Understanding Timber Preservation
Understanding Timber Preservation, a guide to timber and its preservative treatment against biological degradation.
Buying and using preservative-treated timber
This brochure is a comprehensive, South African-focused guide to buying and using preservative-treated timber. It covers the essentials of SANS and NRCS standards, explains hazard classes, and provides practical information on compliant treated timber for structural, agricultural, and exterior uses. Ideal for architects, builders, engineers, and specifiers looking for durable, safe, and sustainable wood solutions.
Wood Preservation Regulations - Interpretation
Two regulations in South Africa apply to wood preservation. Both these regulations refer to compliance with SANS 10005, and in order for the reader, end-user, specifier, regulating authority, etc., to fully understand the interpretation or intent of each regulation, one needs to read it in context with the relevant clauses given in SANS 10005, The preservative treatment of timber.
Understanding the markings on treated timber
A guidance note outlines the markings required on treated timber products in accordance with South African Standards SANS 1288, SANS 457-2/3, and SANS 753/4. These standards mandate specific information to be included in the marking, such as a unique treatment plant identifier or trademark, product certification mark from a third-party certification body, SANS standard number indicating compliance, hazard class indicating treatment level, and manufacturing year or month/year for different types of poles.
The “Understanding Hazard Classes” guidance note explains how timber is treated according to hazard classifications (H Class) based on its intended end use and level of risk exposure, with classifications defined in SANS 10005 and minimum requirements provided in SANS 1288.
Our guidance note on the disposal of treated wood, provided by the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), offers comprehensive information on handling and disposing of treated wood waste responsibly. Treated wood, protected from wood-boring insects and decay, is predominantly treated with coal tar creosote or waterborne copper-based preservatives like CCA.
Wood-destroying insects responsible for most damage to timber structures in South Africa
Guidance Note Carpenter Bees and how to control them
Carpenter bees are species in the genus Xylocopa that include some 500 bees and are found on every continent except Antarctica. They resemble bumblebees as they are similar in size, i.e. 12-25 mm long, but they are not bumblebees. They are mainly black in colour but can range from greenish-black to blueish black or purple in colour, with white or yellow markings on the top of their bodies.
