A Profile of Pentachlorophenol

For decades, pentachlorophenol has been the preservative of choice for North America's utility pole users.

Clean, easily climbed Penta poles have lasted up to 40 years under environmental conditions that destroy untreated poles in as little as five years. Penta poles have been shown to outperform non-wood poles in handling and cost-effectiveness, and Penta's safety and environmental acceptability have been conclusively documented.

The wood preserving qualities of Penta have been proven in over 40 years of commercial use. Penta's popularity is due to a number of factors including its ability to provide an effective, long-term treatment against the organisms that attack and destroy wood. This makes Penta poles a proven commodity.

Other factors in the popularity of Penta-treated poles include their reputation for clean, bleed-free surfaces that are easy to climb. Penta-treated poles are not brittle. They won't corrode pole hardware. And they won't char or smoulder in grass or brush fires.

Penta and Environmental Responsibility

Penta's lengthy in-use period has also answered many questions about the environmental concerns associated with wood poles. Without a doubt, Penta is a pesticide that must be handled and disposed of according to strict guidelines. Nevertheless, Penta is not classified as a human carcinogen.

Like the other major wood preservatives, Penta has come under strict regulatory scrutiny by booth U.S. and Canadian regulatory bodies. Like the others, Penta must be manufactured, used and disposed of according to comprehensive regulations designed to protect human health and the environment.

These regulations do not categorize Penta-treated products as hazardous materials. Discarded Penta poles are not classified as hazardous waste.

Penta Is a Cost-Effective Choice

Long-lasting Penta-treated poles remain a highly cost-effective alternative. Penta poles offer great cost benefits over such options as concrete or steel. These non-wood poles cost two to four times more than poles treated with penta. In addition, penta poles offer these cost advantages for a wide range of residential, industrial, transmission and distribution applications. Finally, potential problems facing non- wood poles such as corrosion, conductivity and poor climbability are simply not issues of concern with penta poles.

Penta Makes Conservation Sense

Wood products are plentiful in North America, not just because we have land, but because we have extensive forest management programs. Penta serves the long-term goals of North American forestry by allowing industry to realize the maximum potential of every harvested tree.

By prolonging the functional life of timber typically grown and used as utility poles, penta helps ensure the highest levels of forest conservation and productivity. Penta treatment helps North America make the best of it is valuable timber resources.

Benefits of Penta

• proven over 40 years
• clean, bleed-free surfaces
• easily climbable
• won't corrode hardware
• not brittle
• cost-effective