Many developing countries are located in sub-tropical or tropical regions where rapid wood deterioration results in early failure of many structures. Whilst preservative treatment would help to reduce these losses and extend the forest resource commercial vacuum pressure treatment systems are often too expensive. The use of lower technology treatment systems, while not as quick as vacuum pressure processes, could help reduce economic losses. The hot and cold bath treatment method has long been known and provides an inexpensive, low technology process for locally sourced timber. The potential for using the hot/cold bath process was explored using alkaline copper quaternary compound (ACQ) on end-sealed slash pine (Pinus elliottii) sapwood samples. Samples heated for 1 or 2 hours at 95°C in water, and then immersed in room temperature ACQ were fully penetrated indicating the value of this process in permeable sapwood. The technique shows promise for full scale treatment, but further pilot scale research is needed

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