Use & Care Guide
What
effect do the
preseryatives
have
on Structural
Connectors
and
Fasteners?
In
general,
connectors,
including
anchors
and
fasteners, installed in
corrosive
environments
or
exposed
to
corrosive
materials,
or chemicals,
can be
damaged
possibly
resulting
in the reduction
of
load
capacity.
While
G60 connectors have
historically
performed
well when
properly
installed
in less
corrosive
environments, during
2OO4 USP
is
transitioning to
GgO
as
a
minimum level
of
galvanization
on our
standard
product
line. This
transition
will
provide
additional
corrosion
protection
in
our
standard
product
line.
The results
of our
corrosion testing
have
shown
that
ACQ
and CA-B
preservative
treatments
tend to corrode
at
a
greater
rate
than
CCA.
The
SBX
and DOT
preservatives
tend
to
corrode
at a
slower
rate
than
CCA.
The relative
results
of
these tests
are
summarized
in the chart
shown
below. For ACQ
and CA-B
wood
preservatives,
USP
recommends
the
use
of
Triple
Zinc
G-185 as a
minimum level
of
corrosion
protection.
The
fasteners
used
with Triple Zinc
G-185
connectors
should
be
hot-dip
galvanized.
Stainless
steel
connectors
and fasteners will
provide
the
best
level
of
corrosion
protection.
With
all
wood
preservatives,
other
potential
environmental
factors
should
be considered when
selecting
an appropriate
level
of corrosion
protection.
Otten
it is
difficuft to
control
the type
of
wood
preservative
that
will
be
in
contact
with
a connector.
USP
recommends the
use of
Triple
Zinc
G-185 connectors in
all
outdoor applications
and
with
treated wood,
unless
the
preservative
used
and the
surrounding environment
can
be anticipated and
controlled.
What
is
the
physical
dlfference
between the
etandard
G60
connector and the Trlpfe
Zlnc
G-185
connector?
The
difference
between
USP's
standard G60
connectors
and
Triple
Zinc
G-l85 connectors
is in
the
amount
of
zinc
coating
on
each
product.
G60 connectors
are
made
from
hot-dip
galvanized
steel
having
a
minimum
of 0.60 ounces
per
square
foot
of
zinc
coating.
Tripfe
Zinc G-185
connectors are
made from hot-dip
galvanized
steel
coated with roughly three times the
G60 amount of
zinc,
otfering enhanced
protection
from
corrosion.
The
appearance
of
the
standard
G60 steel
connector
and
the Triple Zinc G-185 connector,
however,
are
very
similar.
What
do
|
rced to do
to
prepare
for
the transltlon
from
the standard
G60
products
to
the
Trlple
Zlnc
G-185 connectors?
While
you
can
sell
any existing
inventory
using CCA
wood
treatments through
December 31
,
zA0/.,
we
recommend
you prepare
to sell
the
new
wood
treatrnents
by developing
a
transition
plan
today. As
you
make the
transition
from
CCAto
the
new treated
lumber,
you
should also
make
the transition
to the
appropriate
structural connectors
recommended
for
use with the
new
treated
lumber.
USP
Structural Connectors offers
an extensive
product
line
of
Triple
Zinc
structural
connectors
that
we
recommend
as
a
minimum for use
with
the
wood
treatments.
USP
Structural
Connectors
has also
.developed
special
packaging
to differentiate
the
standard connectors
from
the
Triple Zinc connectors.
The Triple Zinc
connectors
are
identified
with
a
green
label
on cartons,
green
bin cards on
retail displays
and
green
writing
on each
product
identification
sticker.
A
consumer
brochure
is
also available
that educates
consumers
on
the
topic.
We
recommend
that
you
contact
your
USP
Technical
Sales
Representative
to develop a
plan
for
making
the transition to the
required
structural
connectors for
the
new
treated
lumber.
This
will
ensure
that
you
are
providing
your
customers the
most
appropriate
materials
for their construction
projects.
What
producte
are avallable
ln Trlple Zlnc trom
USP?
USP's
crcrrosion
resistant
product
offering enables
you
to
increase
your profits.
We have
expanded our
triple
zinc
product
line
to include
the
most common
used
connectors
in
outdoor
applications
for
use
with
treated
wood.
This
product
offering
is
shown
on
page
3.
CA-B
1.6
o
1'4
o
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1.2
.8
1
u,
g
o.B
o
E
06
E
0.4
o
tr'
a.2
0
Tested
Wood taterial