Use & Care Guide

USP
Structural
Connectorsru
is
a
leader
in
manufacturing structural
connectors.
We
want to
make
sure
that
you
and
your
customers
are
offered
the appropriate
products
to build the safest
and
strongest
structure.
In
addition
to stainless steel
and
hot-dip
galvanized,
USP otfers a
line
of
Triple
Zinc G-185
connectors
which
can
be used
with the
new treated
wood
in many types
of
applications.
The
purpose
of
this communication
is
to
educate
and
inform
our
customers about
the
industry
changes
to
pressure
treated
wood
and
associated
use
of connectors
and
fasteners.
Your
customers
will
be
asking
for
the
new treated
wood
and
we
want
to
make
sure
you
receive the
most
appropriate
information about
what types of connectors
and
fasteners
you
should
use.
Consumers
purchasing
treated
lumber
should
refer to
the
chemical supplier
of
the
treated
lumber for more detailed
information.
For
specific
information about applications
of
these connectors,
as
well as their
product
life
in
corrosive
environments
and other
product
warranty
information,
please
refer to the USP
Structural
Connectors*
Product Catalog
or
visit
our website at
www.USPconnectors.com.
Why
ls
CCA
Treated
Lumber
not
golng
to
be
manufactured after
December
31
,
2003?
Historically Chromated Copper
Arsenate
(CCA)
has
been
the
most commonly used
,
type
of
preservative
to treat
wood.
Recent
studies
have
shown
the
CCA
"leaches"
(is
released)
from treated
wood
by
rainwater.
This
can
leave
a
residue
of arsenic
on
the
wood surface
and
may
contaminate
the
soil
in
proximity
to
the
wood
structure.
A$ a result,
concerns
have
been
raised related to
the
potential
for arsenic
poisoning.
In response,
the
treated
wood chemical suppliers,
in
cooperation
with
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(EPA),
have
voluntarily
agreed
to
stop
producing
CCA treated
wood
for
residential and
some
commercial use by
January
1
,
2004. CCA
treated
wood will
still
be
produced,
but only
for industrial,
highway,
and agricultural
applications.
Whet are the
predomlnant
types of
n€w
alternatlve
wmd
preservatlves
avallable?
Alkallne
Copper
Quaternary
(ACO)
uses
ethanolamine
or ammonia
to act as
the
carrier
solution.
Typical
brand
names are
Preserve, Preserve
Plus,
Naturewood,
and
ACz.
Copper
Azole
Type
A and
B
(CBA-A
and
CA-B) are
next
generation
copper based
preservatives.
One
brand
name
for
these
treatments
is
Natural
Select
Wood.
Sodlum
Borate
(SBX)
utilizes
boron
a$
an
active
ingredient.
Typical
brands are
Timbor, EnviroSale
Plus,
Advance Guard@,
and SmartGUARD.
Borates
may not be
approved
for exterior
applications.
Consult
the
treated
wood
supplier.
Why
should
we conslder
Trlple Zlne
Producte
Instead of
the etandard
G60
prducts?
Standard
G60
products
have limited
corrosion
resistance.
When used
in
contact
with
some
of the
new
wood
preservatives
the
G60
products
could experience
accelerated
corrosion
as a
result
of the
new formulas
used
to treat
the
wood. Corrosion
is a
multifaceted
phenomenon
dependent
on
many
variables. Most of
these
variables are
related
to the
environment
the steel
is
placed
in.
Corrosion
can occur
leading to
loss
of
strength
and
reduced connector
load
carrying
capability
due to exposure
to ocean air
or salt spray,
chemicals
used
in fire retardant
and
preservative
treat
wood, acid
rain,
agricultural
chemicals
and
fefiilizers, animal
wastes,.swimming
pool
chemicals,
and even
common
outdoor
exposure
with
alternating
wet and dry conditions. Of
course,
there are
many more
possible
corrosive
environments
not mentioned
here.
Triple Zinc G-185
contains
roughly
three
times the amount
of
zinc as
the
standard
G60
galvanizing.
This
provides
additional
protection
against
corrosion
attributed
to the
new
wood
preservatives.
Unfortunately,
we
are
unable to
predict
the
service
life
of
particular
connectors
in
selected
environments.
We
can,
however,
provide
a
relative level of
protection
information
regarding
conosion
resistance.
Continued
on
next
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