The chemicals you use for treating wood are now controlled by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996, which replaces previous laws such as the Dangerous Goods Act 1974, the Pesticides Act 1979, and the Toxic Substances Act 1979.
As a worker in the timber industry, these are some of the typical groups of chemicals that you might use.
- Antisapstains such as Hylite, Sabre and Taratek
- Copper-chromium-arsenic salts such as CCA Oxide, Rentokil CCA 60%, and Tanalith C
- LOSP such as Organotect and Protim LCWR
- Boron Salts such as Diffusol, Immutan P, Q-Bor, and Tanalith E
- Alkyl ammonium preservatives such as ACQ for Timber Treatment, and Mokubo AAC
From 1 October 2004, if you want to continue using some of these substances, the law may require you to have the right Test Certificates. You may need:
- a Location Test Certificate for your premises (previously a Dangerous Goods Licence)
- an Approved Handler Test Certificate for employees handling certain highly hazardous chemicals
- a stationary container Test Certificate
Location Test Certificates
You will need a Location Test Certificate if:
- you are using and/or storing flammable substances above certain quantities
- as a general rule, if you hold a Dangerous Goods Licence for your premises you will probably need a Location Test Certificate. There are exceptions eg for diesel
Approved Handler Test Certificates
When substances of certain hazards are held or used above certain quantities, they must be under the control of an Approved Handler to ensure that they are handled safely and do not harm people, nor damage the environment. For timber treatment chemicals, this requirement is usually triggered by products that have a high toxicity to humans, ie 6.1A, 6.1B or 6.1C substances.
The tables below show which timber treatment chemicals require an Approved Handler Test Certificate.
Note that not all employees handling these hazardous substances will have to be an Approved Handler. Such substances may be handled by other employees as long as they are working under the guidance of an Approved Handler, and the Approved Handler is present at the location and is available to provide assistance.
Stationary Container Test Certificates
Stationary container controls apply to both above and below ground stationary tanks or process vessels with a capacity greater than 250 litres which are used to contain liquids or gasses classified as hazardous under HSNO. In some situations, stationary containers may require test certification. For example:
- all underground storage tanks over 250 litres require test certification
- all aboveground tanks larger than 5,000 litres require test certification
- gas cylinders over 500 litres water capacity (eg LPG over 250 kg cylinder) require test certification
- all tanks in areas of Regular Habitation require test certification
How to get Test Certificates
You must obtain your Test Certificates from a Test Certifier. To find your nearest Test Certifier, check the register or call ERMA New Zealand on 0800 376 234 (HS Compliance Line) for a list of Test Certifiers to be posted to you.
Tracked chemicals
Highly hazardous substances are required to be tracked, irrespective of their quantity present. For timber treatment chemicals, this requirement is triggered by products that have a high toxicity to humans, ie class 6.1A, 6.1B or 6.1C substances.
You are also required to have an Approved Handler Test Certificate in order to use such substances. Prior to purchasing a tracked substance, your supplier will need to confirm you are an Approved Handler, or have an Approved Handler available.
The tables below show which timber treatment chemicals require tracking.
When do I need to have all my certificates?
If you are handling any timber treatment chemicals that trigger Approved Handler requirements, the Approved Handler Test Certificates were required to be in place by 1January 2005. ERMA New Zealand is not giving any extension to this date.
If you need to have a Location Test Certificate, and your site holds greater than 50,000 litres of class 3.1A, 3.1B and 3.1C flammable substances, you must have that Test Certificate by 31 March 2005. If your site holds less than 50,000 litres of class 3.1A, 3.1B and 3.1C substances, an application to a Test Certifier must be made between December 2004 and June 2006, depending on the name of the licence holder, as detailed in Schedule 4, clause 6 of the NZ Gazette Hazardous Substances (Timber Preservatives, Antisapstains and Antifouling Paints) Transfer Notice 2004.
If you require a test certificate for an existing stationary tank, you must engage a relevant Test Certifier to make an assessment of the system by 31 March 2006. If not compliant, the Test Certifier must submit a compliance plan to ERMA New Zealand, on your behalf, by 31 March 2007.
