Decay

The preservative system used in LIFESPAN has been extensively tested against fungal decay in laboratory tests and field tests around the world in extreme situations. The performance in these trials has provided the confidence to back LIFESPAN with a 20-year limited warranty against fungal decay – although in most normal situations a longer service life is expected.

LIFESPAN is treated to an average retention of 0.08%m/m total azoles (0.06%m/m minimum) as a fungicide together with 0.02%m/m permethrin as an insecticide (termidicide).

Toxic values were determined by laboratory decay tests carried out in accordance with European protocols (EN113) using Pinus sylvestris. The minimum retentions (0.27kg/m3) used in LIFESPAN are much higher than these toxic values.

The Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory of Mississippi State University established L-Joint trials (in accordance with AWPA Standard E9-97) using Ponderosa pine at both Hilo, Hawaii and Saucier, Mississippi in 1996. L-Joint tests are designed to simulate performance in millwork applications.

These have been inspected yearly and results after six years exposure showed good resistance to decay, at retention levels less than used for LIFESPAN (0.27kg/m3 minimum) especially at Hilo, Hawaii, which is a recognized high hazard site for fungal decay.