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All wood products, including pressure-treated products, will continue to lose or gain moisture until they adjust to the conditions of their end-use environment. As a result, proper storage before and during construction is important. Treated lumber should be stacked and stored in the same manner as untreated wood. Follow these simple rules to help insure proper storage and product performance at the job site:

• Inspect lumber upon delivery for proper grade-marking and moisture content, plus other conditions that may require attention, such as mold.
• Unload lumber in a dry place — not in wet or muddy areas.
• Elevate lumber on stringers to prevent absorption of ground moisture and to allow air circulation. Do not store lumber in direct contact with the ground.
• Cover lumber stored in an open area with a material that provides protection from the elements. Polyethylene or similar nonporous covers act as a vapor barrier, so it is important to allow ventilation around the material to prevent condensation on the underside of the covering.
• Enclose framing lumber under roof as soon as possible.
• Store exterior products (e.g. siding, porch flooring) in a covered outdoor area.
• Store interior products (e.g. flooring, millwork) in the enclosed, conditioned area where installation will occur.
• Use lumber in the order in which it is received. Inventory rotation is important.

Additional protection is provided when lumber is paper-wrapped or has been treated with a weather-protective coating. However, availability is limited and weather-protective coatings are effective for only three to six months. Damage to the paper during transportation can reduce its effectiveness, and protection is lost when paper wrappings are removed. For more details, see SPC publications, Southern Pine Use Guide and Managing Moisture and Mold, available at www.SouthernPine.com.

This guidance applies to wood that has been preserved by pressure treatment with an EPA-registered pesticide to protect it from insect attack and decay. Treated wood should be used only where such protection is important.

Wood preservatives penetrate deeply into and remain in pressure treated wood for a long time. However, some preservatives may migrate from treated wood into surrounding soil over time and may also be dislodged from the wood surface upon contact with skin. Exposure to some preservatives may present certain hazards. Therefore, the following precautions should be taken both when handling the treated wood and in determining where to use or dispose of the treated wood.

All sawdust and construction debris should be cleaned up and disposed of after construction.

Do not use treated wood under circumstances where the preservative may become a component of food or animal feed. Examples of such sites would be use of mulch from recycled treated wood, cutting boards, counter tops, animal bedding, and structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food.

Only treated wood that is visibly clean and free of surface residue should be used for patios, decks, and walkways.

Do not use treated wood for construction of those portions of beehives which may come into contact with the honey.

Safety first. When sawing or machining treated wood, wearing eye protection, a dust mask, and gloves is recommended, a practice applicable when using other sawn or machined building materials.

Treated wood should not be used where it may come into direct or indirect contact with public drinking water, except for uses involving incidental contact such as docks and bridges.

Dispose of treated wood by ordinary trash collection or burial. Treated wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces, or residential boilers because toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes. Treated wood from commercial or industrial use (e.g., construction sites) may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with state and federal regulations.

Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from treated wood. When sawing and machining treated wood, wear a dust mask. Whenever possible, these operations should be performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumulations of airborne sawdust from treated wood.

When power-sawing and machining, wear goggles to protect eyes from flying particles.

Wear gloves when working with the wood. After working with the wood, and before eating, drinking, toileting, and use of tobacco products, wash exposed areas thoroughly.

Because preservatives and sawdust may accumulate on clothes, they should be laundered before reuse. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.

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