All ATG pine products are treated on site by a qualified and experienced member of staff to the national Australian standard 1604.1-2010.

CCA Treatment

The Copper-Chrome-Arsenic (CCA) preservative is a waterborne, Chromated Copper Arsenate preservative system developed to provide long-term protection to wood exposed in exterior applications and is applied to wood by pressure treatment. The CCA preservative is an effective fungicide and termiticide providing protection from a broad spectrum of decay fungi & wood boring insects. CCA is one of the most effective wood preservatives available.

Purpose of Treatment

The main reason for treating our pine products is to lengthen its life expectancy considerably and by doing so giving you a product that is not only reliable but also durable in the harsh Australian climate. All timber products are placed into classes of natural durability from 4 (lasting 1 to 8 years) being the lowest and 1 being the highest with an expected life of 25 to 50 years without decay and resistance to termite attack. Radiata pine which is the timber used here at Alliance Timber Group is a class 4 timber without treatment and with the treatment of Sarmix Oxcell C-680 (CCA Oxide), is raised to a class 1 timber raising its durability and life expectancy from a maximum of 8 years to a maximum of 50 years greatly improving the quality of the product.

Our Process

The process of impregnating the product with CCA oxide yields best results when the timber has been steamed. This is a result of boiling out sap from deep within the pine and replacing with water, the cells within the timber then burst allowing deep impregnation of the product (400-600 litres m3) therefore allowing it to reach the highest levels of durability.

ATG's Treatment plant is modern and operated by qualified staff members who are experienced and precise in execution. The process itself is undertaken in a vacuum and pressurised cylinder in which the CCA solutions are impregnated deep within the product using what is known as the Bethell process, this method ensures exact and consistent results whilst adhering to the hazard classes set by the Australian standards-AS1604.

The Five Steps to Treatment

1. Vacuum-air removed from cells
2. Flooding- the vacuum is held whilst preservatives flood the cylinder. 75-80% of preservative retention held within this step.
3. Pressure- Vacuum is now released and pressure is applied to the treatment cylinder. This pressure is then monitored until our experienced staff release it at the appropriate time.
4. Kickback- A portion of the solution is forced out of the timber due to the release of pressure and expansion of the cells within the wood. The cylinder is then emptied.
5. Vacuum- another vacuum is applied to the cylinder to prevent excess drip and solution.

Treatment Hazard Guide

Source

Important Information

• Please note: CCA treated timber has some limitations to its use within the Australian market. CCA treated timber cannot be used for garden furniture, picnic tables, exterior seating, children’s play equipment, patio and domestic decking, and hand rails. Alternative treatments such as Naturewood ACQ and Protim Optimum are approved for use in these applications, Osmose recommends either of these preservative options as suitable alternatives.
• Inorganic arsenic penetrates deeply into and remains in the pressure-treated wood for a long time. However, some chemical may migrate from treated wood into surrounding soil over time and may also be dislodged from the wood surface upon contact with skin. Exposure to inorganic arsenic may present certain hazards. Therefore, the following precautions should be taken both when handling the treated wood and in determining where to use or dispose of the treated wood.
• Use Site Precautions. - All sawdust and construction debris should be cleaned up and disposed of after construction.
• Do not use treated wood under circumstances where the preservative may become a component of food or animal feed. Examples of such sites would be use of mulch from recycled arsenic-treated wood, cutting boards, counter tops, animal bedding, and structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food.
• Only treated wood that is visibly clean and free of surface residue should be used for patios, decks and walkways. Do not use treated wood for construction of those portions of beehives which may come into contact with honey. Treated wood should not be used where it may come into direct or indirect contact with drinking water, except for uses involving incidental contact such as docks and bridges.
• Handling Precautions. - Dispose of treated wood by ordinary trash collection. Treated wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces, or residential boilers because toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes. Treated wood may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with national and / or state and Federal regulations.
• Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from treated wood. When sawing, sanding and machining treated wood, wear a dust mask. Whenever possible, these operations should be performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumulation of airborne sawdust from treated wood.
• When power-sawing and machining, wear goggles to protect eyes from flying particles.
• Wear gloves when working with wood. After working with wood, and before eating, drinking, toileting, and use of tobacco products, wash exposed areas thoroughly.
• Because preservatives or sawdust may accumulate on clothes, they should be laundered before re-use. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.

Source