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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ecowood?
Ecowood is the brand name for TanalithE.
It is a modern, but time tested replacement for the old Copper Chrome Arsenate treatment.
What is Tanalised Ecowood?
Tanalised Ecowood is a range of treated wood products protected with unique timber preservatives incorporating copper and azole co-biocides as active constituents. It has been thoroughly tested Australia and overseas and has excellent performance against decay and insect attack. Tanalised Ecowood is produced using thorough vacuum/pressure impregnation process and is available as both softwood and hardwood timber.
Is the Treatment Safe?
Yes. The preservation used in Tanalised Ecowood is approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMANZ) even for wood products used in application involving contact with children and other frequent human contact situations.
For What Applications is Tanalised Ecowood Suitable?
Tanalised Ecwood is suitable for H3 (above ground), H4 (ground contact) and HS (softwood only) as defined in AS1604. Specification for preservative treatment, which covers most exterior application in building and construction. Landscaping and rural uses.
Yes. The preservation used in Tanalised Ecowood is approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and the New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMANZ) even for wood products used in application involving contact with children and other frequent human contact situations.
For What Applications is Tanalised Ecowood Suitable?
Tanalised Ecwood is suitable for H3 (above ground), H4 (ground contact) and HS (softwood only) as defined in AS1604. Specification for preservative treatment, which covers most exterior application in building and construction. Landscaping and rural uses.
Yes but is it Guaranteed?
Yes. In addition to all consumer rights conferred under the Trade Practices Act, Arch Wood Protection and our partner suppliers offer the Tanalised structural guarantee on Ecowood against decay and termite attack when installed correctly for the appropriate hazard class.
In order to make any guarantee claim, the purchaser should keep the original guarantee form or other documentation such as invoices showing date(s) of supply, quaniaties and the treatment brand details that should be on each piece of treated timber. Not that the guarantee applied only to Tanalised timber that becomes unserviceable due to action of wood decay, fungi or termites. It does not apply for example to mechanical damage of the effect of weathering.
Where else in the World in Tanalised Ecowood used?
Tanalised Ecowood is a trade name used in Australia and New Zealand. Approvals for Tanalith E and relate Copper Azole based preservative have been granted in over 20 countries worldwide such as; Japan, USA, Canada and a number of major European countries including the United Kingdom, German, France, Sweden, Ireland, Italy and Holland.
Tanalised Ecowood is a trade name used in Australia and New Zealand. Approvals for Tanalith E and relate Copper Azole based preservative have been granted in over 20 countries worldwide such as; Japan, USA, Canada and a number of major European countries including the United Kingdom, German, France, Sweden, Ireland, Italy and Holland.
Why should I use Tanalised Ecowood over other types of Treated Timber?
In Australia, the APVMA have ruled that from March 2006 CCA (copper chromium arsenate) preservative is not to be used to treat timber and wood products intended for certain application such as residential decking, children’s play equipment, hand rails, garden furniture and picnic tables. While Arch Wood Protection strongly believes in the safety of CCA preservative for these and all other common outdoor construction applications, Tanalised Ecowood provides consumers and specifies with an alternative choice, particularly for non-arsenic containing treated wood intended for outdoor and ground contact situations. Tanalised Ecowood is intended for long term performance against decay and termites. It incorporates only recycled copper and safe organic azole biocides as active constitutes which may be more acceptable to certain users or more appropriate in particular applications such as playgrounds. Ecowood is preferred for prefabrication and re-manufacturing where extensive machining and cutting work generates a lot of treated wood dust and waste.
In Australia, the APVMA have ruled that from March 2006 CCA (copper chromium arsenate) preservative is not to be used to treat timber and wood products intended for certain application such as residential decking, children’s play equipment, hand rails, garden furniture and picnic tables. While Arch Wood Protection strongly believes in the safety of CCA preservative for these and all other common outdoor construction applications, Tanalised Ecowood provides consumers and specifies with an alternative choice, particularly for non-arsenic containing treated wood intended for outdoor and ground contact situations. Tanalised Ecowood is intended for long term performance against decay and termites. It incorporates only recycled copper and safe organic azole biocides as active constitutes which may be more acceptable to certain users or more appropriate in particular applications such as playgrounds. Ecowood is preferred for prefabrication and re-manufacturing where extensive machining and cutting work generates a lot of treated wood dust and waste.
Can I use Tanalised Ecowood around Food, Water, Vegetable or other Plants?
