Genuine Dricon® FRT Wood

Safe handling precautions/MSDS

The chemicals in Dricon® FRT wood are of very low toxicity and will not harm those involved in use and handling of the product. Normal safety and hygiene practices of working with untreated wood should be followed: wear gloves to avoid splinters, use a dust mask and eye protection when using power tools, and wash your hands after working. Ingestion tests have demonstrated that extreme amounts of wood must be ingested before the chemical exposure would become significant. Tests have shown smoke from Dricon® FRT wood to be no more toxic than untreated wood. Contact your supplier or Arch Wood Protection for further information.

Tips on Use
Dricon® treatment does not substantially change the physical characteristics of ordinary lumber. Proper handling procedures should be followed when using Dricon® lumber and plywood.

  • Dricon® wood should not be installed where it will be exposed to precipitation, direct wetting, regular condensation, or come into contact with the ground.
  • When storing Dricon® wood, the material should be kept off the ground and covered to shield it from precipitation.
  • When installing Dricon® FRT lumber and plywood it is important to utilize the design value adjustments published in ESR-1626 (PDF) or on this site.
  • Dricon® plywood should be spaced and fastened as recommended in "Design and Construction Guide for Residential and Commercial Uses," published by APA-The Engineered Wood Association.
  • Normal carpentry practices are applicable. End cutting, drilling, joining, and light surface sanding will not significantly reduce the benefits of the Dricon® treatment. Ripping and milling of lumber is not recommended since they may alter the burning characteristics and invalidate the Underwriters Laboratories flame spread classification. Plywood may be cut in any direction.
  • When painting or staining, the paint or stain manufacturer's recommendations should be followed. As with untreated lumber, the surface should be clean and dry.Cutting to length, drilling holes, joining cuts, and light sanding are permissible. It is not necessary to field-treat cut ends to maintain flame spread rating.
  • Ripping and milling are not permitted except on red oak and yellow poplar lumber. Surfacing to a depth of 1/16" is permitted on western red cedar lumber. On other species, these operations may alter the surface burning characteristics and will invalidate the UL label.
  • Carbide-tipped saw blades are recommended if extensive cutting operations are to be performed. However, Dricon® FRT wood is not as abrasive as many conventional fire retardants.
  • Unlike FRT lumber, Dricon® plywood can be cut in either direction without loss of fire protection in that surface burning characteristics of plywood are unchanged.
  • Do not burn treated wood.
  • Do not use pressure-treated chips or sawdust as mulch.

When used and handled properly, in accordance with these recommendations, you will receive many years of service from your Dricon® fire retardant treated wood.

Disposal
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), it is the responsibility of the user of the product to determine, at the time of disposal, whether the product meets RCRA criteria for hazardous waste. This product is typically not considered a hazardous waste but state-run waste programs may not more stringent. Check with your local or state regulators prior to disposal.

Finishing
Stain, sealers, varnishes, and paints can be used with Dricon® FRT wood. Paint systems may be water- or oil-based. Stains, especially dark colored semi-transparent types, should be solvent-based to avoid possible surface crystallization of the fire retardant chemical. Flammability of finish should be considered prior to application. A light sanding and thorough wiping should be performed prior to the application of any finish to provide a clean surface and to smooth any raised grain. In the case of rough sawn lumber or textured plywood, brush the surface prior to staining.

Take precautions at the job site to protect the treated product from exposure to rain or extreme dampness if finishes are to be applied. As with untreated wood, excessive surface moisture can cause finishing problems. It is recommended that finishes be tested in an unobtrusive area to insure satisfaction.

Normal marking from treatment will show unless surface preparation prior to finishing is conducted. When clear or semi-transparent finishes are to be used, take careful note of the appearance characteristics of Dricon® FRT wood.

Gluing
The Dricon® treatment does not adversely affect the performance of nonstructural construction adhesives, mastics, or contact cements. No significant differences in effectiveness between Dricon® FRT wood and untreated wood have been found.

Some types of isocyanate and urethane adhesives have been found to perform well. In any type of gluing, and especially in structural applications, an evaluation should be made of the specific adhesive and materials to be glued. Be sure the Dricon® wood surface is clean and dry to obtain best performance.