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Protective
Packaging Ltd is represented within
the
American Wood Protection
Association (AWPA) by Richard Lewis,
a member since 2007.
AWPA is a
non-profit organisation that defines
and publishes wood preservation
standards in the USA. AWPA Standards
are formulated in ANSI accredited
processes by technical committees
involving individuals from the wood
preservation industry and interested
parties, both academic and
governmental. Founded in 1904, AWPA
Standards are specified for wood
preservation throughout the USA and
are also recognised worldwide.
Standards can be
obtained on-line from the
International Code Council or
from
AWPA standards
help ensure that treated wood
products perform satisfactorily for
their intended use and Utility Poles
fall within Use Category UC4 with
sub-categories UC4A, UC4B and UC4C
depending on the environment in
which Utility Poles are located.
UC4A establishes standards for
Utility Poles in regions of low
natural potential for wood decay and
insect attack, UC4B for moist,
temperate climates and UC4C for
semi-tropical and tropical
environments. Defining wood species
that can be deployed, preservatives
that should be used and retention
levels, the AWPA standards ensure
that Utility Poles, which are
further classified for strength by
the relevant ANSI standards, are
defined by standards that ensure
they safely fulfil their expected
service life. AWPA Standards are
used by Electric Utilities for
purchasing their required Utility
Poles from Pole Suppliers
In 2007, AWPA
introduced a new standard, P20-07
which covers ‘All Barrier Protection
Systems’ used to augment
preservative treated wood for ground
contact uses, including Utility
Poles. The standard defines the
testing that a barrier protection
system must have undergone and the
standards associated with that
testing. Protective Packaging Ltd is
committed to undergoing these tests
and the test programme for the PPL
Field Liner has already commenced
with extensive Termite Resistance
testing in accordance with the AWPA
E1& ASTM test methodologies. Other
efficacy tests will be established
and undertaken in line with the P20
standard.
The PPL Field
Liner has already undergone many
years of testing in laboratory,
field and in service environments
and the extent of these tests is
covered in our comprehensive section
on Testing.
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