SillBor® Borate-Treated Wood

SillBor® wood has been pressure-impregnated with a borate (SBX) preservative which makes the wood resistant to attack by insects and fungal decay. It is suitable for interior and weather-shielded applications.

The advantages of borate-treated wood:

Provides economy and workability of ordinary wood.
Adds years of life to typical wood structures.
Low environmental impact.
Meets American Wood-Preservers' Association (AWPA) standards.
Preservative penetrates more completely into desirable species.
Handles like ordinary untreated wood.
Can be drilled, sawn, glued and finished.
Treatment does not adversely affect strength properties.
Has colorant for identification purposes.
Resists damage from carpenter ants and carpenter beetles, and may provide control of cockroaches living in the immediate vicinity.

SillBor® wood protects against...

Termites... Experts on this subject all agree, "In the South, you either had, have or will have termites." The southern United States is an ideal habitat for subterranean termites. Now there is the added threat of the Formosan termite. This voracious species poses an even greater problem because of its huge colonies and destructive appetite. Many homeowners have found that, against some termites, standard soil treatment alone is an inadequate defense.

Rot & Decay... The fungi that cause wood rot exist throughout the United States. SillBor® wood provides a shield with warranted protection for the home’s sill plate and other interior uses.

Cockroaches and other pests... A laboratory study reported in the Forest Products Journal found only one of 60 cockroaches alive after 28 weeks exposure to borate-treated wood. See article. Meantime, in control enclosures with untreated wood, the cockroach population increased from 60 to 201. The particular species of cockroach tested is considered an indicative organism for other non-wood-destroying pests. The authors conclude,“The results suggested that borate pressure-treated lumber may provide control of cockroaches in the immediate vicinity.”

How it works

The borate-based preservative is forced into wood under pressure, but also diffuses naturally into areas of the wood unreached by the treatment procedure. This double process - pressure and diffusion - enables the preservative to penetrate more completely into desirable species, such as Douglas fir, which are difficult to protect by pressure alone.

When to specify borate-treated wood

Specify SillBor® borate-treated wood for areas that are not subject to direct contact with water. It is an ideal building material where borate leaching is unlikely except during the initial period of construction.

Typical, proven applications

Sill plates
Trusses
Wall plates
Ceiling joists
Floor beams
Framing

Note: Exterior applications
This wood must be protected from rain in order to retain its preservative qualities. This can be accomplished by application of a good primer and two coats of exterior grade paint. SillBor® wood will remain effective in exposed applications only when the wood is kept well painted. If for any reason the wood becomes wetted under the paint film, adhesion may be impaired.

Species and products

Per AWPA standards, borates can be used as a pressure treatment to preserve the following species.

Lumber (without incising): southern pine, hem-fir, jack pine, spruce/pine/fir, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, red pine, and eastern white pine
Lumber (with incising): coastal Douglas fir and western SPF
Plywood: southern pine and Douglas fir

Borates can also be included in the resin binder in the manufacture of OSB products, such as wall sheathing, roof sheathing, radiant barrier panels, and floor sheathing.

Industry acceptance

Sodium octaborate is listed in AWPA preservative standard P5 and is referred to as SBX. SillBor® wood meets the requirements of AWPA standards C9, C31, and U1. It is suitable for Use Category 2.

Retention Levels

SillBor® wood can be used only above ground, but there are two retention levels. Each level can be measured on the basis of boric oxide or disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT).

0.17 pcf (B₂O₃)/0.25 pcf (DOT)
0.28 pcf (B₂O₃)/0.42 pcf (DOT)

The lower retention is not effective against the Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus), but the higher level is.

RETENTION REQUIREMENTS OF THE AMERICAN WOOD-PRESERVERS' ASSOCIATION
B₂0₃ (pcf)	DOT equivalent	Re-dried after treatment	Brand	Application
0.17	0.25	optional	SillBor®	Not for use where Formosan termites are present
0.28	0.42	optional	SillBor®	Warranted against Formosan termites
0.28	0.42	optional	SillBor® Ali'i™	Specifically for use in Hawaii

Code compliance

Borate-treated wood is referenced in the following 2003 model codes.

International Building Code:section 2308.1.8, preservative treated wood
International Residential Code:section R319.1, protection against decay
International Residential Code:section R320, protection against termites

Design values

Borate treatment has no significant effect on the strength of lumber or plywood.

Color

By itself, the borate treatment is clear, leaving wood with a natural appearance. In order to distinguish SillBor® wood from untreated wood, a blue dye is added to the treating solution, giving a blue tone to the material.

Storage and exposure

SillBor® treated wood is intended for weather-shielded, above ground use. To prevent contact with water at a jobsite, it is best to store borate-treated wood off the ground and covered.

Exposure during construction
Although it is advisable to avoid exposure to water, it is often impractical to provide total protection during construction. Normal exposure to the elements does not affect the long-term performance of SillBor® treated lumber. If a partially built structure is left uncovered for an extended period of time, steps should be taken to shield the wood from precipitation.

Construction practices

SillBor® wood handles very much like ordinary wood. It can be drilled, sawn, glued, and finished with standard wood-working tools, just like untreated wood. No end cut treatment is necessary for sawn cross-sections or bored holes.

Hardware

Wood such as SillBor®, treated with the DOT type of borate, has been found to be no more corrosive than traditional CCA-treated wood. Code-compliant hardware is adequate. While galvanized fasteners and connectors are preferable, the use of non-galvanized hardware of sizes and types approved by the model code is acceptable when attaching joists, studs, or other framing to SillBor® wood, provided the wood will remain dry in service, protected from weather and water. Under similar conditions, the use of standard galvanized strapping or mild steel anchor bolts ½" in diameter and larger is also acceptable for fastening SillBor® wood to foundations.

Warranty

SillBor® treated wood is backed by a lifetime limited warranty against damage from termites and fungal decay. See the complete warranty document for details. Note that the higher retention level (0.28/0.42 pcf) is warranted against the Formosan termite, but damage from this species is not covered at the lower level (0.17/0.25). The warranty may be transfered by the owner within a 10-year period. In Hawaii, a separate warranty exists for SillBor® Ali’i ™ wood.

Click here to view the SillBor MSDS Sheet
Click here to view the SillBor Warranty