What must I do now?
Not all the chemicals you use, distribute, or store may be listed in this leaflet, but please be aware that all hazardous chemicals are controlled by the HSNO Act.
You should:
- check your chemicals against the lists in this document
- identify and obtain all Test Certificates that are required
- contact a Test Certifier if you have any queries about what is required for a particular chemical
Further information
You can contact a hazardous substance enforcement officer, normally Department of Labour Workplace Group (Occupational Safety and Health Service), in your district.
In addition, there are also regional consultants for hazardous substances who can offer independent advice. Refer to:
- List of Hazardous Substances Advisers
- Register of Test Certifiers
- A hardcopy of any publication listed can be obtained by calling our toll free Hazardous Substance Compliance Line 0800 376 234.
Tables
The information below is provided in two formats. The first table lists products alphabetically, while the second lists chemical in groups according to the different requirements. Explanatory footnotes are at the end of the document. The tables provide information on all timber treatment chemicals transferred to HSNO on 1 July 2004. They do not include any new product that has been given a Part V approval by ERMA New Zealand.
You may recognise some of the products in this table. However there will be others that are not listed here, eg those that have been approved subsequent to publishing this document. Go to a Test Certifier to find out what the requirements are for these products. There may be other substances you use that are mixtures and will be transferred to the HSNO regime at a later date. For these substances you must continue to follow the rules that are in place at present.
1. Chemicals - Alphabetical
| Trade Name Product | Location Certificate | Approved Handler | Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACQ For Timber Treatment | No | No | No |
| Antiblu 150 | No | No | No |
| Antiblu 375 | No | No | No |
| Antiblu CC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Antiblu Select | No | No | No |
| Antimould Booster | No | Yes | Yes |
| Antisapstain 550 CC | No | Yes | Yes |
| AP 5 | No | No | No |
| Ayrton C Oxide | No | Yes | Yes |
| Blue Control OC | No | No | No |
| Blue Control OCA | No | No | No |
| Blue Control TCPN | No | Yes | Yes |
| Boracol 100RH | No | No | No |
| Boracol 200RH | No | No | No |
| Boracol 400RH | No | No | No |
| Britewood S | No | No | No |
| Busan 30L | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Busan 30WB | No | Yes | Yes |
| CCA Oxide | No | Yes | Yes |
| Chlorocarb | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cleanwood | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cutrol 375 | No | No | No |
| Dazzol | No | No | No |
| Diffusol | No | No | No |
| Evotek 230 SE | No | No | No |
| F-Bor | No | No | No |
| Hylite 109 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hylite Antimould | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hylite Clear | No | No | No |
| Hylite Excell | No | No | No |
| Hylite Export | No | No | No |
| Hylite Extra | No | No | No |
| Hylite Sprint | No | No | No |
| Immutan P | No | No | No |
| Impel Rods | No | No | No |
| Impretect C | No | Yes | Yes |
| Impretect Oxide | No | Yes | Yes |
| L-Bor | No | No | No |
| Lustral | No | No | No |
| Mokubo AAC | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Neosintol W-2000 | No | No | No |
| Nexgen | No | Yes | Yes |
| NP-1 (Koopers Arch) | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| NP-1 (KopCoat) | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| NP-1 Plus | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Opptimise LS | No | No | No |
| Organotect | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Organotect H1 | Yes* | No | No |
| Permacure Oxide Liquor | No | Yes | Yes |
| Permatek H1 | No | No | No |
| Polesaver Rods | No | Yes | Yes |
| PQ-8 | Yes* | No | No |
| Prosan 17 | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Protim 95WR | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Protim 235 WR | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Protim LCWR | Yes* | No | No |
| Q-Bor | No | No | No |
| Quintrol 40 | No | No | No |
