The DIY Creosote Treatment is applied by painting the chemical/oil onto any exposed wood surfaces to protect the wood. While Creosote is a convenient and relatively easy oil-based preservative to apply on exterior wooden structures, it comes with many warnings. Treated Poles (Creosote) leaches into the ground over time.
Full Answer
Why choose creosote treated utility poles?
Creosote has been successfully used as a preservative for well over a century. Creosote-treated utility poles have established a documented record of long-term performance and a reputation for safety and reliability.
What is the DIY creosote treatment?
The DIY Creosote Treatment is applied by painting the chemical/oil onto any exposed wood surfaces to protect the wood. While Creosote is a convenient and relatively easy oil-based preservative to apply on exterior wooden structures, it comes with many warnings. Treated Poles (Creosote) leaches into the ground over time.
How is creosote treated to ensure maximum service life?
To ensure maximum service life is achieved, the sapwood in the timber must be fully penetrated with creosote. This can only be achieved by means of an industrial process using vacuum and pressure treatment plants such as those operated by Calders & Grandidge.
What is creosote used for on wood?
Creosote has been used as one of the most effective wood preservatives for nearly two centuries now, and for good reason. This handy material acts as a great preservative for wood in both outdoor and in-ground use.
How do you treat wooden poles?
Chemical treating of wood poles is one of the last remaining uses of penta and creosote – 43% of all poles are treated with penta; 42% of all poles are treated with arsenic; and 13% are still treated with creosote. The use of penta is prohibited in 26 countries around the world, but not in the United States.
How long does a creosote pole last?
Creosote is an excellent wood preservative, typically giving a pole life of 40 years or more.
How do they pressure treat telephone poles?
Utility poles are subjected to the harshest conditions that nature can dish out, from rain, ice and wind to insects and decay fungi. Preservatives integrated into the poles through pressure, combined with wood's natural resilience, allow wood poles and crossarms to remain in service for 70 years or more.
What is CCA pole treatment?
For seven decades, pressure-treatment with waterborne chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has protected poles against termites and decay. The treatment leaves wood clean-to-the-touch, so CCA poles are a good choice where contact with skin or clothing is likely. They are neighbor-friendly.
How long do treated poles last?
Treated Pine Lumber can last from less than a year up to 30 years depending on the species and whether it gets wet. While most wood exposed to outdoor elements are protected by some type of preservative treatment, this protection may wear off over time.
How long will pressure treated poles last?
40 yearsWhile pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.
Are telephone poles chemically treated?
In order to last for decades after they are sunk into the ground, wood utility poles need preservatives that fend off termites, fungi, and the elements. Not many chemicals are up to the challenge. About half the wood poles in the US are treated with pentachlorophenol, known as “penta” in the trade.
Is creosote toxic to humans?
These reports indicate that brief exposure to large amounts of coal tar creosote may result in a rash or severe irritation of the skin, chemical burns of the surfaces of the eye, convulsions and mental confusion, kidney or liver problems, unconsciousness, or even death.
What is DCOI preservative?
DCOI is an organic oil-borne wood preservative that has 28-year stake test data from a study commissioned by EPRI. The appearance is the same as our current product. One big advantage of DCOI is that it is not a restricted use pesticide.
Is CCA a pole preservative?
CCA poles are non-oily, non-staining, and have no fumes. CCA bonds to wood fiber enabling the wood to last for decades. Since the preservative is fixed in the pole, there is no need for future groundline treatment.
Can I burn old telephone pole?
Disposing of Wood Poles Preserved wood poles should not be burned in open fires or boilers because the preservatives may be in the smoke and ashes. Wood poles may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with state and federal regulations.
What is pentachlorophenol used for?
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is an industrial wood preservative used mainly to treat utility poles and cross arms.
What is creosote used for?
Pesticide products containing creosote as the active ingredient are used to protect wood used outdoors (such as railroad ties and utility poles) against termites, fungi, mites and other pests.
How often is creosote registered?
Registration Review of Creosote. Creosote is currently undergoing registration review, a process EPA conducts for all pesticides every 15 years to ensure that products can carry out their intended function without creating unreasonable risks to human health and the environment.
When was creosote used as a wood preservative?
Creosote has been used as a wood preservative since the mid-1800s.
Is creosote treated wood safe for fish?
Creosote may pose risks to fish and invertebrates when creosote-treated wood is used in aquatic and railroad structures. Alternatives to creosote-treated wood include the following: Wood treated with other preservatives approved by EPA;
Is creosote a cancer?
Creosote poses cancer and non-cancer health risks of concern to workers in wood treatment facilities. EPA did not find health risks of concern for the general public, nor for workers who handle creosote-treated wood after application.
Can you reuse creosote treated wood?
