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Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF)
Spruce-Pine-Fir, or SPF, is the generic name for a variety of softwood species, even-grained and yellowish-white in colour, imported from North America and used in housing construction frames.

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Turpentine | Syncarpia Glomulifera

Turpentine heartwood ranges in colour from deep red to red-brown, with an interlocked, often wavy grain and is used across a range of engineering and construction applications.

Turpentine is an exceptionally hard and durable hardwood that is the timber of choice for marine pilings.

Turpentine is an extremely hard and durable Australian native hardwood timber. It is suitable for a wide range of construction and engineering applications.

Other Names: Luster, Red Luster, Syncarpia Laurifolia

Overview
Properties
Description
Applications
Suppliers

Overview

Turpentine is a large tree species occurring along the eastern coast of Australia from Bateman's Bay in New South Wales to Cooktown in North Queensland.

The true wood of this species ranges in colour from deep red to red-brown. Sapwood is distinctively paler, often creamy. The texture of Turpentine timber is fine to medium but often wavy, with interlocked grain. It is relatively free of gum veins.

Turpentine is extremely durable in above ground applications, where its life expectancy is in excess of 40 years. In-ground life expectancy ranges from 15 to 25 years. The timber of this species is termite-resistant, and untreated sapwood is immune to Lyctid borer attack.

Turpentine is the main Australian species for marine pilings, as its high silica content makes it resistant to Teredinidae marine borers. Other engineering applications include wharf and bridge construction (as both sawn and round timber), railway sleepers, and mining timbers. Construction applications include general house framing, flooring and decking, lining and cladding. Turpentine is an excellent timber for dance floors. It is also used in the construction of plywood, laminated beams and bench tops, and for joinery and parquetry. Other applications include boatbuilding (knees, gunwales, planking, decking) and the production of oyster stakes, wine casks, mallets, and bearings.

Untreated timber of this species is equivalent to 'fire retardant treated timber' when tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3837. The bushfire rating of this species is expected to remain unchanged if assessed in accordance with proposed changes to the standard.

Properties

Shrinkage

	Very Low	Low	Medium	High	Very High
Tangential:
Tangential:					13.0
Radial:					> 5
Unit Movement:					0.35 %

Strength Group

	Very High	High	Reasonably High	Medium High	Medium	Reasonably Low	Low	Very Low
Unseasoned:	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7
Unseasoned:
Seasoned:	SD1	SD2	SD3	SD4	SD5	SD6	SD7	SD8
Seasoned:

Stress Grade

	Structural No. 1	Structural No. 2	Structural No. 3	Structural No. 4	Structural No. 5
Unseasoned:	F17	F14	F11	F8	F7
Seasoned:	F27	F22	F17	F14	F11

Density per Standard

Unseasoned:	1130 kg/m³
Seasoned:	940 kg/m³

Joint Group

	Very High	High	Reasonably High	Medium	Low	Very Low
Unseasoned:	J1	J2	J3	J4	J5	J6
Unseasoned:
Seasoned:	JD1	JD2	JD3	JD4	JD5	JD6
Seasoned:

Colour

White, yellow, pale straw to light brown	Pink to pink brown	Light to dark red	Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky

Mechanical Properties

Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned:	83
Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned:	142
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned:	14
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned:	16
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:	42
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned:	76
Impact - Unseasoned:	14
Impact - Seasoned:	9.5
Toughness - Unseasoned:	Medium - 15 - 25 Nm
Toughness - Seasoned:	Medium - 15 - 25 Nm
Hardness - Unseasoned:	6.5
Hardness - Seasoned:	12

Durability

	Low	Moderate	Reasonably High	High
	(0 - 5 yrs)	(5 - 15 yrs)	(15 - 25 yrs)	(more than 25 yrs)
In-Ground:
	(0 - 7 yrs)	(7 - 15 yrs)	(15 - 40 yrs)	(More than 40 yrs)
Above ground:
	(0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5)	(21 - 40 yrs)	(41 - 64 yrs)	(More than 60 yrs)
Marine Borer Resistance:

Lyctid Borer Susceptibility:	Not Susceptible
Termite Resistance:	Resistant

Fire Properties

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
EFH Ignitibility:

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
EFH Spread-of-Flame Index:
EFH Smoke-Developed Index:

Critical Radiance Flux - Lower:	>2.2 and <4.5 kW/m²
Critical Radiance Flux - Higher:	≥4.5 kW/m²
Smoke Development Rate:	<750

	1 - non-combustible	2 - reasonably non-combustible	3 - slightly combustible	4 - combustible
Fire Properties Group Number:

Average Specific Extinction Area:	<250
Bushfire Resistance:	BAL 12.5, 19 and 29 – All AS3959 required applications

Description

Botanical Name:	Syncarpia Glomulifera
Preferred Common Name:	Turpentine
Other Names:	Luster, Red Luster, Syncarpia Laurifolia
Species Type:	Hardwood

Appearance

The true wood of this species ranges in colour from deep red to red-brown. Turpentine sapwood is distinctively paler, often cream in colour. The texture of this timber is fine to medium but often wavy, with interlocked grain. Turpentine is free from gum veins.

Common Applications

Turpentine is the main Australian species for marine pilings, as its high silica content makes it resistant to Teredinidae marine borers. Other engineering applications include wharf and bridge construction (where turpentine is used as sawn and round timber), railway sleepers, and mining timbers. Construction uses range from general house framing, flooring and decking, to lining and cladding. Turpentine is also used in the construction of plywood, laminated beams and bench tops, joinery and parquetry. Other uses include boatbuilding (knees, gunwales, planking, decking) and the production of oyster stakes, wine casks, mallets, and bearings.

Common Form

Sawn

Workability

Turpentine is a very hard timber (rated 1 on a 6-class scale) in relation to indentation and its ability to be worked by hand. Due to the presence of silica in the wood, Turpentine can be abrasive to machine cutters. It readily accepts paint, stains and polish, and is amenable to the use of standard fastenings and fittings. Extractives make this timber relatively difficult to glue.

Origin of Timber

NSW, QLD

Readily Available

NSW, QLD

Availability - Further Information

Turpentine is a common species in New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Source of Timber

Native Forest

Applications

Decking

Timber decking creates spaces that are functional, practical and aesthetically pleasing. With the right design and care a timber deck will make a valuable addition to any home or business, creating an outdoor living space that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Fencing

When it comes to fencing, timber is your natural choice. A material that is durable, strong and reliable it compliments almost every outdoor landscape and environment. Clear specification, detailed installation and appropriate maintenance will see any timber fence provide a natural and lasting property boundary and back drop for years to come.
Flooring

Whether for structural or finished flooring applications, timber offers durability, versatility and adaptability. The warmth, strength and natural beauty of timber flooring has proved enduringly popular in a wide variety of interior settings.
Structural Timber Poles

Timber poles are utilised in structural construction to provide support for gravity loads and resistance against lateral forces. Not only serving a structural function, timber poles provide many aesthetic benefits, with their use in construction often complementing architectural designs aimed at harmonisation with the natural environment.