As with most commercially grown timber, South African plantation grown pine and eucalyptus are not durable and are therefore subject to attack from fungus and termite. This is why it is necessary to ‘treat’ timber with wood preserving chemicals if you require confidence in its performance. Taking this a step further, SAWPA together with the SABS and representatives from the timber industry established the Hazard Classifications.

The purpose for which the timber is being purchased defines the treatment required. A piece of timber to be used in the roof need not be treated with the same amount of chemical as a piece of timber being used for a jetty. The treatment changes with different applications. The chemicals need not penetrate to the same depth, nor need the solution be the same. These two factors are called penetration and retention levels respectively.

The main chemicals used in this country are CCA (Copper Chrome Arsenate) and Creosote. CCA gives the timber a greenish look whilst Creosote leaves the timber pole dark brown to black. Other chemicals available are Boron and TBTNP (Tributyltin naphthenate – permethrin). TBTOL (Tributyltinoxide Lindane) and PCP has been removed from the market place because of its proven damaging environmental properties.

Chemicals should not be brushed on. The timber is put into a treatment vessel and through various processes, the chemicals are deeply impregnated into the timber, thus obtaining the correct penetration depth and chemical retention for the predetermined hazard class. Boron may, under specific conditions, also be applied by means of a dip-diffusion process.

In South Africa we have 6 hazard class levels of treatment for wooden poles and timber.

H0 INTERIOR
This is for interior uses only. Protection is only offered for prevention of certain commonly occurring insects and is a mild treatment process. All other hazard classes given below offer protection against insect and fungi attack. The products in this category are specifically for mouldings, ceilings, flooring boards and joinery.

H1
International trends set a H1 level. Because South Africa followed the international example when setting up its own Hazard classification, it was felt that H1 in the South African context would not be required, as this caters only for countries in which there are no termites.

H2 INTERNAL (Low Hazard)
This is also for interior use only and timber treated under this classification should be roof trusses, laminated beams, internally used structural timber, ceiling boards, flooring, paneling, doors, cupboards, skirting, window frames and plywood. Chemicals used here would be mainly CCA, TBTNP and Boron.

H3 EXTERIOR ABOVE GROUND (Moderate Hazard)
CCA and Creosote are mostly used for this and higher H class treatments. H3 covers balustrades, wood fencing bearers and slats, outdoor decking and beams, garden furniture, laminated beams, weather board, steps, cladding, stairs, log homes, gates, fascia boards and plywood. Spacers and cross arms used with electrical, distribution, telephone and light poles are treated to H3.

H4 GROUND CONTACT (High Hazard)
This level of treatment helps prevent agricultural posts and landscaping structures from rotting and termite attack. Also recommended for treatment in this hazard class are playground structures, wooden fencing, pergolas, carports, flower boxes, decking, bridges and stakes, as well as electrical, distribution, telephone and lighting poles.

H5 FRESHWATER (High Hazard)
Timber poles which fall into this category, is timber exposed to continual wetting or where the timber is planted in wet soil. Timber which will fall into this category could be jetties, drains, walkways, retaining walls and slipways.

H6 MARINE (High Hazard)
Only the use of the CCA chemical with Creosote is recommended for this application. Only timber poles treated with both these chemicals will offer complete protection against marine borers. Jetties, slipways, retaining walls and walkways will fall under this section.

In South Africa all treatment plants producing treated timber are monitored through a compulsory third party product certification scheme. All treated timber is required to show not only the product certification mark of one of the approved certification bodies, but also to which H class the timber poles have been treated.

Your treated timber will be marked with one of the symbols listed below:

 

Hazard Class Symbol	H0-1	H2	H3	H4	H5	H6
End Use Application	Internal	Internal	External Above Ground	In Ground Contact	In Fresh Water/Wet Soil	In Sea Water
	Moldings   Ceilings Joinery Flooring Boards	Laminated Beams   Roof Trusses Structural Timber Ceiling Boards Flooring Paneling Doors Cupboards Skirting’s Window Frames Plywood	Balustrades   Fencing Bearings & Slats Outdoor Decking & Beams Garden Furniture Laminated Beams Weather Boards Steps Cladding Stairs Log Homes Gates Fascia Boards Plywood	Agricultural Posts   Landscaping Structures Playground Structures Fencing Pergolas Carports Flower Boxes Decking Bridges Stakes Garden Edging Transmission Poles	Piling   Retaining Walls Slipways Culverts Groynes Floodgates Jetties Drains Walkways	Piling   Retaining Walls Slipways Groynes Jetties Walkways