ACQ Wood Preservative and Fasteners-Are They Compatible?
Roofing systems contain treated wood in several applications, such as wood blocking. For many years, wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative was the industry standard. Exterior wood is subjected to all kinds of hazards: weather conditions, decay, fungi and insect infestation. Over 80 years ago Dr. Karl Wolman invented a process to treat and protect the wood from the environment. Using a pressurized holding tank filled with wood and preservative, Wolman discovered a way to force the preservative into the wood. This process, which has been coined "Wolmanized," increased the service life of wood used in outdoor construction, such as roofing. Unfortunately, the process hasn't been without its share of challenges and changes.
Roofing systems contain treated wood in several applications, such as wood blocking. For many years, wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative was the industry standard. Exterior wood is subjected to all kinds of hazards: weather conditions, decay, fungi and insect infestation. Over 80 years ago Dr. Karl Wolman invented a process to treat and protect the wood from the environment. Using a pressurized holding tank filled with wood and preservative, Wolman discovered a way to force the preservative into the wood. This process, which has been coined "Wolmanized," increased the service life of wood used in outdoor construction, such as roofing. Unfortunately, the process hasn't been without its share of challenges and changes.
In the beginning, CCA became the most commonly used preservative and was employed for decades. However, the EPA raised environmental concerns about the arsenic and chromium in CCA. Chromium is a heavy metal that can leach into the soil, and depending on the dosage, arsenic can be a lethal poison and is a carcinogen. The arsenic in CCA wood can become airborne during sawing or burning. Raising other concerns is the exposure to children using playground equipment constructed with CCA-treated wood.