Common Questions and Concerns from Government Users of Industrial Treated Wood Products

摘要

Because pressure-treated wood is perceived as economical and relatively easy to install, federal, state and local government agencies sometimes utilize treated wood for industrial-type applications. When these agencies have questions or concerns abouttreated wood they may make inquiries to the US Forest Products Laboratory. These inquiries provide an indication of topics where there may be a lack of understanding and a need for more information about industrial treated wood products. The most commoninquiry involves types of treated wood available and the appropriateness of a treatment for a given application. The increasing availability of new types of preservatives has created uncertainty for users who had some familiarity with conventional treatments. These inquiries often lead to further questions about specification of treated wood and code compliance. Questions about expected service life are also common, as are inquiries involving corrosion, environmental concerns and alternative products.These topics and several other types of frequently asked questions are discussed in this paper.