As with any treated wood, Tanalised Ecowood should not be used in direct contact with human food or drinking water during storage or preparation. Incidental contact of food with treated timber such as in playgrounds, picnic tables and decks is fine as there are little or no potential for migration of the preservative onto the food. Similarly, Ecowood is suitable for gardens, landscaping, mushrooms trays, grape and tomato stakes, greenhouse uses and similar applications.
As with any treated wood, Tanalised Ecowood should not be used in direct contact with human food or drinking water during storage or preparation. Incidental contact of food with treated timber such as in playgrounds, picnic tables and decks is fine as there are little or no potential for migration of the preservative onto the food. Similarly, Ecowood is suitable for gardens, landscaping, mushrooms trays, grape and tomato stakes, greenhouse uses and similar applications.
What about Pets and Animals?
In the great majority of cases with domestic pets, farm animals, including bee hive construction and wildlife Tanalised Ecowood is safe. Treated timber is not recommended for use with parrots or other gnawing animals nor for use in fish ponds.
In the great majority of cases with domestic pets, farm animals, including bee hive construction and wildlife Tanalised Ecowood is safe. Treated timber is not recommended for use with parrots or other gnawing animals nor for use in fish ponds.
Is it Corrosive to Nails, Bolts and other Metal Components?
Generally Tanalised Ecowood has a low corrosion potential. However corrosion resistant metal fixings and components are recommended in weather exposed or damp situations.
Hot dip galvanised, nickel coated or stainless steels should be suitable as well as non-ferrous alloys such as monel, brass and silicon bronze. Contact between Tanalised Ecowood and zinc-alume coated sheet steel roofing may cause pitting of the metal coating.
Do I Paint Tanalised Ecowood?
As for all dimensioned timber in exterior, weather exposed situations, painting or staining is strongly recommended for protection against bleaching, surface moulds and stains, cracking and dimensional movement. Once dry, Tanalised Ecowood can be painted like any normal timber. Always follow the paint Manufactures instructions for application and maintenance of the coating.
How about Resealing End Cuts and Rebates?
As with all treated timber in weather exposed, damp or in-ground situation, it is essential to coat freshly exposed surfaces after cutting or machining with an ‘in can’ timber preservation solution such as Tanalised Ecoseal or Timber Oil. For high natural durability timber such as certain hardwoods (ie; spotted, gum, ironbark), resealing should not be necessary in above ground (H3) situations.
Can I Burn Tanalised Ecowood Waste and Off Cuts?
Treated Timber should not be burnt in domestic heaters nor used as cooking fuel. Most states have laws against the open burning of building or general waste in built up areas, However studies on the burning of Tanalised Ecowood show that there is little if any increased hazard for anyone inadvertently exposes to the No, it is not recommended to burn timber off cuts or sawdust, please dispose of off cuts in approved landfill.
What paint or stain do you recommend?
We also recommend the organic Cooee range for sealing or staining your timber. All cooee products are approved for use by the BFA.
Please avoid any hydrocarbon or plastic based paint products - they are bad for the environment. VOC compounds have also been shown to cause cancer. Too many people are too busy worried about minute traces of chemical in treated pine that may or may not leak out, but totally ignore the risk involved with using paints containing VOC compounds. For more information click on the following link
Do I need expensive stainless steel fixings?
ACQ treated timbers are more likely to need stainless steel fixings
Is Timber Environmentally Friendly?
There is a great misconception out there in society. The timber industry chops down trees and this is bad and not true
Trees regrow and new trees use more carbon dioxide and produce more life giving oxygen than old growth trees and biodiversity is very important.
But the facts are most forests are regrowth – either previously logged or destroyed by fire.
What makes more sense?
- Harvesting trees from forests, then replanting.
- Digging iron ore out of the ground and using massive amounts of power to convert it to steel.
- The steel industry would also like to make you think that their products are recyclable. Yes they are, but with a huge carbon footprint
Why does the Timber Industry get Blamed for Actions of Land Clearers
Emotive pictures of big bulldozers frolicking in clear felled fields are enough to scare anyone. Know that if the timber industry cleared the land then they are going to plant some trees!
The Australian timber industry is based on the whole concept of sustainability.
No trees = no wood
No trees = no wood
No wood = no timber
No timber = no industry
Can I do something about land clearing?
Yes, there are 2 main ways
- Buy plantation timber products.
Many timber plantations are replacing previous pastures and farmland. Some farmland is at best marginal. Studies have shown that forests actually encourage rainfall. (It is all to do with the shade of green, this is really true)
- Educate your government
Encourage retention of native flora and fauna, through managing native forests and Not locking them up as national parks to become breeding grounds for feral animals
Do not build houses on prime farming land, encourage timber plantation investment and protest about unregulated land clearing.