There are a number of widely used methods of application of preservative treatme nts.

Pressure impregnation with a water-borne agent is appropriate for timber in grou nd contact or high hazard conditions. Double vacuum impregnation with a solvent-bas ed organic preservative is a preferred method for treating joinery timbers. Micro-e mulsion treatments, which arewater borne, with newmore environmentally acceptable produc ts, are now available in the market. Preservatives should be applied under the contr olled conditions of an authorised wood treatment plant. British Standard BS 8417:2003 [25] provides guidance on the treatment of timber for use in the United Kingdom, and includes the requirements of key parts of other r elevant BS and EN standards. Issues related to the requirement for preservative treatmen t include service life, in-service environment, species type and its natural durab ility as well as the type and form of the preservative treatment. BS EN 335-1:2006 [26] provides a description of use classes and lists the potent ial biological organisms and insects that may challenge the timber in a particular s ervice condition. A summary of use classes is given in Table 1.20. Recommendations for the treatment of softwood timbers are given in BS 8417:2003. Further information on the protection of timber and timber products may be found in the following: TRADA publication: Wood Information Sheet WIS 2/3-33 Wood preservation Chemical and processes, 2005. Wood Protection Association: Industrial Wood Preservation, Specification and Practice, Derby, 2006 (www.wood-protection.org).