Useful Info
Can I build a bridge across Oceans?
If you took all the scaffold plank consumed annually in South Africa alone and joined them together, you'd have enough to build a walkway that circumnavigates the earth 10 times!
Wood Treatment
Degradation is always a concern when specifying wood in a project; fortunately we understand it well.
In certain applications external agencies, such as fungal decay (rot) and insect attack (wood-borer and termites) will threaten the wood. If this is the case then Cape Pine pressure treats the timber with preservatives to prevent fungal decay and insect attack.
Other hazards, like groundwater, can also cause degradation. We use a variety of chemicals including: CCA or WCuAz, Creosote, Borate or TBTN-P to protect our timber. These Efficient preservation practices can minimise or even eliminate degradation, giving you the peace of mind that the lumber in your project will be stable, straight and strong for years.
In South Africa we have 6 levels of treatment related to different hazard classifications.
| H0-i INTERIOR | This is for interior uses only. Protection is only offered for prevention of certain commonly occuring insects and is a mild treatment process. All other hazard classes offer protection against insect and fungi attack. The products in this category are specifically for mouldings, ceilings, flooring boards and joinery. |
|---|---|
| H2 INTERNAL (Low Hazard) | This is also for interior use only and timber treated under this classification should be roof trusses, laminated beams, internally used structural timber, ceiling boards, flooring, panelling, doors, cupboards, skirting, window frames and plywood. Chemicals used here would be CCA, Creosote, TBTOL and Boron. |
| H3 EXTERIOR ABOVE GROUND (Moderate Hazard) | Only CCA and Creosote are recommended for this and higher H class treatments. H3 covers balustrades, fencing bearers and slats, outdoor decking and beams, garden furniture, laminated beams, weather board, steps, cladding, stairs, log homes, gates, fascia boards and plywood. Spacers and cross arms used with electrical, distribution, telephone and light poles are treated to H3. |
| H4 GROUND CONTACT (High Hazard) | This level of treatment helps prevent agricultural posts and landscaping structures from rotting and termite attack. Also recommended for treatment in this hazard class are playground structures, fencing, pergolas, carports, flower boxes, decking, bridges and stakes, as well as electrical, distribution, telephone and lighting poles. |
| H5 FRESHWATER (High Hazard) | Timber which falls into this category, is timber exposed to continual wetting or where the timber is planted in wet soil. Timber which will fall into this category could be jetties, drains, walkways, retaining walls and slipways. |
| H6 MARINE (High Hazard) | Only the use of the CCA chemical with Creosote is recommended for this application. Only timber treated with both these chemicals will offer complete protection against marine borers. Jetties, slipways, retaining walls and walkways will fall under this section |
South African treated timber is legally required to comply with national standards and must bear the marking containing the following information:
For Sawn Timber:
Ink stamp bearing SABS or SATAS stamp and (H) class
For Poles:
Metal marker bearing SABS or SATAS stamp and (H) class