EPA Bands Pressure Treated Wood

[JimCrossley]

The article addresses the EPA stopping the production of all pressure treated lumber as of Jan. 2004.

http://www.usinspect.com/car/0104PressureTreated.asp

[Jon]

I thought that was banned as lf last year and such as shame, a joke really to think that word is going to harm us.

We use it in our garden and for a long time Home Depot has stopped selling it.

Won't be to many more years before the air we breath is banned due to chemicals in it.

[Beth n Rod]

This began several years ago and the Govt. has been working towards it. There are now replacement lumbers with other chemicals in them....

Beth

[Paul B.]

The article presented on that web site is deceiving:

CCA is not pressure treated lumber, but the chemicals Chromated Copper Arsenate used in treating lumber.

In otherwords, all pressure treated wood is not being banned, only CCA treated wood is. There are other chemical treatments available to replace the CCA in wood, such as ACQ – Amine Copper Quat and copper-azole compounds, which do not contain any chemicals that are listed with the EPA as carcinogens.

There are several months of CCA treated lumber in inventory, and we will most likely see a fast shift to the alternatives. (In addition, we will most likely see an increase in price of PTW.)

ACQ treated lumber has already been available in many lumber yards and home improvement stores such as Lowe's.


You can check out this site:
http://doityourself.com/lumber/newrules.htm

[One Call Power Wash]

Believe it or not, this is becoming even a bigger topic for Parks & Recreation of States, Counties and Federal Government. If you have read the post about (Deck Restoration/Volume/Poll) That very same job had to be tested by EPA to determine the arsenic levels that it contained. Luckly, for One Call, the arsenic levels were below the danger limit. I still do not know what that limit is or turned out to be. Needless to say, after meeting with the Building & Grounds Manager for the County, he told me that if the levels would have been above the danger level that they would have had to replace all 34000 square feet.

FYI

[JimCrossley]

Paul,

Thanks for the detail. I wish the article was more complete. Thank you for putting the proper light and focus on the article. I guess the upside is that people with old decks should keep them sealed.

[Beth n Rod]

The CCA issue is important to anyone in wood care, and needs to be understood by pros and addressed with your consumers. I think we will all have more questions this season that the past two, even though there was some discussion then.

Beth

[Everett Abrams]

100% dead on, great post. ACQ looks like it will be the new flavor of choice.

[Jon]

I still want the green treated wood, the one that is now illegal to sell.

Wonder if it is still being sold in NV. and AZ.?

[Paul B.]

Jon,

I imagine you'll see them around for the next six months or until all supplies are exhausted. Winter time use is slow up in the north so we'll have supplies longer than in the south (south-west).

[staudend]

I wish I would have known about this all summer!! Might have made a few more sales by bringing out the arsenic factor. It seems legit, scary enough so people might do what they should do for their decks by getting them sealed. What's funny is that we would all be dead by now if their actually was a real risk. What happens to the arsenic and chrome when the PT film comes off all over us? We might start looking like hero's!! taking the bullet for the general public and some cash. Has this come up with anybody's customers?



Here's the following from a website I just found:

What steps can parents take to reduce their family's potential exposure to CCA?
As a responsible parent, you manage a wide range of risks in your child's environment. Here are some common sense tips for minimizing unnecessary exposure to CCA:

Treated wood should never be burned in open fires, stoves, fireplaces, or residential boilers.
Always wash hands thoroughly after contact with any wood, especially prior to eating and drinking.
Food should not come into direct contact with any treated wood.
Always follow the precautions outlined in EPA's Consumer Safety Information Sheet before working with CCA-treated wood.

Additional measures that may be taken include the following:
Apply a coating product to pressure-treated wood on a regular basis. Some studies suggest that this can reduce the amount of CCA that leaches from treated wood. (See the "coating" question below.)
When conducting new construction or repairs, consider the range of alternatives to CCA-treated wood. These alternatives include both non-arsenical chemical wood preservatives, as well as other wood and non-wood. Consult your local home improvement store for more information about available alternatives.
Should I replace my CCA-treated deck or play-set?
EPA does not recommend that consumers replace or remove existing structures made with CCA-treated wood or the soil surrounding those structures. Concerned citizens may want to take extra precautions, however, by applying a coating to exposed surfaces on a regular basis. (See below for more information on coating structures.)

What types of coatings are most effective?
While available data are very limited, some studies suggest that applying certain penetrating coatings (e.g., oil-based, semi-transparent stains) on a regular basis (e.g., once per year or every other year depending upon wear and weathering) may reduce the migration of wood preservative chemicals from CCA-treated wood. In selecting a finish, consumers should be aware that, in some cases, "film-forming" or non-penetrating stains (e.g., latex semitransparent, latex opaque, and oil-based opaque stains) on outdoor surfaces such as decks and fences are not recommended, as subsequent peeling and flaking may ultimately have an impact on durability as well as exposure to the preservatives in the wood. Talk with your local hardware store about available coatings.

How can I tell if my deck has been constructed with CCA-treated wood?
Freshly treated wood, if not coated, has a greenish tint, which fades over time. As a practical matter, CCA has been the principal chemical used to treat wood for decks and other outdoor uses around the home. Generally, if your deck has not been constructed with redwood or cedar, then most likely the deck was constructed with CCA-treated wood. Alternatively, if you know who constructed the deck, you may want to call and ask.

Nick

[squirtgun]

Nick,
This is an excellent educational tool to share with deck customers.You would be surprised at the number of homeowners that still don't know about CCA and the ban on it.I mention it in passing when I talk to a customer,but never push the issue.I don't use it as a scare tactic,but as a way to show that we have done our homework and want to pass our education on to the homeowner.