Custom Search
|
|
|
||
 in accordance with AWPA Standards. If the treated wood is cut or bored and the untreated
portion of the wood is thus exposed and not properly preserved, premature failure will occur.
Record keeping is apparently rarely done but is essential in determining if poor
performance or premature failure of treated wood products is occurring. This information is vital
for proper maintenance and for making materials choices for ongoing projects.
5. Eventual Disposal. Disposal of treated wood often occurs decades after initial use.
Although no federal law now prohibits the land filling of treated wood, landfill disposal
regulations (especially state and local) are expected to be more restrictive with time. It would be
prudent to consider alternatives to land filling and to consider the costs of these options when
selecting construction materials.
Cradle-to-grave responsibilities for treated wood usage and disposal may soon be required
by federal regulations. Project costs should include projections for the eventual removal of the
wood from service.
6. Assignment of Responsibilities. Many decades may pass between project conception
and final demolition and removal of treated wood. Many different federal personnel and
contracting agencies are involved in the process. These entities need to be clearly stated and their
responsibilities clearly defined for the activity. Continuous training in wood protection specific to
assigned responsibilities is needed.
7. Centralized Treated Wood Usage Guidance. It has been recommended by a recent
Defense Analysis and Studies Office Report that DOD (we can read Navy) should develop a
source of wood products technical expertise for the installations to draw upon. In the past, the
Navy's Applied Biology program included wood protection guidance to Navy activities. Recent
cutbacks, however, have severely limited their ability to provide such consultation-
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL WORK
AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE UPDATES
Quality Assurance
Technical guidance that will assure strict adherence to Navy quality assurance policy for
the use of treated wood has proven to be elusive. Responsibility for assuring the wood meets
specifications is shared among wood treaters, project designers, materials purchasers, installers,
inspectors, and maintenance personnel. Required information that would help to assure treated
wood quality can be found in NAVFAC criteria documents, and AWPA Standards and is thus
available to personnel involved but apparently that is not sufficient.
In response to these difficulties, NAVFAC attempted to initiate a program in cooperation
with the Defense Contract Management Area Operations (DCMAO) to develop a standard
operating procedures that an activity could use to assure compliance with QA policy. Envisioned
was a checklist and process flow chart that would detail actions required and the person or agency
responsible for each step. Such a program, once developed, could be adapted to each facility that
uses wood products. A training course was outlined and pertinent activity personnel were defined
6
|
 
|
|
|
||
