12/04/2026
Most timber failures don’t happen because of bad builds… They happen because the wrong hazard class was used.
Here’s the simple rule many people get wrong:
👉 Above ground = H3
👉 In the ground = H4
That’s it. But it makes all the difference.
H3-treated timber is built for outdoor use above ground. Things like fence palings, rails, pergolas, and weatherboards. It handles rain, sun, and moderate exposure to decay and pests.
H4-treated timber is made for in-ground contact. Fence posts, retaining wall sleepers, garden edging. This is where moisture, rot, and termites hit hardest, so it needs a much higher level of protection.
❌ Use H3 in the ground? It’ll fail early.
❌ Use H4 above ground? You’re over-engineering (and overspending).
At DynaGroup, we focus on H3 and H4 because they cover the vast majority of fencing and landscaping applications, and getting this right means longer-lasting results, fewer callbacks, and better builds.
If you’re working with timber outdoors, this isn’t a detail… it’s the foundation.