Post: Treated Timber – It’s What’s Inside That Counts

December 13, 2024

Treated Timber – It’s What’s Inside That Counts

Read the full Forestry & Timber Value Chain Newsletter – December 2024 – Here

An influx of poor-quality, structurally unsound timber is flooding the market, posing significant risks to the integrity and safety of construction projects.
The economic ripple effect of illegal timber treating is jeopardising jobs in the forestry sector.
Non-compliant, undertreated timber may look identical to compliant products, but the true difference is deep within its core.

A recent study by the South African Utility Pole Association (SAUPA) revealed the alarming growth of illegal timber treatment across South Africa, particularly impacting the Eastern Cape. The influx of poor-quality, structurally unsound timber flooding the market poses significant risks to the integrity and safety of construction projects. At first glance, non-compliant treated timber may appear identical to those processed through proper channels. However, the difference lies beneath the surface, deep within the timber’s core.

The Hidden Danger of Illegally Treated Timber

The SAUPA study highlighted a significant increase in illegally treated poles. While the allure of cheaper, illegally treated poles may be tempting in the short term, the long-term repercussions are far too severe to ignore. Properly treated timber undergoes a process where preservatives are impregnated into the wood at precise depths and concentrations, as defined by national specifications. Standards are in place to ensure that the treated timber can perform as promised, withstanding years of exposure without significant degradation. Timber that is not treated according to the national specifications and possibly only dip treated (no deep penetration to prevent the timber) instead of vacuum-pressure treated does not comply to the penetration levels required and specified in the national specifications and will lead to failures in the exposed environments.

Industrial wood preservatives should only be sold to licensed timber treaters approved by the NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Specification) and certified by SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) accredited auditing bodies in the provisions and requirements of SANS 10005 and SANS 1288. This is to protect human and environmental health and safety.

Illegal treaters do not comply with strict provisions to protect people or the environment. Similarly, illegally treated timber often lacks sufficient preservative retention, making it prone to premature failure. This makes compliant treatment essential for the long-term stability and safety of structural frameworks in residential and commercial buildings, as well as the protection of foundation pilings and supporting structures from deterioration due to termite attack and soil moisture, that can lead to fungal attack.

The Economic Ripple Effect

In addition to the dangers to human health and the environment, illegally treated timber poses a substantial risk to the future economic stability of South Africa’s forestry industry. The SAUPA study estimates that compliant treatment plants in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape are losing 1,500 cubic meters of timber per month, equivalent to approximately 90,000 poles. This loss translates to a staggering R7.8 million in lost revenue each month and an additional R1.17 million in lost VAT revenue.

The ripple effect extends even further, with job losses threatening the broader forestry economy, where every 50 cubic meters of treated timber supports the creation of two jobs. Illegal trade undermines this job creation potential, adversely affecting families and communities that rely on the industry.

A Collaborative Effort

Rooting out illegal treatment practices in the timber industry is not a challenge that can be overcome by individual efforts alone. It requires a collaborative effort from industry stakeholders throughout the value chain. This underscores the vital role of architects, specifiers, and building contractors in overseeing product quality within their respective segments by performing diligent compliance checks and requesting certification to ensure that all standards for the treatment of timber have been met.

JJ du Plessis, Senior Regional Sales Manager at Arxada’s South African Timber Protection division, emphasises that dampening demand by raising awareness of the associated risks and costs is the first line of defence against poor quality and undertreated timber.

“To maintain the high standards our industry is known for, we consistently highlight the importance of purchasing from reputable, certified treaters who are accredited with SANAS approved certification bodies when buying Tanalised® products,” du Plessis stated.

He further stressed the importance of consumer education, noting that informed buyers can drive demand for quality products and help reduce the market for illegally treated wood.

“By standing together, sharing knowledge, and strictly adhering to industry standards, we can create a unified front against illegal practices. This collective effort will not only protect the integrity of our industry but also ensure that the structures we build remain safe, durable, and reliable for generations to come,” du Plessis concluded.