Construction World June 2016

THE CLEAR CHOICE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME Arch Wood Protection’s introduction of Vacsol ® Azure ® timber preservative to the South African market in 2012 has extended its range of alternatives in wood preservation with an organic, solvent-based product that is metal free and biodegradable.

SEMINAR ATTRACTS TIMBER LEADERS

Aimed at helping attendees obtain a better understanding of the physical properties, grades and the potential for applications offered by the different species of American hardwoods, the high-impact event also emphasised the wide variety of American hardwood species, their environmental credentials, as well as their importance in sustainable design. The highlight of the seminar was a discourse on the wide variety of American hardwood species as well as their solid environmental credentials and their importance in sustainable design. Roderick Wiles, AHEC regional director, provided an introduction to American hardwoods, covering topics including sustainable forest management and selection harvesting in the United States, hardwood production, US hardwood species and suitability for applications. Neil Summers, AHEC’s Technical Consultant talked on new market opportunities for American hardwoods. His presentation covered thermally-modified American hardwoods (TMT) and also looked at the potential for American hardwoods in structural applications and cross-lam- inated timber (CLT). In addition, Dana Spessert, chief inspector, National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) provided an introduction to grading American hardwood lumber and a practical demonstration of the NHLA Rules for grading Amer- ican hardwood lumber. Although the NHLA grading rules were originally conceived for the U.S. marketplace, a reasonable knowledge is essential for buyers worldwide in order to attain their expected degree of quality. With this in mind, the seminar aimed at making the most of Spessert’s valuable experience, which encompasses over 27 years as an inspector of hardwood lumber, in a bid to educate buyers of hardwoods in South Africa. Speaking at the event’s side- The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has successfully hosted a seminar in Cape Town, which was attended by over 35 specifiers, importers, traders, and end users of hardwoods. >

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With a shifting emphasis on product re-assurance, Vacsol® Azure® timber preservative ticks all the boxes with its Ecospecifier Global endorsement that this treated wood exhibits ecological and pref- erable health characteristics. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to lead in the supply of wood protection products that meet the demands of our customers and ultimately the end-user. By remaining focused on the current and future industry trends, we are confident that Vacsol® Azure® timber preservative will add to our capacity to expand the globally recognized range of Tanal- ised® products in our local market,” said Doug Sayce, general manager of Arch Wood Protection. Since its launch four years ago, Vacsol® Azure® timber preservative has already made its mark as the first metal-free Light Organic Solvent Preser- vative (LOSP) that provides treated timber with greater dimensional stability than conventional water borne wood preservative products. Furthermore, it is rated among the contributing products to the achievement of the Green Building rating tool credits. This tri-functional wood preservative contains advanced organic azole fungicides and a synthetic pyrethroid as an insecticide/termiticide for the effective protection of timber against fungal decay, woodborers and insect attack. It is used to treat wood products in a vessel using a double vacuum process to ensure that the wood preservative penetrates and is retained within the sapwood. Being metal free, it is therefore biodegradable and regarded as safer than previous tin-based solvent wood preservatives. Vacsol® Azure® timber preservative is best applied for the treatment of plywood, fingerjointed, laminated and engineered wood products. The preservation solution is a clear, amber coloured liquid and on application transforms wood to a beautiful natural light honey shade. As a certified environmentally friendly product, it is perfectly suited to applications involving human contact. These are identified as Hazard Class H2 (interior above ground) and H3 (exterior above ground) applications such as balconies and decks, internal cladding, flooring and ceiling, laminated beams, thatching poles, lathes and wood features. In H3 applications, it is highly recommended that the treated timber is coated with a water repellent penetrating sealant after installation. >

lines, Roderick Wiles said, “With its long and proven record of sustain- ability and continuity of supply, the US hardwood industry offers high quality timber to address the demands of global customers. With this in kind, AHEC is taking major initiatives to educate buyers, end users and specifiers across the globe. South Africa is an estab- lished market, with an increasing volume of hardwoods being consumed in the country and our presence through this seminar is part of our strategy to support the efforts of our export companies and achieve further growth for U.S. hardwoods globally.”

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2016

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