Reducing smouldering risks in copper-based timber treatmentsFriday 18 Oct 2024
Copper-based treatments are widely used across the country to increase the durability of timber products, particularly in external settings. Treatments such as copper chrome arsenate (CCA) are a cost-effective way to protect wood from rot, insects and fungi, prolonging its life outdoors. CCA-treated timber is the most common and is recognisable to many by its green tint. While its use is restricted in some settings including playgrounds and picnic tables (due to concerns around its arsenic content), it is commonplace in applications such as fencing, landscaping and utility poles. However, research has shown copper-based treatments can increase the risk of smouldering – a form of slow, sustained and flameless burning which can continue undetected after a fire has ended. This means a timber structure can appear intact following a fire but continue to smoulder and eventually fail over time. In the case of an electrical post for example, this can cause critical impacts including power outages, particularly in remote areas where arranging repairs for a single pole can be costly and time-consuming. NCTDDL Director, Professor Tripti Singh explained these factors pose a significant risk to the ongoing use of timber in these environments, as people look for alternatives. “Combatting smouldering risk is critical to protecting timber as a material of choice for outdoor use,” said Dr Singh. “Timber boasts exceptional sustainability credentials. To support and grow its ongoing use in outdoor applications across Australia, it’s important to strengthen fire safety measures while maintaining the durability that makes it such a reliable material.” Understanding smouldering risks Since 2021, PhD student Wenxuan Wu has conducted research to understand the relationship between copper and wood with regard to their burning behaviour. Mr Wu studied CCA as well as its most common alternatives, alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper azole (CA). He examined how the treatments affect burning and analysed differences in burning behaviour from a chemical perspective. The study initially used a ‘movable radiant panel system’ to simulate a passing bushfire, measuring the effects on treated and untreated wood samples. More >> Source: FWPA  | ||
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