SS 72 : 2014

(ICS 71.100.50; 79.020)

SINGAPORE STANDARD

Specification for treatment of timber and

plywood with copper/chrome/arsenic
wood preservatives

Published by
SS 72 : 2014
(ICS 71.100.50; 79.020)

SINGAPORE STANDARD
Specification for treatment of timber and plywood
with copper/chrome/arsenic wood preservatives

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this Singapore Standard may be
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying and microfilming, without permission in writing from SPRING Singapore at the
address below:

SPRING Singapore
1 Fusionopolis Walk,
#01-02 South Tower, Solaris
Singapore 138628
Email: standards@spring.gov.sg

ISBN 978-981-4557-57-3
SS 72 : 2014

This Singapore Standard was approved by the Building and Construction Standards Committee on
behalf of the Singapore Standards Council on 17 November 2014.

First published, 1972

First revision, 1988
Second revision, 2014

The Building and Construction Standards Committee, appointed by the Standards Council, consists of
the following members:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Chan Kok Way Member, Standards Council

Deputy
Chairmen : Er. Chew Keat Chuan Member, Standards Council
: Mr Larry Ng Lye Hock Member, Standards Council
Secretary : Ms Lee Hiok Hoong SPRING Singapore
Members : Mr Bin Chee Kwan National Environment Agency
Er. Chan Ewe Jin Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Er. Chee Kheng Chye Housing & Development Board
Mr Chng Chee Beow Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore
Mr Dominic Choy Singapore Contractors Association Limited
Er. Paul Fok Land Transport Authority
Mr Goh Peng Thong Individual Capacity
Mr Desmond Hill Individual Capacity
Er. Lee Chuan Seng Individual Capacity
Mr Benedict Lee Khee Chong Singapore Institute of Architects
Mr Rodney Lee Singapore Manufacturing Federation
Assoc Prof Leong Eng Choon Nanyang Technological University
Mr Darren Lim Building and Construction Authority
Dr Lim Lan Yuan Association of Property and Facility Managers
Er. Lim Peng Hong Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore
Mr Silas Loh Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers
Er. Mohd Ismadi Ministry of Manpower
Assoc Prof Gary Ong Khim National University of Singapore
Chye
Er. Yvonne Soh Singapore Green Building Council
Dr Tam Chat Tim Individual Capacity
Mr Christopher Tan Singapore Civil Defence Force
Er. Tang Pei Luen JTC Corporation

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The Technical Committee on Architectural Works, appointed by the Building and Construction
Standards Committee and responsible for the preparation of this standard, consists of representatives
from the following organisations:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Larry Ng Lye Hock Member, Building and Construction Standards

Committee
Deputy
Chairman : Mr Benedict Lee Khee Chong Member, Building and Construction Standards
Committee
Secretary : Mr Allan Koh SPRING Singapore
Members : Mr Cheah Kok Ming National University of Singapore
Mr Choy Kin Man TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd
Mr Gan Geok Chua Singapore Glass Association
Mr Goh Chun Hee Individual Capacity
Ms Vivien Heng Cheng Sim Singapore Green Building Council
Mr Koh Bon Pock Singapore Timber Association
Mr Lau Kwong Chung Singapore Institute of Architects
Maj Lim Lam Kwang Singapore Civil Defence Force
Mr Rajendran Ramamoorthy Building and Construction Authority
Mr See Sing Kok Institution of Engineers, Singapore
Mr See Sing Mun Singapore Manufacturing Federation
Ms Tan Hwee Yong Housing & Development Board
Mr Wong Chung Wan Individual Capacity
Mr Wilson Wong King Chiong Singapore Contractors Association Ltd
Ms Catherine Wong Phui Setsco Services Pte Ltd
Chan
Ms Jesseline Yap Tiles Association Singapore
Co-opted
Members : Er. Chong Kee Sen Individual Capacity
Mr Fang Yea Saen Individual Capacity

The Working Group, appointed by the Technical Committee to assist in the preparation of this
standard, comprises the following experts who contribute in their individual capacity:

Name

Convenor : Mr Koh Bon Pock

Secretary : LTC Choh Choon Jin
Members : Mdm Lam Yee Vivian
Mr Ng Lian Seng
Mr Pek Kian Koon

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The organisations in which the experts of the Working Group are involved are:

Housing & Development Board

HTP Industries (S) Pte Ltd
Plony Timber & Trading Co Pte Ltd
Singapore Civil Defence Force
Singapore Timber Association

