The bodyguard system
Protection
Bodyguard is a natural wood product, manufactured from New Zealand radiata pine grown in well-managed forest-farms.
It’s treated with a carbon-based biocide system that contains no corrosive heavy metals, so there’s no corrosion to any fastening systems used with Bodyguard.
The ingredients are also insoluble in water; and any potential for leaching is further prevented by the paint coating system.
There are three active ingredients used in the treatment process, these are referred to as Light Organic Solvent-borne Preservatives, or LOSP’s. They are Tebuconazole, Propiconazole and Permethrin. More on these active ingredients.
These have been commercially used in the United Kingdom for many years. Radiata pine subjected to this treatment process has a successful 30-year history of durable use in New Zealand and Australia and continues to be the treatment of choice for products and profiles similar to Bodyguard.
In addition, New Zealand radiata pine treated with these preservatives has been tested under extreme conditions by the New Zealand Forest Research Institute and provides excellent resistance to decay and insect attack.
The preservative formulation also includes water repellent components (paraffin wax, hydrocarbon resin) dissolved in a low boiling point hydrocarbon solvent.
Bodyguard’s active ingredients
Tebuconazole and Propiconazole are Environmental Protection Agency EPA-approved fungicides that control wood-destroying fungi. Tebuconazole is used on mushrooms, corn, wild rice, peanuts, oats, sorghum, and other foods. Propiconazole is used on food crops such as cereals bananas, coffee peanuts and stone fruit.
These two active ingredients belong to the class of fungicide called Triazoles. A number of anti-fungal medicines use Triazoles in their formulation.
Permethrin is a USA EPA-approved insecticide. It controls wood destroying borers, termites and carpenter bees. Permethrin can also be found in such products as fly sprays, head lice shampoos, and is used to provide insect control for stored fruits and grains.
The Bodyguard treatment process
The dry, machined, finger-jointed wood products are treated using a specialized low-pressure wood treatment facility.
The preservative fluid is introduced to the wood under low-pressure or vacuum conditions. The computer-controlled process ensures consistent and accurate penetration and absorption control of the active ingredients into the wood. The process achieves 100% sapwood penetration and a variable degree of heartwood penetration.
The control process is rigorous. Specialized quality control procedures ensure that the desired minimum retentions of active ingredients are consistently achieved, and all Bodyguard treatment facilities are stringently audited by an independent quality standard authorityto ensure strict application of the New Zealand Treatment Standard NZS 3640.
