Timber Markings Tell A Story

Every piece of preservative-treated timber carries certain markings, and these timber markings tell a story.

The stamps, marks and codes on the end of timber products are all carefully placed to tell a story of that product’s compliance with a range of standards that help manage the quality of preserved timber products. These markings are specified by South African National Standards SANS codes, specifically 1288, 457-2/3 and 753/4. Below is what each marking means:

• A unique plant identifier or trademark:
  This is a name or acronym identifying the timber treatment plant. A register of treatment plant trademarks is maintained by product certification bodies such as the SABS or SATAS.
• Product certification mark:
  This is the quality mark of the product certification body (SABS or SATAS) that certifies the timber treatment plant.
• SANS standard designation:
  This number is found below the quality mark. It indicates the SANS standard the treated timber complies with for example SANS 128, SANS 735, SANS 754 or SANS 457. ln the case of SANS 457 (hardwood poles) the additional letter refers to the class or grading, i.e. S – Structural /agricultural F – Fencing and V- Vineyard.
• A hazard class:
  There are six hazard classes (H1-H6) that identify the level of treatment applied.
• Date or year of manufacture of poles

For poles and round wood, the information is most commonly applied on 25 mm metal tags or anti-split endplates.
If you require any additional information about the markings on your timber and what story they tell, please contact the Somerset Timber team.