Does borate fulfill IBC/CBC 2304.12.1.2 for "preservative treated wood"?

[Yikes]

A new wood-frame apartment building sits on a conventional slab-on-grade foundation. We will be using pressure-treated sills at exterior walls.


Looking at 2019 IBC/CBC (see below):



Q1. At the exterior walls, is the outer edge of the slab-on grade considered a type of exterior foundation "wall"? (Or is this code section really meant for a raised wood floor on a continuous perimeter footing, with a crawl space below the floor?

Q2. If 2304.12.1.2 does apply to my project, then I have an issue because I have many ADA accessible openings that are keeping the outdoor landscape grade within 2" of the finish floor. In that instance, can I treat the lower 24" of wood framing with borate to comply with 2304.12.1.2, similar to what LEED-H used to require?
See also http://www.softwoodlumber.org/pdfs/Borate-treated_Wood.pdf

Or maybe this? https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/03/036a43bf-1233-41bf-8413-dfbdca0d526b.pdf

 

[ICE]

Q1. At the exterior walls, is the outer edge of the slab-on grade considered a type of exterior foundation "wall"?

Yes 2304.12.1.2 applies to a slab-on-grade mudsill.

2304.12.1.2 Wood supported by exterior foundation walls. Wood framing members, including wood sheathing, that are in contact with exterior foundation walls and are less than 8 inches (203 mm) from exposed earth shall be of naturally durable or preservative-treated wood.

The word exposed should trigger in depth thought on the dilemma.

Or maybe this? https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/03/036a43bf-1233-41bf-8413-dfbdca0d526b.pdf

Not even. This does not produce preservative-treated wood. I didn't read the entire document and it might be good enough to treat the cut ends and bored holes.

 

[Yikes]

The word “wall” seems very deliberate and is also triggering deep thought.

 

[steveray]

[BS] PRESERVATIVE-TREATED WOOD. Wood products that, when impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process or other means during manufacture, exhibit reduced susceptibility to damage by fungi, insects or marine borers.