A number of optional environmentally-sensitive treatments can be added to ESL®/ESB® during manufacture:
- Rot-resistant treatment: An environmentally friendly anti-fungal agent can be added during the manufacturing process so that the entire ESL®/ESB® board is protected — not just the periphery/envelope. These periphery/envelope treatments are useless once such treated timber is further machined.
- Termite treatment: ESL®/ESB® can incorporate a similar environmentally friendly termite treatment to the one above during production, thus reducing environmental and health impacts of potentially hazardous toxic treatments post-production. Such treatments are not a toxic insecticide but merely acts as a deterrent to termite attack. The basic ingredient in the treatment is a common mineral found present in human food, and when burnt does not give off any toxic substances.
- Fire retardant (currently under testing): An environmentally friendly fire retardant can be added in the same way during production. The fire retardant is non-toxic to humans and is free of heavy metals and halogens, the latter of which deplete the earth’s protective ozone layer or cause health problems with.
- Further Surface hardening treatment: This post-production optional extra using resined paper seal the surface and make the ESB® or ESL® much more resistant to scratches and wear. This optional treatment can be a smooth finish, eg. for concrete form-work or given an anti-slip surface, eg. on scaffolding planks.