Problems and Practices in Wood Preservation, 1958-9

Maintaining and developing new markets for “preserved” forest products is a perennial problem, but the financial rewards are worth the effort. Piling.–strong competition from steel and concrete has been partially alleviated by recent tests showing wood is just as good. Tests are being made of marine pilings to show amount of preservative needed under varying conditions. Crossties.–Wood continues to hold its own. Poles.–Expanding use of pole-type buildings has been of great help in recent years. Some loss of markets has occurred recently due to burying of phone lines, especially in the prairie states. Housing.–FHA requirements now modified to require treated wood embedded in or on concrete slabs, exterior door frames, etc. Cooling towers.–Many of the 200 odd cooling towers were treated during the past year. The double-diffusion method is preferred for this purpose. Millwork.–More tests and research are needed to determine the best preservatives and methods for this use. New uses of treated wood are suggested including flights, stop logs, pipe saddles, septic tanks, and swimming pools. Commercial treatments decreased 15 percent in 1958 compared with 1957 data. Fenceposts were the only roundwood product showing a significant increase. Treated plywood increased nearly 60 percent over the preceding year. Fire retardant treatment of wood increased 13 percent over 1957. Nonpressure methods of treating utility poles seem to be increasing, especially the groundline treatment of poles while in service. Test methods continue to be revised and improved. New preservative chemicals include: Osmose PFR, an inorganic salt mixture that has fire-retardant properties; and tributyltin oxide. Regional activities in this field are discussed in some detail, but most of the important ones have been included above. Sixteen references and two pages of supplemental bibliography are listed.

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