Smouldering is a major problem associated with the use of chromated copper arsenate in bushfire prone areas and threatens continued use of this preservative. We have begun a PhD project to look at low cost, leach-resistant additives that can be added to treatment solutions to reduce the risk of smouldering without affecting performance.

Only a few timber species are BAL 29 rated for exterior use in fire prone areas while many others can be used in BAL19 exposures on the basis of their density. The development of better data on a wider range of Australian hardwoods could result in the inclusion of more species in the BAL 29 category.

Timber connections are critical for building performance. Previously, we examined the effects of repeated wetting and drying as well as fungal attack on the capacity of nailed connections of solid timber. We will continue the research with 3 postgraduates.

There are 115+ Australian treating plants registered with the TPAA plus many international plants supplying the building market. While AS/NZS1604 specifies a quality assurance program, there is no system for ensuring that material meets these standards. This system would ensure a level playing field.

The project aims to continue durability assessment and maintenance of the Centre’s large-scale collaborative field trial, initially on an annual basis. Long-term assessment data from this project will be utilised in the service life prediction models for solid wood and engineered wood products and underpin optimum maintenance planning for timber assets.

The primary goals of this project is to assess the treatability of Australian-grown softwoods using CCA and LOSP, identify key factors affecting preservative uptake and penetration, support compliance with AS/NZS 1604 requirements for H3 applications and improve industry understanding of wood-preservative interactions.