Timber Preservative Treatments
 

H3 Treatment
 

*H3 The minimum level of preservative treatment required to protect the timber from attack by decay fungi and insects, including termites. 

H3 preservative treatment offers protection in situations above-ground, exposed to the weather or periodic wetting.

 

CCA – (Copper, Chromium and Arsenic Salts)

​

CCA is a water-borne preservative treatment of pine timber. CCA is pressure impregnated into the wood and has a high resistance to chemicals leaching out of the timber over time. This high resistance is due to the chromium, which locks in the elements of copper and arsenic into the wood. The arsenic and copper elements protect from insect and fungal attack.  Pine that has been treated with CCA is clean, odourless, and has a slight green colour.

​

LOSP – (Light Organic Solvent-Borne Preservative)

LOSP is a solvent-borne preservative treatment of pine timber. The organic solvent takes the preservative into the wood and is drawn out in the last stages of treatment leaving the preservative in the wood. LOSP treated pine has long lasting protection against decay and insect attack.  LOSP treated timber is great for appearance applications such as external joinery, due to it leaving the light coloured appearance unchanged after treatment.

LOSP is a treatment that is usually a white spirit based solvent that contains copper naphthenates and synthetic pyrethroids as well as other chemicals to provide protection from insects and decay.

 

What is LOSP timber used for?
 

This data sheet covers Light Organic Solvent Preservative (LOSP) treated timber which may be used inside as a termite resistant material or outside above ground, in weather exposed applications, where protection against termites and decay is needed.

 

ACQ – (Alkaline Copper Quaternary)
 

ACQ is a water-borne preservative treatment of pine timber. The ACQ treatment process is similar to CCA but is free of arsenic. Instead, it uses copper and ammonium compounds as agents against insect attack, fungi, termites, and wood boring insects.  After pine has been treated with ACQ its appearance can range from dark green to brownish green and can be stained or painted once dry.

Copper Azole (Tanalith E)

Copper Azole or Tanalith E as more commonly known as a water-borne preservative treatment of pine timber. The preservative contains copper, boric acid, and tebuconazole and is a new generation arsenic-free preservative treatment. The copper in the preservative acts as a fungicide and the tebuconazole as an insecticide.  After treatment the pine has a green colour, and after weathering will change to a honey brown colour. Tanalith E treated timber is usually specified for in and out of ground applications where there is a medium to high risk of decay or insect attack.

​

Tanalised

​

Tanalised is a safe organic based insecticide treatment, which protects wood against termites. It consists of a common insecticide called permethrin and a linseed oil blend, which makes it safe and cost effective.  Tanalised treated timber is used for framing and roof trusses in construction. There are two versions of this treatment – one is blue in colour and only suitable for use in areas south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The other is red in colour and suitable for all areas in Australia.