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Contents
Page

Foreword 7
1 Scope 8
2 Definitions 8
3 Composition and properties of preservatives 8
4 Sampling of preservative 8
5 Characteristics of preservatives 9
6 Analysis of preservatives 10
7 Method of application 10
8 Condition of timber or plywood before treatment 10
9 Timber or plywood volume 11
10 Treating solution 11
11 Standard process and treatment schedules 12
12 Pumping to refusal 13
13 Penetration of preservatives 13
14 Retention tolerances 13
15 Retreatment of unsatisfactorily treated charges 13
16 Control 13
17 Standard of accuracy of plant instruments 13
18 Drying 14
19 Branding 14
20 Certification 14
21 Analysis 14
22 Timber subjected to fabrication after treatment 15
23 Classification and types of timbers recommended for construction uses 15

Annexes
A Methods of sampling (normative) 16
B Method for the determination of insoluble matter (informative) 19
C Quantitative analysis of preservatives and treated timber containing CCA
formulations (normative) 20
D Method for the determination of moisture content of timber or plywood (informative) 24
E Special considerations for treatment of plywood (informative) 26
F Method for the determination of concentration of working solution (normative) 28
G Classification of usages of treated timber or plywood and requisite salt retentions
(informative) 29
H Method for the determination of preservative penetration in treated wood (normative) 33

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Page

I Natural durability classification of timbers (informative) 35

J Classification of timber species (informative) 36
K Timbers for specific building and construction uses (informative) 37

Tables
1 Nominal composition of CCA preservatives 9
2 Minimum treatment schedules 12
A.1 Sampling of drums 16
G.1 Classification of usages of treated timber or plywood and requisite retention 30
G.2 Permeability of timbers to preservatives 32

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Foreword
This Singapore Standard was prepared by the Work Group appointed by the Technical Committee on
Architectural Works under the direction of the Building and Construction Standards Committee.

It is general experience that the satisfactory performance of a preservative depends not only on the
nature of the preservative but also its method of application to the timber or plywood and for this
reason standards for wood preservatives and wood preservation specify the composition of the
preservative, the method of application and the retentions resulting from the prescribed treatment.

This Singapore Standard includes all formulations of copper/chrome/arsenic water-borne wood

preservatives that are used or likely to be used in Singapore for application by vacuum/pressure
methods. All formulations have been developed from the preservative 'Ascu', developed by Kamesan
(US patent in year 1935), which differs in the proportion of its components and, when used in suitable
concentration has given satisfactory service in many applications over the years.

On the basis of experience with these preservatives, average retentions for various purposes are
specified in relation to the volume of timber or plywood treated, and this is thought to be the most
practical method for preservatives applied by pressure impregnation.

The revision includes bringing the standard and its annexes up-to-date with international practices,
updating the referenced documents in the standard and removing testing methods that are no longer
relevant.

Clause C.3 of this standard has been adapted from 2.2.1 to 2.2.5, 2.3.2 and 2.4.1 to 2.4.4 of
BS 5666-3 : 1991 with the permission of the British Standards Ltd.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Singapore Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. SPRING Singapore shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all of
such patent rights.

NOTE

1. Singapore Standards are subject to periodic review to keep abreast of technological changes and new
technical developments. The changes in Singapore Standards are documented through the issue of either
amendments or revisions.

2. Compliance with a Singapore Standard does not exempt users from legal obligations.

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Specification for treatment of timber and plywood with copper/

chrome/arsenic wood preservatives

1 Scope
This Singapore Standard specifies requirements for the treatment of timber, plywood or veneer with
water-borne wood preservatives which consist essentially of mixtures of copper, chromium and
arsenic collectively referred to as 'CCA'. This specification covers the composition of the preservatives,
the method of application and the retentions from the treatment.

Four mixtures of different composition are specified, designated as Type 1 to Type 4, respectively.
Types 1 - 4 are manufactured in both salt and oxide form.

NOTE 1 – This standard is not intended to be exclusive, and it can also be used for treatment of components for
the manufacture of other timber products.

NOTE 2 – This standard calls for the use of substances and/or procedures that may be injurious to health if
adequate precautions are not taken. It covers only technical suitability and does not absolve the user from legal
obligations relating to health and safety at any stage.

NOTE 3 – Attention is particularly drawn to the toxic nature of preservative containing copper, chrome and
arsenic solutions, and the necessity to take special care in the handling and disposal of solutions.

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