Industry Links
American Wood Protection Association
The American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) is an international, nonprofit technical organization founded in 1904 to provide a common forum for the exchange of information for all segments of the wood preservation industry. AWPA provides a link for technical exchange between industry, researchers, and users of treated wood. Its principal objective is to make wood – the only renewable natural resource used as a structural material – an even better material. Visit: American Wood Protection Association
Association of American Railroads
AAR members include the major freight railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak. Based in Washington, DC, the AAR is committed to keeping the railroads of North America safe, fast, efficient, clean, and technologically advanced. Visit: Association of American Railroads
Railway Tie Association
The purpose of the Association is to promote the economical and environmentally sound use of wood crossties. The Association is involved in research into crosstie design, and ongoing activities dealing with sound forest management, conservation of timber resources, timber processing, wood preservation and safety of industry workers. Visit: Railway Tie Association
Western Wood Preservers Institute
Western Wood Preservers Institute’s mission to protect and promote the manufacture and markets for preservative treated wood products produced by the industry in western North America. Headquartered in Vancouver Washington, the Western Wood Preservers Institute is an organization that has represented the interest of the pressure treating wood products industry throughout western North America for more than 50 years. Visit: Western Wood Preservers Institute
Wood Preservation Canada
Wood Preservation Canada is a non-profit industry association comprising members from across Canada. Operating under a Federal Charter, WPC serves as a forum for those involved with the wood preservation industry, from research to production, marketing and protection of the environment. WPC members cooperate with government departments and other agencies in preparing standards for the industry, and in developing guidelines for the design and operation of wood preservation facilities. It works with Canadian university testing laboratories, faculties and independent research organizations concerned with the development of treated wood. Visit: Wood Preservation Canada
A Brief History of Creosote and Treating Processes
- 1716 – “Oyle or Spirit of Tarr,” to Protect Ships’ Wood Planking
- 1838 – Full-Cell Process John Bethell
- 1865 – 1st Treating Plant in Somerset, MA; Using Bethell Process
- 1881 – Boulton Conditioning Process
- 1902 – Lowery Empty-Cell Treating Process
- 1906 – Rueping Treating Process
- 1929 – 203 creosote treating plants processed 360 million cubic feet of wood, which included 60 million crossties
- 1945 – short supply of the preservative occurred during World War II
- 1976 – U.S. EPA took over Registration Process from USDA