Bespoke Windows and Doors
07/01/2022
Wooden Windows
27/01/2022
Accoya Wood, 13th January 2022
Green credentials for Accoya wood evolve around the fact that the processed timber is guaranteed anti-rot for 50 years above ground and 25 years below ground. Take into account that the original timber takes only 30 years to grow, and you have a building material that outlives it’s growing life cycle. Accoya is Class 1 durable, which means it is more enduring than even traditional tropical hardwoods, such as teak.
Add to that, the manufacturing process whose waste products are water and a concentrated version of the acid that the timber is soaked in, and you have a fully certifiable eco building product.
Despite the fact that the timber is grown in New Zealand and shipped to the Netherlands for treatment, before being redistributed to end users across the globe, the durability of the timber outweighs any carbon costs.
View more here: Is Accoya Wood a Sustainable Wood?
Accoya holds gold and platinum cradle-to-cradle certifications
Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the global standard for products that are safe, circular and responsibly made.
From Accoya:
“Ultra-high performance and sustainable wood product Accoya® has successfully retained its Gold and Platinum Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) status in recognition of the outstanding sustainability credentials across the lifespan of the product.
Cradle to Cradle® certification is awarded by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and is the leading industry standard for environmental performance and societal impact within construction and joinery.
The retained Gold C2C certification, which Accoya has held for more than a decade, highlights the company’s impressive sustainable wood sourcing strategy, non-toxic product and use of more than 50% renewable energy in production. The separate Platinum certification in the Material Health category recognises that the product poses no danger to either the environment or human health, and is the highest possible certification level.
Products are reassessed by the C2C Products Innovation Institute every two years, and Accoya wood has now been successfully recertified until August 2023.”
What is Accoya Wood?
Accoya wood is high performance wood. It originally comes from the fast growing pine tree Pinus radiata. It grows in FSC managed forests in New Zealand and is harvested at maturity , approximately 30 years of age.
These trees are then shipped to the Netherlands to the Accsys factory.
The planks of wood are subsequently treated in a process known as acetylation. Here, acetic anhydride acid (a non toxic, concentrated acid) is applied to the wood through a soaking process. The molecular structure of the timber is altered to it’s core. Hence, the performance of the timber is the same whatever way it is cut, milled or planed.
The resulting timber is ideal for window frames. The combination of Accoya with the exterior joinery paint, Teknos, that we use, results in windows that won’t need to be re-painted for at least 10 years.
How is Accoya made?
Accoya is made using a scientifically proven process of acetylation.
The process changes the cell walls of the wood, effectively blocking them from absorbing moisture by up to 80%. Less moisture means increased stability and hence, less maintenance. Furthermore, insects and fungi no longer recognise Accoya as a timber food source, so there is no longer any attacks.
Accoya Specification
Accoya is particularly suitable for windows and doors. It is often specified for use here at Timeless Sash Windows.
For further details – Accoya Specification Guide
Accoya Suppliers – Timeless Sash Windows
Cradle to Cradle Certification
As a timber joinery with strong environmental ties, we pay particular attention to the raw materials that we use.
Click below to Read more –
Accoya and Tricoya Timeless Sash Windows blog
