CCA is the standard timber treatment product that comes out tops in terms of reliability and cost effectiveness. But in answer to growing global demands for a ‘green’ preservative, Dolphin Bay has decided to expand its product range to cater for this market.

Permacure ACQ is a water-based wood preservative that is now widely used in Canada, the US and other parts of the world. It was what South African eco-tourism entrepreneur, Rob Hicks, was looking for: his company, Teniti Tourism, builds low impact structures of wood and canvas that can be disassembled and relocated when necessary. Given the company’s focus on sustainable, earth-friendly practices, it was important to use a suitable preservative.

“I wanted to question every entity in my construction,” explains Hicks. “I chose Permacure ACQ because it was the best suited to the project, even though it is more costly.

The price per kilo is equivalent to CCA, but you need to use more for H3 or H4 applications to get the same efficacy. I think I’m the first in the country to be using ACQ, but I believe it’s the right decision in the long term.”

The question of a treatment plant was serendipitously solved when a disused CCA tank was found to be available at Sutherland Sawmill in Swellendam, where Teniti Tourism is based.

“Cleaning, overhauling and converting the plant has been a major undertaking,” says Hicks, “but Dolphin Bay has been incredibly supportive, even to the extent of lending us a high-pressure pump. Their representatives have been out here to observe our progress and have expressed a lot of interest in the project. We are about to test our first load of timber, and, all being well, our pilot structure will soon be erected at Buffeljagsrivier in the Swellendam area.” 

Contact: Dolphin Bay Chemicals