[May Back Talk]

Pressure-Treated Wood
In PCT’s February article “What’s New With Termiticide Regulations?” I was struck by the statement that pressure-treated wood “only has to last three years in the soil…” It was unclear whether this statement was the author’s or a summary of a conversation with Greg Baumann, vice president of technical services for the National Pest Management Association, who was further quoted as saying “that the reality is we’re dealing with politics, and the pressure-treated wood lobby is a force to be reckoned with.”

As president of the American Wood Protection Association and a long-time member of the technical committees that develop the standards used to specify pressure-treated wood in North America, I would suggest PCT check your facts. First, pressure-treated wood for direct soil contact routinely lasts 40 to 80 years, even in areas with high termite pressure. Field tests across the country have shown the superior performance of this material. Second, the standards for the treatment of wood under the AWPA are developed through an American National Standards Institute accredited consensus process that helps to ensure that data on performance are well vetted before materials become commercially available. The goal of the process is to protect the consumer from shoddy materials that will not perform for the long periods required for homeowners.

As a part of this process, manufacturers are required to submit a minimum of three years of data from sites where the wood is exposed to termite attack. Most of these sites are located in the Southeastern U.S. They also must continue to provide annual updates to ensure continued performance. In the case of the two most commonly used preservatives for residential applications, the data packets now extend a decade or more. Clearly, these treatments provide far more than three years of protection.

Third, there appears to be a conspiracy theory about the inclusion of treated wood in the codes. If there is a treated wood lobby, it is a highly secretive one. Like all industries, the treated wood market is highly competitive as manufacturers seek commercial advantages. All of the major suppliers participate in the code approval process, but it would be, at best, laughable to paint them as a cohesive lobby and at worst, a bit paranoid.

Finally, there is a statement that treated wood is a stand-alone termite treatment. While there are places where treated wood alone might be sufficient as a stand-alone treatment against termites and the codes do allow this, I seriously doubt that the proponents of treated wood would generally recommend this approach. Even in Hawaii, where treated wood is required for all house components, the codes also require some type of physical or chemical barrier to exclude termites. Treated wood is not intended to exclude termites from a structure. Rather, it is intended to protect those particular structural members that are treated so that the building retains its integrity when attacked by termites. As such, treated wood is a critical component of an Integrated Pest Management system that includes soil barriers and regular inspections.

Pressure-treated wood has and will continue to play a strong role in ensuring that residential buildings provide long-term performance to their owners.

Jeffrey J. Morrell
President
American Wood Protection Assoc.
Corvallis, Ore.

Baumann's Response
Preserved wood only must pass a three-year test and thus has shorter testing standard than termiticides. Termiticides can be reapplied, but you can’t retreat concealed pressure-treated wood so remediation is not possible. Just as the pest management industry’s products last longer than five years, theirs may last longer than the three-year test; however, the minimum is just three years. The consumer does in fact generally believe that the treatment is permanent, but most inspectors can tell stories about how they have observed treated wood infested with termites. No one implied that there is a conspiracy within the code; however, there is no question that the wood suppliers and preservers are justifiably a recognized, powerful force, sometimes working with our industry and sometimes working against our industry.

Greg Baumann
Vice President of Technical Services
National Pest Management Assoc.
Fairfax, Va.

Write to PCT Letters at jdorsch@giemedia.com. Letters may be edited for space or clarity.