Resistant wood species may be cause of fencing failures

Further to your article Winds boost fencing demand I was interested to read your observations on Use Class 4 and Highway Sector Scheme 4 timber treatments.

I do not have any hard evidence, but I suspect that the majority of premature failures of fence posts is as a result of the timber species used and the difficulties of treating resistant wood species such as spruce.

In Sweden the Swedish Wood Preserving Association operates the NTR scheme that endorses treated timber. It also guarantees its performance in service and the scheme only covers pine for use in ground contact (Use Class 4).

In the UK the Wood Protection Association has just launched the Benchmark Quality Assurance Scheme for treated timber. Its aim is to promote confidence to the customer base that the treated timber they buy will deliver the desired service life. In time I would like to think that Benchmark could offer the same guarantees to the market as the NTR scheme does in Sweden.

The market could very quickly have confidence in Use Class 4 treated timber. Successful timber treatment is a result of the chemical preservative used, the treatment process and the wood species specified.

It is important that we try to address issues that are facing the timber industry in a positive way.

Mark Eggleston
Managing director
WJ Components Ltd