| Rentokil CCA 60% | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ruply Industrial Plywood Protectant | No | No | No |
| Sabre | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sarmix 3 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sarmix Oxcel C | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sentry | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tanalith Antimould | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tanalith AWPA C 60% | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tanalith C 60% | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tanalith C Oxide 60% | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tanalith E | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tanalith NCA 50% | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek 5F | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek CC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek DC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek GC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek GP | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek IG | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek IP | No | No | No |
| Taratek LVL | No | Yes | Yes |
| Taratek PC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Timber Antisapstain Guard | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Tim-Bor | No | No | No |
| TimTech C Oxide | No | Yes | Yes |
| TimTech C Salt | No | Yes | Yes |
| TimTech N | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| TimTech P | Yes* | No | No |
| Tolcide | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tuff Brite C | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vacsol Antimould | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vacsol Clear | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Vacsol N | Yes* | Yes | Yes |
| Vacsol P | Yes* | No | No |
| Vacsol T | Yes* | No | No |
| Woodtreat 10 | No | No | No |
| Wolsin FL 30 | No | No | No |
| Wolsin FL 35 | No | No | No |
| Woodserve Preservation Gel | No | Yes | Yes |
2. Chemicals - by group
- Timber treatment chemicals that do not require Location Test
Certificates, Approved Handler or Tracking:
- ACQ For Timber Treatment
- Antiblu 150
- Antiblu 375
- Antiblu Select
- AP 5
- Blue Control OC
- Blue Control OCA
- Boracol 100RH
- Boracol 200RH
- Boracol 400RH
- Britewood S
- Cutrol 375
- Dazzol
- Diffusol
- Evotek 230 SE
- F-Bor
- Hylite Clear
- Hylite Excell
- Hylite Export
- Hylite Extra
- Hylite Sprint
- Immutan P
- Impel Rods
- L-Bor
- Lustral
- Neosintol W-2000
- Opptimise LS
- Permatek H1
- Q-Bor
- Quintrol 40
- Ruply Industrial Plywood Protectant
- Taratek IP
- Tim-Bor
- Wolsin FL 30
- Wolsin FL 35
- Woodtreat 10
- Timber treatment chemicals that require Approved Handlers and
Tracking but do not require a Location Test Certificate (ie
products that are highly toxic but not flammable):
- Antiblu CC
- Antimould Booster
- Antisapstain 550 CC
- Ayrton C Oxide
- Blue Control TCPN
- Busan 30WB
- CCA Oxide
- Chlorocarb
- Cleanwood
- Hylite 109
- Hylite Antimould
- Impretect C
- Impretect Oxide
- Nexgen
- Permacure Oxide Liquor
- Polesaver Rods
- Rentokil CCA 60%
- Sabre
- Sarmix 3
- Sarmix Oxcel C
- Sentry
- Tanalith Antimould
- Tanalith AWPA C 60%
- Tanalith C 60%
- Tanalith C Oxide 60%
- Tanalith E
- Tanalith NCA 50%
- Taratek 5F
- Taratek CC
- Taratek DC
- Taratek GC
- Taratek GP
- Taratek IG
- Taratek LVL
- Taratek PC
- TimTech C Oxide
- TimTech C Salt
- Tolcide
- Tuff Brite C
- Vacsol Antimould
- Woodserve Preservation Gel
- Timber treatment chemicals that require a Location Test
Certificate* but do not require Approved Handler or Tracking (ie
products that are flammable, but not highly toxic):
- Organotect H1
- PQ-8
- Protim LCWR
- TimTech P
- Vacsol P
- Vacsol T
- Timber treatment chemicals that require a Location Test
Certificate*, Approved Handler and Tracking requirements (ie
products that are flammable AND highly toxic)
- Busan 30L
- Mokubo AAC
- NP-1 (Koopers Arch)
- NP-1 (KopCoat)
- NP-1 Plus
- Organotect
- Prosan 17
- Protim 235 WR
- Protim 95WR
- Timber Antisapstain Guard
- TimTech N
- Vacsol Clear
- Vacsol N
* For Class 3.1C substances a Location Test Certificate is not required if you are using or storing less than 500L in closed containers greater than 5L in size, or 1500L in closed containers up to and including 5L in size, or 250L in open containers.