Although creosote pesticide products are not available to homeowners, individuals may encounter reused creosote-treated wood in a residential setting. For example, creosote-treated railroad ties are sometimes recycled as landscaping timbers. Reuse of creosote-treated wood is not subject to regulation by EPA under pesticide laws.
Can you burn creosote?
Do not burn creosote or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting to avoid possible inhalation of toxic chemicals in the smoke and ash.
How to contact American Wood Technology?
Contact us right here on our site or call 1-877-785-0274 to take your wood treatment to the next level today!
What is the best substitute for creosote?
The most popular alternative is copper naphthenate, which could replace creosote, specifically when used for ties and poles. Despite being used since the late 19th century, copper naphthenate is only recently gaining traction, due to its impressive low toxicity.
Is creosote a good preservative?
Creosote has been used as one of the most effective wood preservatives for nearly two centuries now, and for good reason. This handy material acts as a great preservative for wood in both outdoor and in-ground use.
Can you ship a factory in a box?
Like our typical plants, these factories can be shipped either fully assembled or in just a few pieces, depending on the size you need , directly to your worksite. Not only do you get to enjoy a more environmentally friendly alternative, but you get to enjoy the convenience of a Factory-In-A-Box as well.
What is creosote used for?
Creosote is a commonly used wood preservative. It is a oil-based preservative that protects the wood against various attacks like fungus, wood borers and other insects. Creosote can also protect against the worst effects of weathering. It is important to not that there are two categories of Creosote treatments available:
What is CCA in wood?
CCA has been widely used in South Africa since the 70’s as an industrial wood preservative. It was developed in 1933. Applying the CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) treatment also called tanalith or to timber enhances the durability by preserving it against biological deterioration such as wood destroying fungi, insects and weathering conditions. CCA may only be applied by an industrial high-pressure process in a controlled facility. Thus the familiar term “pressure treated wood”.
What is treated pole?
Treated Poles are the best route to follow if you are thinking about fencing, verandas or any construction project that will be exposed to weathering and other wood decaying factors. Congradulations on making the right choice of using treated timber for your project. But now you are faced with another dilemma.
How long do CCA treated poles last?
CCA Treated Poles are ideal for anyone that is looking to build something that will last without any extra maintenance.These treated poles can last anything from 20 years (minimum, when the correct class is used for it’s application) to longer depending on whether you used the correct class and if you have taken extra precautionary measures like staining and sealing it again before using it.
What is pressure treated creosote?
Pressure Treated Creosote. “Creosote is a category of carbonaceous chemicals formed by the distillation of various tars and pyrolysis of plant-derived material, such as wood or fossil fuel” – Wikipedia.
Can you use CCA treated wood?
Any type of wood can be treated: Pine, Gum Poles and other commonly used timber are usually treated with CCA when used outdoors. Treated Poles are most commonly used in the construction of fences, support structures and log homes. However, they have a wide variety of uses and applications. Therefore, when you are looking at purchasing CCA Treated ...
Can you paint over creosote?
Very difficult to paint over Creosote to your preferred colour. While Creosote is a convenient and relatively easy oil-based preservative to apply on exterior wooden structures, it comes with many warnings. Treated Poles (Creosote) leaches into the ground over time.
What is the preservative used in the pressure treatment of wood crossties?
Creosote is by far the predominant preservative used in the pressure-treatment of wood crossties. The wood crosstie represents 93% of all the crossties in use. Concrete (6%) and steel (1%) ties are used primarily for passenger rail systems or only under special circumstances, and are not interchangeable with wood crossties on a given stretch of track. Compared to concrete or steel, wood is the only renewable resource used as crosstie material.
What are creosote treated lumber products?
Long lasting creosote-treated industrial wood products — railroad crossties, switchties, and bridge timbers; electrical and telephone utility poles; and marine and foundation piling — are essential components of several of the nation’s critical infrastructures.
What is the importance of creosote treated railroad ties?
Creosote-treated railroad ties, utility poles, and marine and foundation piling are essential for maintaining many interrelated critical infrastructure sectors , including the nation’s railroads, electrical distribution systems, seaport facilities and highways. Enacting state or local bans on the use of these creosote-treated wood products, or impairing or impeding their future use through delay or denial of construction permits, would seriously undermine homeland security.
What is the only renewable resource used as a crosstie?
Compared to concrete or steel, wood is the only renewable resource used as crosstie material. In addition to creosote-treated crossties and switchties, there are currently approximately 35,000 creosote-treated timber bridges in service on the railroads. Creosote-treated large timbers are used as structural components of bridges over small streams ...
How long do railroad crossties last?
Creosote-treated crossties, whose average life is 35-40 years, literally serve as the foundation for a very high percentage (95%) of the more than 210,000 miles of railroad track in the United States. This represents approximately 648 million creosote-treated crossties that currently are in service. In 2018 it is expected that 19 million new or replacement creosote-treated crossties will be installed.
