Postsaver Proven: BRE’s 25-Year Field Study Validates Long-Term Protection Against Wood Decay

A landmark 25-year field study by the BRE (Building Research Establishment), Europe’s leading independent timber testing authority, has demonstrated the effectiveness of Postsaver total barrier sleeves in preventing decay.

25 Years. No Failures. Independent Validation.

Following the EN252:2014 standard - the European benchmark for testing wood preservatives in ground contact - the BRE exposed timber stakes to real-world, long-term conditions for nearly 25 years.

The Goal: To see how various treatments held up against decay, moisture, and microbial attack at ground level.

The Findings:

• Preservative dip treated stakes started to decay after 3 years of field testing.
• Preservative dip treated stakes fitted with Postsaver sleeves have not failed after 25 years of field testing.

What Makes Postsaver So Effective?

The secret lies in Postsaver’s dual-layer barrier sleeve technology - a combination of a tough, heat-shrinkable outer layer and a meltable inner seal which locks in preservatives and seals out decay threats at the most vulnerable section of the post: the ground line.

When used in combination with preservative treatments, Postsaver sleeves:

• Physically block moisture, oxygen, and fungal intrusion
• Lock in preservatives where they’re needed most - reducing leaching into the soil
• Maximise the effectiveness of wood treatments by holding them in place over time

This synergistic approach means better protection with less chemical waste, and ultimately, a longer lifespan for timber installations.

A Bright Future for Wood Used in Ground Contact

As timber fencing continues to face growing competition from alternative materials such as concrete, steel, and plastic, durability is more important than ever. Postsaver is ensuring that, in conjunction with preservatives, timber used in ground contact is seen as a reliable, sustainable choice - without compromise keeping wood as the material of choice for use in ground applications.

A New Standard for Timber Longevity

Beyond the BRE study, Postsaver continues to lead the way in post rot protection.

The Pro-Wrap and Pro-Sleeve products come with a 20-year post replacement guarantee, while Pro-Wrap +PLUS offers 40 year post replacement guarantee when used with UC4 preservative protection. With many millions of sleeves in use in over 35 countries, this is a solution the world is getting behind.

The company's heavy duty Polesaver sleeves are used in over 35 countries to provide protection to utility poles used in critical power distribution and telecom networks.

Contact Postsaver

Whether you work in fencing, agriculture, landscaping, or construction, Postsaver is ready to help support your projects. Get in touch for more information about the most suitable Postsaver products to use to guarantee your work lasts, and to add those final touches.

Read about our Postsaver guarantee and test data here, or to discuss the BRE results in greater detail, please get in touch with the Postsaver Team.