Phil Twyford’s remarks about the dangers to health presented by the requirement to use H1.2 treated timber as announced by Maurice Williamson on 14 March are way off beam says Kevin Hing of the New Zealand Timber Preservation Council.

His comments will cause unnecessary stress to consumers and homeowners.

Mr Twyford has questioned whether the government has thought about the danger to health caused by requiring timber used as framing in house construction to be H1.2 treated. He cites the EU classification of boron as a Substance of Very High Concern.

The EU classifications for boric compounds are based on exposures of animals to boron at levels that exceed any likely human exposure in treated timber by several orders of magnitude. As well, the exposure routes used including ingestion, are not routes that would be associated with normal human use of boric treated timber. The data by which the EU arrived at its classifications are based on concentrations that would never be experienced in the handling of boric treated timber here.

Boron based timber preservatives have been successfully used in New Zealand since the 1950s as a protection against attack by borers and because of its fungicidal properties. The treatment requirement for timber framing is nothing new to house construction in this country. Furthermore, to the best our knowledge, there have been no documented cases of any health issues associated with the use of boric treated timber in New Zealand.

There would have been millions of cubic metres of boric treated timber used in New Zealand over the years without any ill effects says Hing.

The use of timber and wood products that have been preservative treated with boron and other preservatives greatly enhances the durability of Radiata Pine thus ensuring that New Zealand homes can meet the requirements of the Building Code.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Mosque Attack: No Mention Of Right-Wing Threat In 10 Years Of GCSB/SIS Docs

Two Minute Silence Friday: Auckland Mosques Opening Their Doors To All
Mosques in the four corners of Auckland will open their doors on Friday night for people of all faiths to gather in remembrance of the 50 lives lost in the Christchurch shootings. More>>

• Victim Support - Victim Support making payments to Christchurch victims
• Maori Council - Maori to gather for a national Haka on Friday
• Love Aotearoa Hate Racism - Thousands expected at Sunday rally
• Amnesty International - Thousands share messages of hope for our Muslim whānau

Parliament's Condolences: PM's Statement On Christchurch Mosques Terror Attack
Al salam Alaikum. Peace be upon you. And peace be upon all of us.
Mr Speaker the 15th of March will now forever be a day etched in our collective memories... More>>

• National - Opposition Leader’s Address to Parliament on Christchurch
• NZ First - Winston Peters Speech to Commemorate the Christchurch Mosque

Gordon Campbell: On Why The Government Shouldn't Run The Christchurch Massacre Inquiry
At Cabinet yesterday, the promised changes to our gun laws cleared their first hurdle. According to PM Jacinda Ardern, Cabinet agreed collectively “in principle” on a set of proposals to change New Zealand’s gun laws... Yesterday, Ardern also announced an inquiry into the background to the mosque attacks and into the role played by the SIS, GCSB, Police, Customs, and Immigration. More>>

• RNZ - Live updates: Christchurch mosque terror attacks day 6 - Social media feels heat on hate after crisis in Christchurch
• NZ Police - Name Release 1 - Man to reappear on charges of distributing material - Police working relentlessly to complete formal IDs - Terror attack – 250 officers and staff dedicated to enquiry
• Gordon Campbell - Gordon Campbell on effective changes to gun laws and the SIS - Gordon Campbell on Brexit and Christchurch tragedy porn