FOLLOWING the EU ban on creosote in 2023, Cork-based McNamara Fencing has introduced a new timber fencing system aimed at replicating the longevity long associated with traditional creosoted posts.

The company, which has supplied fencing to the Irish equestrian sector for almost four decades, developed the product - known as Formula 9 - over a two-year period, in collaboration with a German utility timber specialist. It was officially launched at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2025.

Same lifespan

Creosote-treated timber had been a mainstay of stud farms and racing yards since the 1970s, valued for its durability in ground. According to Kevin McNamara, whose father Jerry founded the business, many of those early installations are still performing today.

“We were supplying creosoted fencing into the equestrian industry from the late 1980s onwards, and a lot of the posts put in during the ’80s and ’90s are still perfectly sound,” he said. “In many cases, they can even be taken out and reused today, which shows the kind of value they offered over time. When creosote was withdrawn, we wanted to find a way to replicate that same lifespan and reliability.”

Water-repellent effect

Formula 9 is based on oil-borne preservative technology used in heavy-duty European applications such as railway sleepers and utility poles. It uses slow-grown Scots Pine, chosen for its ability to absorb treatment more effectively than faster-grown softwoods.

The resulting product has a familiar black finish similar to creosote and exhibits a strong water-repellent effect, with rain visibly beading on the surface rather than soaking in. This hydrophobic quality is designed to limit moisture ingress and extend service life in Irish conditions.

McNamara said customer response since launch has been positive, particularly among those familiar with creosote.

“People like the fact that it can be handled without fear of getting a creosote burn and there’s none of the strong smell that came with creosote,” he said.

“At the same time, it still gives that familiar creosote look that equestrian customers are looking for and blends in well with old creosote fences.” Formula 9 has also been approved under IS436 and IS437, making it eligible for use in TAMS grant-aided fencing projects.

The company expects the system to be widely adopted across stud farms and equestrian yards seeking a longer-lasting alternative to standard pressure-treated timber.