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Wood Preservatives

Chemical wood preservatives serve to protect wood against damage from insects, fungi and other harmful organisms. Wood preservatives should be
a) effective
b) safe when used properly
c) used correctly.

Up to now there is no statutory authorisation procedure for wood preservatives. As a consequence of inquiries about health risks from wood preservatives, BfR (until 2002-10-31 BgVV), however, has repeatedly adopted a stance on the health risk related to the use of wood preservatives.

Today, there are three methods for evaluating wood preservatives:

1. The procedure for agents with a general building inspection authorisation pursuant to the provisions of the Deutschen Instituts für Bautechnik. (German Institute for Constructional Engineering). These wood preservatives are stipulated for bearing and bracing building components.
2. The voluntary inspection procedure of the Gütegemeinschaft Holzschutzmittel e.V. (quality circle wood preservatives) (RAL quality mark for wood preservatives)
3. The voluntary registration procedure for blue-stain preservatives as part of a coating system with the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA registration procedure).

Every active substance and every product, to be used in the area of chemical wood preservation, is tested within the framework of building inspection authorisation. This testing includes a health assessment by BfR.

Wood preservatives which carry the quality stamp "RAL Wood Preservative" have been tested by BfR (until 2002-10-31 BgVV) in order that a health risk can be ruled out with sufficient probability.

The UBA registration procedure for blue-stain preservatives is a simplified assessment procedure because the biocide-containing, blue-stain priming colour has several coating layers and, therefore, a health risk from exposure can be ruled out with a sufficient degree of probability. BfR is responsible for the health assessment of blue-stain preservatives in the registration procedure.

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