CODE OF PRACTICE

REF: COP 2 ISSUED FEB 2003

PRESSURE TREATED TIMBER & PLYWOOD CODE OF PRACTICE

TANALITH® E pressure treated timber is timber which has been impregnated with
DEFINITION TANALITH® E wood preservative under controlled conditions in a vacuum pressure
timber impregnation plant.
TANALITH® E is a waterbased timber preservative that contains copper and organic
biocides (azoles). When impregnated into the timber the chemical components
become fixed within the wood structure and cannot easily be removed.
TANALITH® E does not contain chromium or arsenic.
TANALITH® E treated timber gives long term protection against fungal, insect and
termite attack both in and out of ground contact.
TANALITH® E pressure treated timber is also available with a built-in water repellent
to provide enhanced weathering performance, which is ideal for outdoor leisure
timbers and playground equipment. The timber is branded as TANALITH® Extra
pressure treated timber.

TANALITH® E WOOD TANALITH® E wood preservative is approved for use as directed under the Control of
Pesticides Regulations 1986 by the UK Health and Safety Executive. The biocides
P R E S E R VAT I V E contained in TANALITH® E are being supported under the Biocidal Products Directive.

It should be noted that the actual treatment process parameters used are varied to
CONFIRMATION OF match the biological hazard to which the timber will be subjected in service.

TREATMENT Consumers are recommended to obtain a Certificate of Treatment covering their order.

1. Timber should be free of dirt, surface coatings, ice and snow.

PREPARATION OF 2. All inner and outer bark is to be removed.
TIMBER BEFORE 3. Timber should be free from all signs of attack by bacteria, blue staining fungi,
wood destroying fungi or insects.
TREATMENT 4. Timber should be dried to a moisture content of less than 28%, or as specified.
5. As far as possible, all cutting, machining, planing, notching and boring is to be
carried out prior to treatment. (See section on post treatment machining).
6. Do not fix metal fittings prior to treatment.

COLLECTION OF TREATED TIMBER FROM THE TIMBER TREATMENT PLANT:

COLLECTION OF 1. Timber and plywood impregnated with TANALITH® E wood preservative should be
TREATED TIMBER stored on a designated drip dry area and protected from rainfall and direct sunlight
until dry at the treatment plant site before despatch and use.
The time taken for this will depend upon weather conditions, species, timber
dimensions, pack size and whether or not the material has been sawn, planed or
sanded, but is usually 48 hours. Liaison between the customer and supplier is
necessary to determine when timber is ready for collection.
2. In countries other than the UK local regulations may apply.
 TANALITH® E pressure treated timber takes on an appealing, natural green coloration.
APPEARANCE In external end use situations, this slowly weathers to a warm, honey brown colour,
before eventually fading to a silver grey after long term outdoor use.
Extra weathering protection can be obtained by using TANALITH® Extra pressure
treated timber with built-in water repellent. Also, brush applied water repellent coatings,
such as Hickson Decor Waxcoat, can be applied and are particularly effective when
applied as a regular maintenance product to the surface of TANALITH® Extra pressure
treated timber. Always follow manufacturers instructions.
Please note timber is a variable and natural product. Occasionally timber containing
high or mobile resin levels can give a blue coloration at the point of treatment, but this
fades rapidly into the overall natural green coloration.

1. The time lag between preservative impregnation and installation of the treated
POST-TREATMENT timber will normally be adequate for redrying to take place.
D R Y I N G 2. Where close tolerance work is involved it is advisable to pre-machine the timber at
the ‘in service’ equilibrium moisture content and it is the contractor’s responsibility to
ensure that the need for redrying is recognised and allowed for.
3. Air drying is achieved by the free flow of air over all surfaces of the timber and drying
proceeds faster and further if the humidity is low. Timber for air drying should
therefore be open stacked and protected from rain and snow.

POST-TREATMENT 1. Where cross cutting, boring etc. has to be carried out, the area of timber revealed
by the cross cuts, holes, notches, etc. must be liberally brushed with ENSELE® end
M A C H I N I N G grain preservative in accordance with the instructions on the label.
2. Pieces which are rip sawn, thicknessed, equalised or planed must be returned to the
treatment plant for retreatment.
3. On no account are fence posts to be pointed after treatment. The shortening of posts
and columns should be avoided if possible, but in any event crosscutting must be
restricted to the top of the post or column and the cross cut surface liberally
brushed with ENSELE® end grain preservative, in accordance with instructions on
the label.

1. TANALITH® E treated timber may be glued after cleaning off any surface deposits
GLUING OF or dirt with a wire brush, or after a light sanding.
TANALITH® E 2. Recommended resin glues for internal, dry conditions are Resorcinol
Formaldehyde, Phenol Formaldehyde, Casein, PVA or Urea Formaldehyde types.
TREATED TIMBER 3. For external or damp conditions, Resorcinol Formaldehyde or Phenol Formaldehyde
types are recommended
4. Glue manufacturer’s instructions regarding the moisture content and timber
preparation at the time of gluing must be followed. It is always advisable to consult
the glue manufacturer on the use of their particular product.

