What is Pressure Treatment?
With changes in the industry, regulation and environmental considerations, pressure treated wood is not what it used to be. Although change is not always a bad thing, it is when you don’t know the change has occurred. There are many ways pressure treated wood is treated now and the results vary. As a coalition, we want to inspire clear communication on what consumers are buying and what they should expect from those products.
Pressure treatment is a process that forces chemical preservatives into the wood. Wood is placed inside a closed cylinder, then vacuum and pressure are applied to force the preservatives into the wood. The preservatives help protect the wood from attack by termites, other insects, and fungal decay.
Wood Preservation: When the Changes Occurred
Wood that has been industrially pressure-treated with approved preservative products pose a limited risk to the public, and should be disposed of properly. On December 31, 2003, the U.S. wood treatment industry stopped treating residential lumber with arsenic and chromium (chromated copper arsenate, or CCA). This was a voluntary agreement with the
United States Environmental Protection Agency. CCA was replaced by copper-based pesticides, with exceptions for certain industrial uses. [2] CCA may still be used for outdoor products like utility trailer beds and non-residential construction like piers, docks, and agricultural buildings. Industrial wood preservation chemicals are generally not available directly to the public and may require special approval to import or purchase depending on the product and the jurisdiction where being used. In most countries, industrial wood preservation operations are notifiable industrial activities that require licensing from relevant regulatory authorities such as EPA or equivalent. Reporting and licensing conditions vary widely depending on the particular chemicals used and the country of use.