Thread: Can’f find untreated construction pine anywhere??

They are carrying the T2 blue as it is the preferred construction material, it used to be a premium cost but they are just running it all that way and price is the same as plain so they dont bother stocking it.
The material is exactly the same so just a case whether it looks ok to you.

Originally Posted by Beardy

They are carrying the T2 blue as it is the preferred construction material, it used to be a premium cost but they are just running it all that way and price is the same as plain so they dont bother stocking it.
The material is exactly the same so just a case whether it looks ok to you.

Makes sense. What’s the deal with using treated timber though? I thought is was not really recommended for indoor stuff?

Originally Posted by lemerv

Makes sense. What’s the deal with using treated timber though? I thought is was not really recommended for indoor stuff?

I am not aware of any specific precautions needed to be taken for indoor use. The earlier products of the 70’s had some nasty stuff in it like arsenic but the current stuff isnt too bad. As I understand it you couldn’t eat enough of it to cause you harm

Your H2 and H3 treated pines are quite safe. I work in commercial construction are rarely see H1. H2 is typically the minimal most commercial builders will use as it is termite resistant. I see a lot of residential builders still using H1 timber which is repellent of insects except termites.

H3 will be fine in the shed. Most of your deck, pergola, verandah etc framing these days is H3 pine. H3 is suitable for outdoor use and exposed to weather. H4 is the same again but it is rated for direct contact with the ground or being buried in ground.

Originally Posted by Beardy

I am not aware of any specific precautions needed to be taken for indoor use. The earlier products of the 70’s had some nasty stuff in it like arsenic but the current stuff isnt too bad. As I understand it you couldn’t eat enough of it to cause you harm

It is still possible to get CCA (copper chrome arsenic) treated pine. But from reading some more it seems the blue stuff is not that. Hard to get some concrete info but reading hynes, etc seems to be a more mild, “organic” surface treatment. Will continue researching but yes, seems safe enough for something inside that I won’t be sitting on or eating off.

Originally Posted by lemerv;[URL="tel:2300671"

2300671[/URL]]It is still possible to get CCA (copper chrome arsenic) treated pine. But from reading some more it seems the blue stuff is not that. Hard to get some concrete info but reading hynes, etc seems to be a more mild, “organic” surface treatment. Will continue researching but yes, seems safe enough for something inside that I won’t be sitting on or eating off.

in another lifetime I once managed a CCA treatment plant, other than burning it, just use the same precautions you would for any timber and you will be fine. People get concerned about the Arsenic, but the Chrome is actually the bit to wary of, even then it would be almost impossible get enough Chrome into your system to harm you.

My understanding is that the blue construction timber is LOSP treated, light organic solvent preservative, sort of like a methylated spirits treatment, been way to long since I got training around LOSP to remember details, but again just use the same precautions you would for any timber. Generally speaking the wood dust poses more harm than the chemicals.

Cheers Andrew

As AJ said, no problem with the LOSP treated Pine. Just wash your hands after handling if you are unsure.

In a past life i worked for CSR Timber and then a company who purchased most of CSR's treated material. This was in the days when CCA first come on to the market so we were at the timber yards doing presentations to staff and builders. One of the owners would attend these sessions and would proceed to take a large splinter from a piece of CCA Pine and chew on it just to "prove" to the punters that it was completely safe.

Update. Bought some blue H2 pine from the green shed. It’s been acclimating in the shed for a few weeks. Took about 4mm off the edge today. Looks good to me.