1 . Assemblies which are to be treated with TANALITH® E wood preservative may first
TANALITH ®
E be glued using a suitable waterproof adhesive. e.g. Resorcinol Formaldehyde or
Phenol Formaldehyde.
T R E AT M E N T O F
PVA, Casein or Urea Formaldehyde are not recommended.
PRE-GLUED 2. It is important that the gluelines should be fully cured, as required by the glue
ASSEMBLIES manufacturer (usually several days), before the assembly is sent for treatment.
3. Access holes must be drilled to permit the entry and exit of preservative solutions
where enclosed cavities are involved.
4. Plywood may be treated provided it is a WBP exterior grade.
 1. TANALITH® E treated timber does not have to be painted or stained to maintain
SURFACE COATINGS preservative properties.
2. Provided TANALITH® E treated timber has been redried to below 22% moisture
content, any normal surface coating system may be used.
3. If treated timber is to be stained, painted or varnished the timber should be allowed
to dry and the surface of the timber should be prepared in accordance with the
coating manufacturer’s instructions.
4. It should not be assumed that the treatment is a substitute for knotting, base coating
or priming.
5. If waterbased coatings are applied some discoloration may occur in exceptional
circumstances. If this occurs, allow the coating to dry completely. Then apply an
additional coat of product, preferably one with a high build, high solids content.

TANALITH® E treated timber has a long life expectancy so it is appropriate to use metal
M E TA L F I X I N G S fixings, and fastenings that will have a comparable length of life. Under normal
AND FASTENINGS circumstances galvanised material should be used.
It should be noted that the effect of atmospheric pollution generally can be more
deleterious on metals than treated timber. Providing the following recommendations
are followed, corrosion of metal fixings and fastenings in contact with TANALITH® E
treated timber can be regarded as minimal.
i) Hardware should not be attached to timber at the time of treatment.
ii) Do not fix fittings to the timber until 14 days after treatment or until the timber
moisture content has fallen below 20%.
iii) In addition to the above, it will be necessary to redry timber for trussed rafters after
treatment to a moisture content of 22% or less before assembly and to maintain the
timber in this condition during storage and delivery to site, as recommended in
BS5268. Part 3. Section 13.
iv) If the treated timber is likely to become wet and a long service life is required, use
fittings of austenitic stainless steel (excluding free machining grades) or copper or
silicon bronze in preference to other types of fittings.
v) If only occasional dampness is expected galvanised, sheradized or cadmium plated
fittings may be used. Better performance will be obtained from fittings with thicker
coatings.
vi) If the moisture content of treated timber is expected to remain below 20%, then
fittings of mild steel and aluminium may be used. The use of aluminium alloys
containing copper is not recommended.
vii) Where aluminium sheeting is used this must be separated from the timber by using
a bituminous felt or impervious coating.
viii) For securing clay or concrete tiles to TANALITH® E treated timber battens, use
6063 (formerly HG9) aluminium nails.

This list, which is not totally exhaustive, gives an indication of the range of timbers and
T Y P I C A L timber based products which are treated with TANALITH® E wood preservative.
A P P L I C AT I O N S It is advisable to consult the Arch Timber Protection Advisory Service if in doubt about
a particular area of application.

BUILDING
Foundations, basements and sub-floors, ground cills, wall frames, beams, joists, roof
timbers, external joinery, battens, cladding, roof shingles, general timbers in domestic,
commercial and public buildings.
 GARDEN & LANDSCAPE
T Y P I C A L Decking systems, pergolas, gazebos, playground equipment, climbing frames, lawn
A P P L I C AT I O N S edging, fencing, picnic benches and tables, signs and litter bins.

AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE

Fruit tree stakes, hop poles, vine stakes.
ENCLOSURES, fencing etc.
Natural round, machine turned and square sawn fence posts, rails, droppers, gates
and gate posts, stiles, etc. for railway and highway, farm, garden and security fencing.

TRANSPORT
Ship building timbers, floors and other timbers for railway and road vehicles, container
floors and linings, packing cases, cable drums and hatch covers (Australian
Quarantine Regulations).

ENGINEERING
Transmission poles, decking, shells, gantries, bridges and bridge decks, handrails,
cable ducting, sound barriers.

Reference should be made to the TANALITH® E treated timber Consumer Information

HEALTH & SAFETY Sheet. This is available from the Arch Timber Protection Advisory Service at the
address below.

D I S P O S A L Disposal of waste TANALITH® E treated timber

1. DO NOT USE for fuel in barbecues, cooking stoves or grates.
2. DO NOT USE for animal litter or bedding.
3. Waste timber can either be disposed of by landfill or be burnt in an authorised waste
incinerator. To do this, CONTACT WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY.
4. Small quantities (ie. not more than 0.5 tonnes on any one fire) can be burned in the
open, away from continuously inhabited buildings, care being taken not to inhale
the smoke. Ash can be disposed of by burial or preferably by a competent waste
disposal organisation.

F U R T H E R TANALITH® E Pressure Treated Timber Consumer Information Sheet, reference

TAN E CI.
I N F O R M AT I O N TANALITH® E Pressure Treated Timber Technical Data Sheet, reference TD2.
For further information please contact the Arch Timber Protection Advisory Service at
the address below.

ARCH TIMBER PROTECTION

Wheldon Road, Castleford,West Yorkshire,WF10 2JT.
Tel: (01977) 714000 Fax: (01977) 714001
E-Mail: advice@archchemicals.com www.archtp.com
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY TELEPHONE (01865) 407333 (24 hours).

© Copyright 2003 Arch Timber Protection. BS EN ISO 9001

® TANALITH® and ENSELE® are registered trademarks of Arch Timber Protection. FM 1636
Disclaimer: Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information contained in this document, Arch Timber Protection gives no undertaking to that effect
and no responsibility can be accepted for reliance on this information.
Arch Timber Protection updates its literature as and when necessary. Please ensure you have an up
to date copy.