RECOMMENDATIONS

Treatment is needed to protect materials, specially wood, from insects, moisture, and decaying fungi.

Prefer wood that has natural resistance, such us cedar, redwood, black locust, bald cypress, catalpa, black berry, junipers, white oak, etc.

Avoid paints with VOC(Volatic Organic Compound) emissions and mercury content.

Varnishes and paints should be water based, plant oils or resins with fungicides, arsenic and harmful solvents should be avoided.

Do not reuse wood treated with creosote or pentachloropphenol for interior purposes.

Outdoor wood has to be protected from moisture, rot and insect damage. In the past have been used creosote-,pent- and CCA-(copper/chrodium/arsenate) treatments that are now recognized as extremely toxic chemicals. For the future use alternatives including ACQ (ammonium/copper/quaternary) treatment and naturally rot-resistant woods that perform same as CCA but are less toxic.

Borate is a valid alternative in unexposed to water location since it is a water soluble product. Borate prevents termite and fungi decay.

Consider the use of composite plastic lumber for outdoor spaces.

-MDI methyl diisocyanate is a formaldheyde-free product used as a lumber adhesive.However, this product is highly toxic when used in the manufacturing plant, so special pollution-control and health safeguards are required.

-Termite control is required for wood constructions. Some wood is naturally resistant to termite, such as cedar. Using this treemake it possible to limit the use of treatment.

If treatments are necessary, use non-toxic control strategies made without chemical use, such as sand barrier.

Termite needs humid environment to survive, so humidity control is the best strategy to eliminate termite.Provide cross ventilation and use sand barriers because termite cannot tunnel through it. Other non-toxic treatments include use of nematodes (microscopic worms).

 COMMENTS

It is important to ventilate the spaces before the occupation.