It’s amazing how many people still say they have a can of creosote in their shed or garage and they look perplexed when you tell them it’s been banned for domestic use for some years now.
In face, creosote has been off-limits to the general public for 13 years now, following the Creosote Prohibition on Use and Marketing No.2 Regulations 2003 (transposed into UK law as a result of Directive 76/769/ EEC), which means creosote can only be used by professionals and for wood treatment in industrial installations in certain circumstances, with common applications being railway sleepers, utility poles and agricultural fencing.
Its classification as a carcinogenic product is causing the scrutiny under the Biocidal Products Regulation.
A tightening of restrictions back in 2013 saw wood preservatives containing creosote requiring a new authorisation for use in the EU (added to Annex 1 of the biocides Directive). This first registration period is fixed for five years to 30/04/2018, begging the question: what happens in 2018? “Industry should now step up its efforts to find viable, less environmentally damaging alternatives,” said the EC during its last tightening of the regulations.
As heard in the WPA’s annual conference (see page 26), the European creosote sector campaign is pushing for continued approval of its use and is encouraged by Sweden’s approval for continued use of creosote for poles and sleepers to 2021.
But players in the industry also know they need to look at alternatives should creosote face further restriction and several companies are actively developing systems in case creosote is taken out of the creosote equation. Arch Timber Protection has made a step forward by announcing the launch of its pilot plant for its new Tanasote creosote alternative treatment.
“Like most businesses everyone looks for growth,” said Andy Hodge, Arch’s marketing director EMEA.
“And one of the sectors that we have not really been involved in the past is creosote’s market sector.”
Arch’s copper organic treatments are primarily aimed at the residential and agricultural markets, with some use of higher concentrations of the treatment in industrial applications.
“I do not want to knock creosote,” said Mr Hodge. “It keeps timber in the marketplace and prevents specification of plastic, concrete and metal products.”
The company’s plan is development of a product that performs like creosote and keeps timber in these applications.
Arch will use its Tanasote pilot plant to work closely with potential users and perform optimising tests.
“It’s not longer in the laboratory. It’s a full size plant able to treat sleepers and poles.” Mr Hodge believes the product is likely to be ready for commercial launch by 2018, by when plenty of test data is likely to be available.
The Tanasote technology is an oil-based system which works based on the Ruping method, different to conventional pressure treatment.
“This is one of the biggest projects we have undertaken for many years and there is an opportunity here for us,” added Mr Hodge. He estimated the creosote market in Europe to be worth around €30m annually (approximately 155,000 tonnes).
He estimates 50% of telegraph poles are treated with copper organic treatment giving an expected service life of over 30 years, while creosote’s performance is generally considered around 60 years.
“Creosote has a good following and is a good product but there is a threat to it from legislation which means that market could be lost to timber.”
He said the treatment industry faced a similar situation some years ago when CCA use was restricted.
“Our Tanasote product developments are at an advanced stage and we have a lot of confidence in the results we are seeing,” he added.