Why do submarines use treated wood?
The treated wood prevents damage to both the dock structure and the vessel during the docking procedure. Many U.S. Navy submarine port facilities make use of what is known as a “camellog” (often made from creosote-treated wood) to protect the hull of the submarine from being damaged.
What is the purpose of a crosstie?
The basic purpose of the crosstie is to maintain the gauge between the steel rail track so that trains can operate safely and efficiently. The rail is attached to the crosstie with spikes that are driven through a steel plate into the tie.
What is the difference between a full barrier and a Creosote pole?
In addition to this, testing at a major telecom company across three separate test sites demonstrates that full barrier sleeves maintain a lower moisture content in the wood at the top of the sleeve than Creosote treated poles. On average, full barrier sleeves had a wood moisture content of 20% compared to the average ground line moisture content of 26% seen in Creosote-treated poles. In comparison, waterborne copper preservative treated poles had an average moisture content of 32%, and partial barrier sleeves had a moisture content at the top of the barrier of 43%.
What is a physical barrier?
Physical barrier products provide additional protection against wood decay at the critical ground line section of the pole where conditions are ideal for wood decay. The different types of barrier products are covered in our earlier blog, to summarise they fall into two categories partial barriers and full barriers. Partial barrier products do not seal the wood behind the sleeve, and as a result of this, there have been reports from utilities of “wet band decay” failure at the top of partial barrier products. In this case, moisture is drawn upwards to the top of the sleeve from deeper in the ground by capillary action between the sleeve and the wood creating a wet or damp band at the top of the sleeve where decay can then occur.
How long does a Polesaver service life last?
Based on long term independent field test data poles protected with low-cost Polesaver barrier sleeves used in conjunction with readily available water-based copper wood preservative or copper in oil preservatives have an expected evidence-based service life of 40 years or more giving a cost-effective, proven alternative to Creosote.
Why do wood preservatives fade over time?
To summarise, all wood preservatives offer partial protection from decay that fades over time due to leaching and oxidation. The loss of effectiveness of wood preservatives over time leads to decay at the ground line section of the pole where conditions for wood decay to occur are ideal.
What are the alternatives to wood poles?
Alternative pole materials such as steel, concrete and composites tend to be more costly, challenging to climb, conductive (steel) and heavy (concrete). In addition to this, their manufacture generates significant amounts of CO2 (up to 1.46 tonnes per pole). For many utilities who aim to reduce CO2 emissions year on year, this can be a problem. In contrast, wooden poles act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the environment. Replacement water-based copper preservative treated poles have been used in some E.U. countries since 2005 but have suffered from early failures at the ground line section of the pole due to decay.
Is copper wood preservative water based?
Recently copper in oil type wood preservatives has been launched as an alternative to Creosote to try and address the concerns of shorter pole life when using water-based copper wood preservatives. Copper and oil preservatives use a combination of copper as the primary biocide along with fixatives and co biocides plus a water repellent oil such as ...
Does copper preservative last longer than water?
These products should offer a longer life than water-based copper preservative alone as the addition of water repellent oil will reduce moisture ingress and loss of preservative over time. There is currently no test data or field service data to establish how long poles protected with this preservative will last.
How to make wood tar creosote?
The creosote can be obtained by distilling the wood tar and treating the fraction heavier than water with a sodium hydroxide solution. The alkaline solution is then separated from the insoluble oily layer, boiled in contact with air to reduce impurities, and decomposed by diluted sulphuric acid. This produces a crude creosote, which is purified by re-solution in alkali, re-precipitation with acid, then redistilled with the fraction passing over between 200° and 225° constituting the purified creosote.
How does creosote affect marine pilings?
Even though creosote is pressurized into the wood, the release of the chemical - and resulting marine pollution - occurs due to many different events: During the lifetime of the marine piling, weathering occurs from tides and water flow which slowly opens the oily outer coating and exposes the smaller internal pores to more water flow. Frequent weathering occurs daily, but more severe weather, such as hurricanes, can cause damage or loosening of the wooden pilings. Many pilings are either broken into pieces from debris, or are completely washed away during these storms. When the pilings are washed away, they come to settle on the bottom of the body of water where they reside, and then they secrete chemicals into the water slowly over a long period of time. This long term secretion is not normally noticed because the piling is submerged beneath the surface hidden from sight.
Why is the history of creosote important?
This history is important, because it traces the origin of these different materials used during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Furthermore, it must be considered that these other types of creosotes – lignite-tar, wood-tar, water-gas-tar, etc. – are not currently being manufactured and have either been replaced with more economical materials, or replaced by products that are more efficacious or safer.
What is the chemical that makes smoked meat?
