BS EN 599-1:2009+A1:2013

What is BS EN 599-1 - Efficacy of preventive wood preservatives about?  

BS EN 599-1 is one of a series and should be used in conjunction with  EN 599-2,  EN 335-1, and  EN 335-2, which describe the service conditions for treated wood in terms of use classes. 

BS EN 599-1 is the first part of the multi-series standard that specifies for each of the five use classes defined in BS EN 335-1 the biological tests required for evaluating the efficacy of wood preservatives for the preventive treatment of solid timber, together with the minimum ageing tests required for the respective use class. It provides a method for calculating the critical value of a preservative. The critical value is the value that shall be used to calculate the recommended retention of the preservative appropriate for specific service conditions. The critical value is not necessarily the recommended retention or the minimum retention level for the preservative. The wide range of hazards, exposure conditions, and service life requirements across Europe make it necessary to allow for local considerations in the calculation of the required preservative retention. 

BS EN 599-1 is applicable to all wood preservative products supplied for application in liquid form for the preventive treatment of timbers (structural and non-structural) against wood-attacking fungi, wood attacking insects, and marine borers as described in EN 335-1. However, BS EN 599-1 is applicable to products for preventive treatments against fungi causing disfigurement (blue stain) of wood in service if this forms part of the overall preventive efficacy of the product. 

BS EN 599-1 does not necessarily take into account all the factors which may affect the stability of active ingredients in preservative-treated wood. These factors include ultra-violet light and microbiological agencies capable of degrading components of the preservative. Such factors are an integral part of exposure in field trials but are subject to natural variation and their impact is not directly assessed in the field trial methods included in this standard. 

BS EN 599-1 is not applicable to wood preservative products supplied for application as pastes, solids or in capsule or gaseous form because these cannot be tested without modification of the biological tests cited in this standard. It does not apply either to wood preservative products for remedial (curative) treatments, to those applied to prevent fungi causing sap stain on green (unseasoned) timber, or to those applied solely to prevent fungi causing disfigurement (blue stain) of wood in service. 

Note1: The nature of the laboratory and field tests required in BS EN 599-1 part of EN 599 to demonstrate the efficacy of a wood preservative are such that the time required to generate the data is many months or years, depending upon the properties of the wood preservative and the use class in which the treated wood is to be exposed. 

Note2: For re-testing after making variations in product formulation, guidance is given in Annex A. 

Who is BS EN 599-1 - Efficacy of preventive wood preservatives for? 

BS EN 599-1 on the durability of wood and wood-based products - Efficacy of preventive wood preservatives is relevant to: 

• Wooden furniture manufacturers    
• Manufacturers using wood as raw materials    
• Wooden products suppliers   
• Testing laboratories    
• Quality control personnel  

Why should you use BS EN 599-1 - Efficacy of preventive wood preservatives?  

The efficacy of preventive wood preservatives as determined by biological tests provides protection to wood against fungi and insects that may damage and eventually destroy it. The primary purpose of BS EN 599-1 is to increase its service life, thereby avoiding the need for frequent replacements adding to deforestation. 

BS EN 599-1 is used in conjunction with EN 599-2, with EN 335, which describes the use classes of treated wood, and with EN 351-1, which describes a classification system for preservative-treated wood in terms of preservative penetration and gives guidance on retention requirements. The need for wood preservatives depends in part on the natural durability of the wood and therefore this part of EN 599 should be used also in conjunction with EN 350 and EN 460. 

BS EN 599-1 will help you how to report efficacy information on a label relating to wood preservative efficacy. 

As a user of BS EN 599-1, you can be ensured of the biological tests required for evaluating the efficacy of wood preservatives. With obedience and compliance to BS EN 599-1, you can efficiently manufacture high-quality wood-based products. BS EN 599-1 helps you to build consumer trust and confidence in the product. With BS EN 599-1 you can be ensured that the products consistently meet and exceed quality assurance targets. BS EN 599-1 exemplifies the required dimensions and loads that help you achieve precision in terms of product functionality. 

What is changed since the last update?  

BS EN 599-1:2009+A1:2013 supersedes BS EN 599-1:2009 which is withdrawn. 

Significant technical differences between this edition and the previous version.  These include: 

• The scope now emphasizes that this standard is not a performance standard but a standard for characterizing the efficacy of wood preservatives, based on data derived from the biological tests that it specifies, supplemented by, in certain cases, data from field tests. This European Standard provides a basis for establishing preservative retentions for timber when specified in conjunction with EN 351-1 considering necessary local considerations. It points out that at present not all-natural ageing factors which may affect the stability of active ingredients for wood preservatives can be assessed by standardized methods but have nevertheless to be considered in the development of preservative products capable of being effective in service. It also allows for preservatives that have been used successfully and legally before the standard was to have their efficacy confirmed in accordance with the general principles of the standard (so-called “grandfather clause”) 
• This document now provides for the use of data from CEN/TS 839, in specific cases, as a method for the assessment of preservatives designed for superficial applications 
• In Annex A “Guidance on re-testing after making variations in product formulation,” requirements have been clarified by the provision of diagrams 
• Production control has been withdrawn from Clause 9 and transferred to a new informative annex (now Annex B) 
• A new normative annex on the validity of test results from former standards after their revision has been added