Government regulations do not permit use of CCA treated wood in areas where there may be a reasonably significant level of direct human physical contact. However, there are a number of alternative treatments that you can use. Accordingly, Good Wood encourages sensible choices about matching the most appropriate treated wood to the project at hand. For example, a non-CCA treated wood may serve well in a situation where you require arsenic-free treated wood.
Using a treated wood may not be necessary at all. Timber preservation is intended to protect wood products from biological hazards such as decay (wood rot) and termites. Protection is recommended where timber and wood products are required to last or provide service for a long time in situations or environments where exposure to these biological elements is expected. If the use or application is for a short time only, or there will be little or no risk of decay or termite attack, then untreated wood may suffice.
