desired service life performance against decay and insect attack: 30 years can be expected for out of ground cladding and cedar shingles and 15 years for out of ground decking timbers, such as deck boards, out of ground contact playground timbers and timbers used for garden buildings, in line with current standards.
TANALISED Clear pressure treated timbers are protected by Arch's new metal free wood preservative TANALITH M. This still utilises the combination of organic biocides to provide a very effective preservative protection but with a clear finish that allows the natural beauty of the timber to show through. The treatment leaves the timbers looking cleaner and brighter for longer.
TANALISED E pressure treated timbers can be used for all Use Class situations from 1-4. TANALISED Clear pressure treated timbers can be used for Use Class applications 1, 2, 3.1 & 3.2 - not for Use Class 4 ground contact situations. However, its main applications are likely to be for Use Class 3.2 applications - exterior timbers, above ground contact and uncoated.
With regard to the specification of preservative treated timbers, what are 'Commodity Codes'?
Commodity Codes are a series of typical end uses for preservative treated timber created by the Wood Protection Association, currently ranging from C1-C12. The suitability of TANALISED Clear treated timbers in meeting these industry codes is detailed here.
BACK TO TOP
I am doing a COSHH assessment on the treated timber we stock. Can you send me a material safety data sheet for your preservative products?
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations refer to substances. Preservative treated timber is not a substance but an article and therefore COSHH regulations do not apply to the actual treated timber. A 'COSHH and treated timber' information sheet does provide more details relating to this classification.
The preservative treated timber should be delivered to you in a surface dry condition. This is safe to handle as recommended and can be handled in the same way as untreated timber.
BACK TO TOP
How do I dispose of TANALISED Clear treated timbers and can they be incinerated?
The concentration of the hazardous components in TANALISED Clear treated wood waste is below the European Waste thresholds and therefore the waste is not hazardous.
Processing wastes, such as sawdust and off-cuts, must not be used for animal litter or bedding.
Preservative treated timber should not be used as a fuel in barbeques, cooking stoves or grates.
Generally, small quantities (less than 0.5 tonnes) can be burnt at any one time in the open, providing the fire is positioned to enable adequate dispersal of the smoke. The residual ash is non-hazardous. However, due to a few recent developments from some local councils under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, we would recommend that consultation should be made to these regulations, and preferably to the local enforcement agency, before burning any waste on site.
Householders should dispose of the timber or sawdust through the ordinary waste collection service or at local authority amenity/disposal facilities.
Any waste timber, sawdust or redundant timber from commercial or industrial use (e.g. construction sites) should preferably be recycled by re-use or disposed of to an authorized landfill or to a correctly controlled and approved waste contractor.
BACK TO TOP
Is TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber safe to use in children's playgrounds?
TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber is safe to use for structures in and around children's play areas.
With regard to any concerns that the children may 'chew' or 'eat' the treated timber, we have to conduct safety studies to demonstrate safe use of our products as part of their approval process. These studies have shown that the preservative within the timber would not cause harm to a child in the quantities that they are able to 'eat' or 'chew'.
Prior to use, you should ensure that the timber is in a dry condition; two weeks post treatment is usually sufficient time to allow for drying although this is weather and storage condition dependent.
Please see our Code of Practice or Consumer Information sheet for more information on the use of TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber.
BACK TO TOP
TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber has a long life expectancy and it is appropriate to use metal fixings and fastenings that will have a comparable length of life. Performance of metal fixings is influenced by the environmental conditionsincluding moisture content, temperature, atmospheric pollution, proximity to coastal locations, timber species as well as the thickness of any zinc coating and it is impossible to accurately predict the service life of any specific installation.
Therefore we do recommend that you refer to the current Code of Practice for TANALISED Clear pressure treated timber for detailed information - Code of Practice.
BACK TO TOP