1. How does SillBor wood work?
The borate-based preservative is forced into wood under pressure, but also diffuses naturally into areas of the wood unreached by the treatment procedure. This double process — pressure and diffusion — enables the preservative to penetrate more completely into desirable species, such as Douglas fir, which are difficult to protect by pressure alone.
2. What are treatable species of SillBor wood?
Per AWPA standards, borates can be used as a pressure treatment to preserve the following species.
| • Lumber (without incising) — southern pine, hem-fir, jack pine, spruce/pine/fir, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, red pine, and eastern white pine |
| • Lumber (with incising) — coastal Douglas fir and western SPF |
| • Plywood — southern pine and Douglas fir |
3. Does SillBor meet applicable AWPA standards?
Sodium octaborate is listed in AWPA preservative standard P5 and is referred to as SBX. SillBor® wood meets the requirements of AWPA standard U1 and past standards C9 and C31. It is suitable for Use Category 2.
4. What are the retention requirements for SillBor wood?
SillBor wood can be used only above ground, but there are two retention levels. Each level can be measured on the basis of boric oxide or disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT).
| • 0.17 pcf (B203/0.25 pcf (DOT) |
| • 0.28 pcf (B2O3)/0.42 pcf (DOT) |
5. Is borate-treated wood, such as SillBor wood, referenced in the model building codes?
Borate-treated wood is referenced in the following 2003 model codes.
| • International Building Code:section 2308.1.8, preservative treated wood |
| • International Residential Code:section R319.1, protection against decay |
| • International Residential Code:section R320, protection against termites |
6. What are the design values for SillBor wood?
Borate treatment has no significant effect on the strength of lumber or plywood.
7. What color is SillBor wood?
By itself, the borate treatment is clear, leaving wood with a natural appearance. In order to distinguish SillBor® wood from untreated wood, a blue dye is added to the treating solution, giving a blue tone to the material.
8. What do I need to know about storage and exposure?
SillBor treated wood is intended for weather-shielded, above ground use. To prevent contact with water at a jobsite, it is best to store borate-treated wood off the ground and covered. For more information, click here.
9. What about exposure during construction?
Although it is advisable to avoid exposure to water, it is often impractical to provide total protection during construction. For more information, click here.
10. Are there any special procedures required for building with SillBor wood?
SillBor wood handles very much like ordinary wood. It can be drilled, sawn, glued, and finished with standard woodworking tools, just like untreated wood. No end cut treatment is necessary for sawn cross-sections or bored holes.
11. What hardware is recommended?
Wood such as SillBor, treated with the DOT type of borate, has been found to be no more corrosive than traditional CCA-treated wood. For more information, click here.
