Osmose® Response to the AWPA Press Release of March 6, 2009
MicroPro® treated wood is manufactured using a patent-pending, revolutionary micronized copper preservative system which contains proprietary manufacturing technology and chemistry formulations. Osmose chose to submit its MicroPro products, incorporating this technology, for evaluation to ICC-ES (International Code Council-Evaluation Service, Inc.) because the AWPA procedures for preservative standardization do not provide preservative manufacturers with adequate confidentiality protection for their proprietary information and trade secrets.
The ICC-ES wood preservative product evaluation process is one of many accepted building product evaluations which the ICC-ES performs and is an accepted alternative to AWPA standardization under the International Building Code and the International Residential Code. It is important to emphasize that the ICC-ES evaluation process allows a preservative manufacturer to maintain confidentiality of proprietary formulations and trade secrets. Within the ICC-ES procedures, proprietary product technology protection between the ICC-ES and any applicant, including preservative manufacturers, is standard practice.
The Building Codes require that preservative treated wood used in any permitted project bear a “quality mark.” The quality mark can either be (1) an ICC-ES Report number; or (2) an AWPA Use Standard number and Use Category System designation. It is important to note that all of the major building codes in the United States recognize both AWPA and ICC-ES as equivalent quality marks for product performance, evaluation and certification.
In its March 6, 2009 press release, AWPA inappropriately failed to acknowledge the ICC-ES evaluation process as a nationally recognized building code equivalent quality mark. The fact is that AWPA supported and helped fund the ICC-ES adoption of AWPA Standard testing procedures for evaluation of wood preservative system performance. By failing to acknowledge the ICC-ES evaluation process as equivalent to AWPA standardization, the AWPA press release falsely implies that there is no recognized alternative to AWPA standardization for protection of the treated wood consumer. In 2005, the AWPA staff appointed and funded consultants who directly assisted with the peer review and development of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria (AC 326) that requires the use of AWPA’s E-Standards (Evaluation) for ICC-ES ESR evaluations. The ICC-ES AC 326 Document requires the same AWPA Standard evaluation test protocols and procedures as specified in the AWPA Appendix A Guidelines for Evaluation of Wood preservatives.
The fact is, the ICC-ES requires that preservative manufacturers provide even more stringent checks and balances than does AWPA, including third-party, independent quality control testing. For example, AC 326 requires that:
- All laboratory testing must be conducted by independent, accredited ISO-certified laboratories or academic institutions.
- All wood treatment companies that treat with the product must be specifically listed on the applicable ICC-ES Report, a public document.
- Any wood treatment company producing an ICC-ES treated wood product must be “qualified” by an accredited, independent timber inspection service company.
- All treated wood products must be inspected by an accredited, independent timber inspection service company under a documented and approved quality control system.
Furthermore, AWPA does not assume any responsibility for the performance of any wood preservative system that has gone through the AWPA standardization process. The AWPA states that “AWPA cannot be responsible for results of use or performance of products treated in accordance with these standards.” The AWPA further states that “AWPA’s Analytical Standards are developed to determine the presence and amount of preservatives in wood, but they do not provide any indication as to whether or not a preservative will effectively protect a wood product.” This is true for all AWPA standardized products.
It has always been the responsibility of the preservative manufacturing company to provide performance warranties on treated wood products. Osmose, in business since 1934, provides a Residential and Agricultural Limited Warranty on MicroPro treated wood products just as it warrants its other products. Osmose protects wood.
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