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Location : Europe & Guadaloupe

Study : Protecting Wooden Poles and Preserving the Environment -

CRAFT Reference : FAIR-CT98-9571

Dates : 1^st January 1999 - 31st May 2001

CRAFT is a key Research & Development initiative within the European Union.

The aim of CRAFT projects – which can focus on any scientific or technological topic or field – is to support the R&D needs of SMEs, to facilitate transnational R&D co-operation between SMEs, and to encourage co-operation between SMEs and Europe’s research community.

This CRAFT project examined the physical and chemical protection of wooden poles against groundline decay and containment of preservative leaching in service via studies of the Biotrans Field Liner, a biotechnological device developed to extend the service life of preservative treated and untreated timber. 

The project was co-ordinated by the University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom and participants included Biotrans and a number of industry partners from the UK, Holland & France. 50% of the funding for the project which cost ECU550,000 (approximately £360,000) was provided by the European Community.

Note : The Field Liner version utilised for the study was the Two Piece Field Liner whereby an outer LPDE material was heat shrunk over the inner laminate tube. This ‘Two Piece’ approach has since been superseded by the PPL One Piece Field Liner whereby the outer layer of the Field Liner is a tough, abrasion resistant, UV resistant Polyester material and the entire Field Liner can now be installed at the final stage of pole planting / setting.

 CRAFT Study Objectives

• Objective 1 : To determine the robustness, long-term UV resistance and log-term preservative resistance of the Field Liner plastic material for application to field poles and stakes

• Objective 2 : To assess the efficacy of Field Liner application in reducing the leaching of preservative constituents from the groundline of timber pre-treated with traditional hazard class 4 preservatives (CCA & Creosote) and more recently developed hazard 3 preservatives (azoles)

• Objective 3 : To examine the influence of Field Liner application (including dry film biocide inner layer) on the decay susceptibility of untreated and preservative treated timber

It was a further objective of the study to establish long term monitoring of Field Liner performance for standards purposes and to develop a “road map” for acceptance of Field Liner products within appropriate EN standards

Project Approach

Objective 1 : Industry standard tests designed to access puncture, tear, abrasion and UV resistance of the materials used in the Biotrans Field Liner

• Impact Resistance

  • BS : 2782 : part 3 :1998: Free-falling Dart Method

• Tear Resistance

  • BS: 2782: part 3: Method 360B: 1991. ISO 6383-1: 1983

• Abrasion Resistance

  • BS 2782 : part 3 : Method 370 : 1996. ISO : 1993 – Methods Of Testing Plastics By Determination Of The Resistance To Wear By Abrasive Wheels

• UV Resistance

  • ISO 4892-3 : 1994 (E). Plastics – Methods Of Exposure To Laboratory Light Sources : Part 3. Fluorescent UV Lamps

   

Objectives 2 & 3 : Laboratory and Field based studies designed to facilitate accelerated leaching of preservative constituents from treated small poles of Scots Pine and Sitka Spruce both with and without Field Liners.

• The Field models were developed to facilitate accelerated leaching of preservative constituents and allowed chemical analyses of soil, leachate and timber to be undertaken.

• The laboratory soil test-beds allowed for accelerated decay studies of both treated and untreated small stakes in a ‘fungal cellar’ facility with a high soil temperature and humidity environment

Studies took place in the laboratory, fungal cellars and also at field sites in the West of Scotland and in Guadaloupe where it was also possible to test for Termite resistance.

 Conclusions

• Early indications from laboratory efficacy testing show that the Field Liner product enhances the decay resistance of standard preservatives (Creosote & CCA). This will result in a longer service life for preservative treated timer for exterior use.

• Early indications from laboratory efficacy testing show that the Field Liner product enhances the decay resistance of Hazard Class 3 preservatives. This should permit present Hazard Class 3 preservatives (with improved environmental profiles) to challenge more environmentally damaging preservatives (eg CCA & Creosote) for the Hazard Class 4 market (exterior timber in ground contact). This will result in a longer service life for preservative treated timer for exterior use.

• Other conclusions, such as the quoted excellent Termite efficacy of the Field Liner product  . . . .were not completed within the timescale of the project

The CRAFT project highlighted that there were concerns about the outer heat shrink LDPE layer as regards UV resistance and robustness. It is for this reason that the Field Liner design was addressed in 2000 and the issues resolved in 2002 by integrating an improved PET layer into the One Piece Field Liner design

CRAFT Project Overview

To download a copy of this document, just click the link above :-

The Craft FAIR-CT98-9571 report with conclusions is available as a PDF document.

If you would like to receive a copy, please Contact Us and we will be please to send a copy to you.