Treated Lumber Market: Questions Remain
What are those in the know- some of the most prominent independent lumber dealers and prooriented chains -saying about the future of the treated lumber market?
A recent teleconference discussion between NLBMDAs leadership and key members of the industry paints an uneasy picture of the future. What follows is a glimpse of the questions that prominent dealers in the country are asking and acknowledgment that unanswered questions remain.
Q: Why all the concern?
A: A lot of people are talking about treated lumber today. Once the EPA acted requiring a transition of production of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) for residential markets by Dec. 30, 2003, there were more questions than answers. Over time, CCA has proven to be a good product. Nevertheless, public perception and EPAs desire to withdraw all chemicals with the word arsenic in the name, not science, is one reason that the EPA and chemical registrants agreed to the transition for residential production. There are a lot of questions among dealers and builders who have been using the product for over 30 years.
Q: What are some of the issues with switching to alternatives?
A: The first issue is that it appears very few treaters and few lumber dealers and distributors have begun transitioning to new alternatives. For the industry to make this switch within 15 months, its going to take leadership from pro-oriented dealers to create the demand necessary to get treaters to move swiftly to make alternative products available. If all parties with an interest in the availability of these alternatives do not begin the effort now, products will not be available when the EPA transition takes effect in 15 months.
The chemical producers are working hard to educate treaters on the requirements necessary to make the switch essentially replacing equipment and providing space for 3 tankers necessary to produce the proper treatment compared to the 1 tanker required for treating lumber with CCA.
There are a lot of issues for the treaters to consider. Freight will be more costly because more chemicals are required to treat the lumber with the new alternatives. The additional costs will be passed down to the end user the consumer.
We all know our customers and know that price is an issue. But the fact is, the agreement to transition has been made alternatives must be used and must be made available to everyone by the end of 2003. One of the biggest challenges to ensuring that availability of alternative products is not an issue is ensuring that demand exists for the products. Right now, the market demand for CCA remains strong and is transitioning slowly to the alternatives.
Q: What are the alternatives?
A: To the best of our knowledge there are two alternatives that are predominate in the market. They are 1) Copper Azole and 2) Alkaline Copper Quaternary. The companies of which we are aware that market these chemicals are:
Arch Wood Protection
Member NLBMDAs Manufacturers & Services Council since 1990
Markets Wolmanized Natural Select, a copper azole product
www.naturalselect.com
866-789-4567
pamitchell@archchemical.com
CSI
Member NLBMDAs Manufacturers & Services Council since 2002
Markets Preserve, an ACQ product
www.treatedwood.com
800-421-8661
davef@chemspec.com
Osmose
Member NLBMDAs Manufacturers & Services Council since 2002
Markets NatureWood, an ACQ product
www.naturewood.com
800-241-0241
gconverse@osmose.com
Lumber dealers can contact these companies and request a meeting or literature to learn more about the products.
Q: What fasteners and connectors can be used with these alternatives?
A: This is a more frequently asked question as of late with a great deal of conflicting information in the marketplace. To the best of our knowledge, the chemical companies mentioned above recommend that the same fasteners currently used for CCA products can also be used for the new alternatives. Independent research is being conducted by producers of such fasteners.
We have been told by Simpson Strong Tie, one of the leading producers, that more information on this research should be available at our upcoming annual meeting, October 10-12, in Chicago. For more information on current research being conducted, contact:
Simpson Strong-Tie
Member NLBMDAs Manufacturers & Services Council since 1995
800-999-5099
www.strongtie.com
mbugbee@strongtie.com
Q: If there is a public concern over arsenic, wont copper-based alternatives present the possibility of similar public reactions?
A: Arsenic has been on the public health radar screen for many years now. While copper products have similar downstream issues to CCA in that they cannot be burned and must be handled and recycled properly, they do not appear to engender the same emotional response as arsenic.
The Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) that accompany the new alternatives are not dissimilar from those that have accompanied CCA treated lumber for over 30 years. The companies that market the copperbased alternatives are voluntarily creating Consumer Information Sheets to accompany their products to increase public awareness of the proper handling and use requirements for these products.
Generally, consumers will be advised that, like CCA, the wood products treated with the new alternatives should not be burned, and that dust masks should be worn during sawing and cutting to protect against inhaling wood dust.
Also of interest on this issue is a study that was released by the United States Forest Service in February of 2000. The study indicated that elevated environmental concentrations of preservative components were present in the aquatic environment near a boardwalk treated with various preservatives, including the new alternatives, but did not present adverse effects on aquatic life. This study can be obtained at:
www.preservedwood.com/safety/research_wildwd.html
Q: How should dealers market the new products?
A: The producers of the new alternatives have recommended materials to help lumber dealers market the new products. Dealers should follow the EPAs Enhanced Consumer Awareness guidelines, outlined at www.preservedwood.com. It has been recommended that phrases such as new generation products be used to market the alternatives.
Q: What about mold growth and treated lumber?
A: As science continues to combat media reports about an unsubstantiated and perceived epidemic of toxic mold in homes, those in the lumber industry continue to work diligently to educate builders and consumers that mold on lumber, such as sap stain mold, is naturally occurring and not a new phenomenon. There is no evidence to suggest that mold on lumber is a concern in the building process. However, there is still the fact that the market based on consumer demands is requesting mold free lumber.
It is NLBMDA’s understanding that there are some chemicals on the market and in use that contain moldicides that may help to decrease the occurrence of mold growth from the point of production to delivery to the jobsite. NLBMDA is working to educate members on all issues related to mold growth on lumber. We have been informed by the producers of the new alternatives that a great deal of research has been done and continues to be done to ensure that new alternatives will not contribute to concerns already being expressed through market demand for “mold free” lumber.
Q: Is the EPA expected to release any new research on CCA? What about the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC)?
A: The market could again be impacted by the release of research the EPA and CPSC are conducting independently on CCA and potential health issues related to children. NLBMDA will keep members up-to-date as still TBA release dates approach.
Q: Where will the treated lumber market be in 5 years?
A: The best industry intelligence is, and we hesitate to say it, that we may be facing another transition in as little as 4-5 years. Chemical producers are already hard at work on research and development of organic treatments that will be biodegradable and allow for easier recycling. NLBMDA will keep you informed.
