Treated Engineered Timber: How a Fast-Growing Timber Resists Termites and Decay
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
One of the biggest concerns people have before choosing wood as a construction material is surprisingly simple:
"What about termites?"
It's a fair question.
In tropical climates like Indonesia, termites and fungal decay are among the primary causes of timber deterioration. Regardless of how beautiful or sustainable a wood product may be, long-term performance remains the ultimate consideration for architects, developers, and homeowners alike.
Besides the price itself, which is already higher than that of other conventional materials, most people also consider the maintenance cost.
At Woodlam Indonesia, this concern is something we take seriously. That's why every Glulam Jabon product undergoes a specialized preservation process using ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) treatment, designed to significantly improve the wood's resistance against biological threats.
But how effective is it really?
Rather than relying on assumptions, we decided to test it.
Why Jabon Needs Protection
Jabon is a fast-growing plantation species that offers many advantages:
Sustainable and renewable
Lightweight and easy to process
Stable when engineered into glulam
Excellent for large-scale timber construction
However, like many medium-density tropical timbers, untreated Jabon is naturally vulnerable to termite attack and decay organisms when exposed to severe environmental conditions.
This doesn't mean Jabon is unsuitable for construction.
It simply means the material must be engineered correctly.
Just as steel requires anti-corrosion protection and concrete requires proper reinforcement, timber also requires the right preservation technology to maximize its performance.
Putting Jabon to the Test
To evaluate the effectiveness of our treatment system, we conducted a direct field exposure test.
The currently loaded Woodlam proof material contains a separate Jabon durability test using a different treatment system, so this particular test should be linked to its own approved evidence.
Two groups of Glulam Jabon samples were prepared:
Group A
Woodlam-treated Jabon using our ACQ protection system.
Group B
Untreated Jabon without any preservative treatment.
Both sets of samples were partially buried directly into soil and left exposed to natural tropical conditions for approximately six months.
This created an intentionally extreme environment where the wood was continuously exposed to:
High moisture levels
Soil microorganisms
Termite activity
Natural fungal attack
Tropical weather fluctuations
In practice, we would never recommend installing structural glulam directly into the ground. However, this harsh setup allows us to accelerate exposure and clearly compare performance between treated and untreated material.
The Results After Six Months
The difference was significant.
Untreated Jabon
The untreated samples experienced severe degradation.
Observations included:
Extensive termite attack
Significant material loss
Visible structural deterioration
Heavy decay concentrated in the buried section
In several samples, nearly half of the embedded portion had been consumed or severely damaged.
The structural integrity of the wood was clearly compromised.
ACQ-Treated Jabon
The treated samples told a very different story.
After six months in the same conditions:
No significant material loss was observed
The wood remained structurally intact
No visible fungal growth was detected
Only minor termite traces appeared on some samples
Interestingly, a few samples showed termite tunnels or pathways on the surface.
However, the termites did not continue consuming the wood itself.
The timber remained solid, sound, and functional.
This indicates that the preservative treatment successfully protected the wood from becoming a viable food source for termites and decay organisms.
What Makes ACQ Treatment Effective?
ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) is one of the most widely used wood preservation technologies in modern timber construction.
The treatment works by impregnating preservative chemicals deep into the wood structure under controlled pressure.
The active ingredients provide long-term protection against:
Subterranean termites
Wood-boring insects
Decay fungi
Rot-causing microorganisms
Unlike surface coatings, the protection penetrates into the wood itself, allowing it to remain effective even if the surface experiences minor wear over time.
When combined with engineered glulam manufacturing, ACQ treatment significantly increases the durability and service life of Jabon.
Does This Mean Jabon Can Be Installed Directly in Soil?
Not at all.
The purpose of this test was to evaluate durability under extreme conditions, not to define best installation practices.
Even though the treated samples performed remarkably well, we still strongly recommend following proper timber design principles:
Avoid direct ground contact whenever possible
Ensure adequate drainage
Prevent standing water accumulation
Protect structural elements from continuous weather exposure
Design details that allow the wood to dry properly
Good design and proper installation remain essential components of long-term timber performance.
Treatment is a powerful layer of protection, but it works best as part of a complete timber engineering strategy.
Engineering Confidence into Timber Construction
The results of this study demonstrate an important point:
Modern timber is no longer limited by the weaknesses traditionally associated with wood.
Through preservation technology, engineered manufacturing, and proper design, fast-growing plantation species like Jabon can achieve a level of durability that many people would never expect.
For architects, developers, and homeowners, this means timber can be specified with greater confidence—without excessive concerns about termites or fungal attack.
Because the future of sustainable construction isn't just about using wood.
It's about engineering wood to perform.
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