Information for Developers
of Wood Protection Products
Chemical manufacturers and other developers of
products that protect wood understand the value of AWPA
standardization. AWPA is indeed the "Gold Standard" of wood
protection, and those products which are listed by AWPA have
undergone the highest degree of scrutiny by experts in wood
protection. While "time-to-market" is important for most
preservative developers, science has demonstrated that three years
is the minimum duration for field testing. Providing a
complete data package with sufficient data to AWPA demonstrates a
commitment to public safety and reliability.
How are AWPA standardized products
listed in the building codes?
First, AWPA Standard U1 is listed directly in the major model
building codes (the International Building Code and the
International Residential Code) in applications where
preservative treated wood is required. Therefore, the
listing of any preservative treated wood product in Standard U1
means that it is accepted under the major model codes.
How much does a listing in AWPA
Standards cost?
AWPA charges no fees for listing products in its Standards.
Proponents may incur costs in developing data for submission to
AWPA, but AWPA does not require manufacturers to pay for
listings or review of proposals. AWPA does offer an
optional accelerated data review process by a "Preservatives
Review Board" for a fee of $4,000 USD. (Only $500 is retained by
AWPA to defray administrative costs, the rest is distributed to
the three-person review board.) This process is not
required, but allows a quick, preliminary review of data if a
proponent chooses to take this route.
What kind of data are needed to submit a
standardization proposal to AWPA?
For wood preservatives, Appendix A to the AWPA Technical
Committee Regulations provides data submission guidelines.
Guidelines documents for other products such as fire retardants,
millwork, finishes, etc. may also be found in the other
Appendices to the
Technical Committee Regulations.
Do we have to reveal any proprietary
formulations or secret ingredients to AWPA?
AWPA's regulations require that active ingredients are
disclosed, but not other ingredients. What does AWPA
consider to be an active ingredient? An active ingredient
(protectant) is any component of a wood protection system that
protects the wood - these products would need to be disclosed in
the proposal and data package submitted to AWPA. Additives
such as water repellents, dispersing agents, or pigments may
help retard leaching, improve penetration, or slow the process
of UV degradation, but they are not active ingredients and would
not normally need to be disclosed. Please consult the
AWPA Technical
Committee Regulations for more information.
How much treated wood is sold every
year, and how much preservative is used?
As a Standards Development Organization, AWPA does not
track market information. The most recent surveys on
treated wood products manufactured in the U.S. have been
conducted by the Southern
Pine Council. Contact them for additional information.
Where can I find the fungal cultures
necessary to perform laboratory tests?
Most of the wood-destroying fungi referenced in our
laboratory evaluation standards can be obtained from ATCC.
Please visit the
ATCC Standards Resource Search Page to purchase the fungal
standards needed.
|
