News Update from the Instyle Family

CCA Treated Pine compared to the all new LOSP Radiata Pine. See the difference for yourself!

What the Scientists are saying…

Timber as you know it will soon be changed for the better here in

Australia . It is now well documented that nations including Indonesia, Japan, Germany and The United States of America have banned commercial use of Copper Chromium Arsenic Treated Pine (CCA Treated Pine).

The scientific evidence about the health consequences of long-term arsenic exposures in humans was firstly found in studies of drinking water back in 2001. Epidemiological studies have been conducted in Taiwan where there are high levels of arsenic in drinking water. These studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of lung and bladder cancers in that population from drinking water containing arsenic.

Instyle Pergolas have been following the progress of CCA Pine over the past 2 years when it was brought up in an American Study 2 years after the initial Taiwanese study. The study found that exposure to CCA-treated play equipment greatly increased a child's risk of developing bladder and lung cancer.

The American Study prompted a review by Australia’s chemical regulator. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority released the findings of its review of copper chrome arsenate (CCA) on the 22 nd of December 2003. CCA is a chemical used to combat rot in pine products, after increasing international pressure to phase out its use over fears it may cause cancer.

The authority's principal scientist, David Loschke, said the review was concerned with children aged between three and five. "We must be satisfied the use of this chemical is safe," he said. "We didn't get enough evidence to give us that answer. Therefore we must recommend its uses are stopped."

As a result of the study, CCA treated pine decking, hand rails and play equipment will be banned here in Australia by April 2006.

What the CCA Timber Mills are saying…

The CCA treatment is a chemical preservative that protects wood from rotting due to insects and microbial agents. CCA contains arsenic, chromium and copper. CCA has been used to pressure treat timber used for decks, playgrounds and other outdoor uses since the 1930’s. Since the 1970’s, the majority of timber used in residential and commercial settings was CCA-treated wood.

Australia is the third-highest per capita user of CCA-treated pine after New Zealand and the US, with about 800,000 cubic metres produced locally each year. Harry Greaves, chairman of the Timber Preservers Association said: “To scrap a treatment that has been used safely for over 70 years would be ludicrous. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the arsenic within the CCA treatment causes cancer”.

He also said: "Clearly the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medical Association) have taken a very precautionary approach to this matter. They don't know what the risks are, so they've blundered on the side of caution. I think that's a pretty poor example to set for a chemical that's been around for 70 years."

What Instyle Pergolas are saying…

Instyle Pergolas have been using CCA treated pine since 1998. Back then, the pine we were purchasing was in top condition. Lately though, the CCA pine we have been purchasing has been poor quality and has resulted in us losing over 35% of our timber stock over the last 12 months.

The last 12 months have been the hardest throughout our history because our timber mill refuses to replace the wasted stock, due to their opinions stating that the timber is more than acceptable for commercial use. We are not asking for sympathy, we just want to get the point across to the consumer that the CCA pine circulating the building industry over the last 12 months is not acceptable to our high standards.

“Instyle Pergolas pride themselves on quality work and with the CCA pine circulating the building game at the moment it is making it a lot harder to perform our standard tasks.” Marketing Manager Sam Alstin says. “We believe that with all the hype on the CCA treatment within Pine that Timber Mills are quickly trying to eradicate their ageing stocks, thus resulting in poor timber quality.”

“Instyle Pergolas aren’t the only believers in the statement above. This rumour has been circulating the building industry before we even started receiving poor quality timber”. Mr Alstin said.

As a result, Instyle Pergolas started to perform research into a substitute timber with similar rot and termite protection, while still having the same structural grade, and at a similar price. The results we uncovered were nothing short of ‘Beautiful’.

LOSP Pine or Light Organic Solvent Preservative Pine is a laminated radiata pine with similar termite and rot protection than that of CCA. The timber also has a higher structural grade than CCA pine. The timber is also free from ugly knot holes and splits, and will not twist or warp throughout its lifetime.

“CCA pine does not even come close to comparing with LOSP pine. The high quality detail on our pergolas is now highlighted due to this awesome timber having no knots, splits, twists or warps. LOSP Pine pergolas have similar characteristics to that of steel, all with the warmth and character of timber”. Mr Alstin said.

Instyle Pergolas do not believe that CCA pine is dangerous to humans and we are not trying to put this message across to our consumers. We are informing the consumer of the situation of CCA pine here in Australia and across the globe. We have found a substitute timber that is of a lot higher quality than CCA and due to huge amounts of wasted stock, and that it is ‘possible’ that the arsenic within the treatment causes cancer, we have made the swap.

Come down to our quality display yard at 100 Bedford Street Gillman SA 5013 to see for yourself that LOSP Pine is the way to go when building a pergola structure on to your house. Or alternatively you can contact us via email or phone and one of our sales representatives will send you an LOSP Pine information pack.

Email: info@instylepergolas.com.au

Phone: 1300 724 890

Instyle Pergolas thankyou for taking the time to read our report and we hope that we have given you the adequate information you need to make a more informed buying decision.