Tip & How-To about Building Materials

Using Treated Lumber for Building

Treated wood is wood that has been impregnated with chemicals. The reason this is done is to protect the wood from biological deterioration, but it's also a safety issue as wood that is treated delays the combustion that is due to fire.

The chemicals used for treating wood are broadly divided up into four categories;
1. Waterborne preservatives
2. Oilborne preservatives
3. Creosote
4. Fire retardents

Wood treated with waterborne preservatives is usually used more in residential and commercial contexts. Oil-borne is used mostly for utility poles and creosote for railroads and marine structures.

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what was a gas mask?

The gas mask is a mask used to protect the user from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gasses. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft tissues of the face. Some gas masks are also respirators, though the word gas mask is often used to refer to military equipment (e.g. field protective mask). The user of the gas mask is not protected from gas that the skin can absorb. Most gas mask filters will last around 24 hours in a nuclear biological chemical (NBC) situation.
Airborne toxic materials may be gaseous (for example sulfur mustard and chlorine gas used in World War I) or particulates (such as many biological agents developed for weapons such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins). Many gas masks include protection from both types. Gas masks are used in construction to protect against welding fumes, in deconstruction to protect against asbestos or other hazardous particles, and in the chemical industry when handling hazardous materials, as in making repairs to leaking equipment or cleaning up after spills; workers have usually issued gas masks as a precaution against leaks.
During demonstrations and protests where tear gas or CS-gas is employed by riot police, gas masks are commonly used by police and demonstrators alike. Aside from serving their functional purposes, gas masks are also used as emblems in industrial music, with the most notable example, the subgenre of drum and bass called Neurofunk. These emblems are used by graffiti taggers because the mask protects them from the paint canister's toxic fumes, and by urban explorers venturing into environments where hazardous materials, such as asbestos, may be present.
Jun 09, 2014 • Work Safety
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What is the danger of building a dog house made of pressure-treated wood?

The disadvantage of pressure-treated wood is that it contains dangerous chemicals, which are harmful to your dog.
Sep 10, 2012 • Dogs
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What are the advantages of impregnated mosquito nets?

Impregnated mosquito nets have a number of advantages over traditional mosquito nets:
  1. Longer lasting protection: Impregnated mosquito nets are treated with a long-lasting insecticide that can provide protection for up to three years, compared to traditional mosquito nets that need to be treated every six months.
  2. Increased effectiveness: Impregnated nets are more effective at killing or repelling mosquitoes, as the insecticide is applied to the net itself, making it harder for mosquitoes to land on the net.
  3. Convenience: Impregnated nets do not require additional treatments, making them more convenient to use.
  4. Cost-effective: Impregnated nets may be more expensive upfront, but over time, they are more cost-effective as they do not need to be treated as frequently.
  5. Reduced exposure to insecticides: Impregnated nets can reduce exposure to insecticides as the treatment lasts longer and therefore, less need to reapply the insecticide.
It's important to note that impregnated nets should be used as per the manufacturer's instructions, as overuse or misuse of insecticides can be harmful to human health and the environment.
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I have a 18 volt cordless drill and am having trouble drilling screws into pressure treated 2 X 4's. What are the proper adjustment settings for denser (and lighter weight) materials? Thanks, John

Tighten clutch all the way. If you are using pressure treated that is dry, pre drill the holes. Use full speed/Hi speed. Be aware if you live in the USA, the "new pressure treated" wood requires special screws. The "old" screws will be eaten by the chemicals in the "new" wood.

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