Creosotes are the principal chemicals responsible for the stability, scent, and flavor characteristic of smoked meat; the name is derived from Greek κρέας (kreas) 'meat', and σωτήρ (sōtēr) 'preserver'. The two main kinds recognized in industry are coal-tar creosote and wood-tar creosote.
Why is wood tar used in the atmosphere?
Because of the volatility of the creosote, the atmosphere was filled with a vapour containing it, and it would cover the flesh. The application of wood tar to seagoing vessels was practiced through the 18th century and early 19th century, before the creosote was isolated as a compound.
What is creosote used for?
They are typically used as preservatives or antiseptics. Some creosote types were used historically as a treatment for components of seagoing and outdoor wood structures to prevent rot (e.g., bridgework and railroad ties, see image).
When was creosote first used?
The use of coal-tar creosote on a commercial scale began in 1838 , when a patent covering the use of creosote oil to treat timber was taken out by inventor John Bethell. The "Bethell process"—or as it later became known, the full-cell process —involves placing wood to be treated in a sealed chamber and applying a vacuum to remove air and moisture from wood "cells". The wood is then pressure-treated to impregnate it with creosote or other preservative chemicals, after which vacuum is reapplied to separate the excess treatment chemicals from the timber. Alongside the zinc chloride-based "Burnett process", use of creosoted wood prepared by the Bethell process became a principal way of preserving railway timbers (most notably railway sleepers) to increase the lifespan of the timbers, and avoiding having to regularly replace them.
What are the preservatives in wood?
Penta, Copper Naphthenate, Creosote and DCOI are oil-type preservatives and are carried into the wood via petroleum products. CCA and ACZA are waterborne preservatives where water carries the preservatives deep into the wood fiber.
What is a DCOI?
DCOI is the newest oil-type preservative available for utility poles and crossarms. DCOI has been standardized as a wood preservative by the AWPA since 1989 and ground contact uses were added in 2017.
Why is CCA used on poles?
CCA provides effective protection for poles because it chemically "fixes" or bonds to the wood, reducing the chances of potential migration of the preservative into the soil or groundwater. To improve climbability for utility linemen, oil-based emulsion treatments can be added to CCA, allowing for better climbing gaff penetration.
How long do utility poles last?
Preservatives integrated into the poles through pressure, combined with wood's natural resilience, allow wood poles and crossarms to remain in service for 70 years or more.
What is DCOI pole?
DCOI is a thoroughly tested preservation system, offering a high performance, durable pole. Key components in the preservative are also used in Ecolife treated decking and fencing.
What is ACZA wood?
Developed by the University of California in the 1920s, ACZA treatment is particularly effective for hard-to-treat species like Douglas Fir. In addition to utility poles, ACZA preserved wood is often used in aquatic environments, docks, piers and applications where it will be exposed to water.
What is copper naphthenate?
Copper Naphthenate, also referred to as CuN, is an industrial strength, oil-type wood preservative with proven performance. It has clean handling characteristics and offers good gaff penetration for climbing.
How much copper naphthenate is used in poles?
Even before CMC announced its withdrawal, copper naphthenate had been gaining traction among environmentally forward-thinking utilities on the West Coast. Nationwide, it is used on 2.5–5% of the 2.5 million poles made annually, according to Ken Laughlin, vice president of wood preservation at Nisus.
What are utility poles?
But few things are as useful. Utility poles carry electric cables, copper telephone lines, and fiber-optic internet cables a safe distance from the ground. Streetlights and electrical transformers are mounted on them. They even serve as a superhighway for squirrels and a medium for posting yard sale signs.
What is copper naphthenate used for?
In World War II, it was used to stretch out short creosote supplies, according to Jim Gorman, vice president of marketing at the pesticide maker Nisus. It has since been deployed to protect canvas tents and ammunition boxes for the military. Hardware stores sell it to homeowners and contractors.
What are the preservatives used in wood?
Preservatives are applied to wood under pressure in a treatment chamber. Easier-to-treat woods, like southern yellow pine, can be processed with waterborne preservatives such as chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which more than a decade ago was phased out of decking and other domestic lumber uses.
Who invented DCOI?
A Viance forebear, Rohm and Haas, developed DCOI in the 1980s. In 1996, Rohm and Haas won one of the first US Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, for the use of DCOI in a marine antifoulant coating. DCOI has also been used as a fishnet preservative and an algicide for cooling towers, Baeppler says. ...
When will the utility pole plant close?
This has prompted the sole North American producer to announce it will close its plant, in Mexico, by the end of 2021. With the clock ticking, utility pole makers are looking for safer alternatives, such as copper naphthenate and dichloro-octyl-isothiazolinone (DCOI).
Do utility poles need preservatives?
They even serve as a superhighway for squirrels and a medium for posting yard sale signs. In order to last for decades after they are sunk into the ground, wood utility poles need preservatives that fend off termites, fungi, and the elements. Not many chemicals are up to the challenge.
