Member companies are wood pressure treaters, preservative manufacturers, and supporting companies working to conserve forest resources, preserve the environment, and extend the life of wood products through the manufacture of pressure-treated wood. The AWPI encourages, develops and promotes the production and acceptance of the wood preserving industry's products. The AWPI also promotes environmental stewardship and compliance with state and Federal regulations by all members of the wood preserving industry. The AWPI provides a wide range of technical, educational, and reference materials for use by members, distributors, and users of pressure treated wood. Modern pressure treatment is accomplished by placing wood into a tightly-sealed cylinder and forcing preservatives into the wood cells.
Many wood species can be pressure treated for durability.
The treatment process does not alter the wood's characteristics. Pressure-treated wood will not shrink, swell, check, split, or warp to any greater degree than the same species left untreated.