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Termite Issue
Termite Barrier Manufacturers
The physical termite barrier manufacturers have been handed an opportunity by Building Codes Queensland in their termite amendments to really consolidate their position in the marketplace. The physical barriers installed to the brick cavities address most of the building issues that the chemical barriers cannot, and installed properly, must be the preferred termite protection method. The chemical termite barriers have some additional hoops to jump through to be installed, making the physical termite barriers very competitive. The results of the Queensland Building Code amendments are being watched with great interest by the other states, and if the termite issue is seen to be effectively addressed, then the Queensland amendments may be adopted nationally. The down side to having such an opportunity is that if the physical barrier manufacturers don't maintain the quality of their installations, then Building Codes Queensland will have to review it's position.
We're firmly of the view that where physical termite barriers are used, only Australian Building Codes Board accredited physical termite barriers should be approved for use in new buildings. We've seen a number of failings of alternative barriers.
In the left hand picture above, a physical "collar" has been placed around a slab penetration. Unfortunately, the collar has not been completely encapsulated in concrete, and as a consequence, is completely and utterly useless. In the right hand picture, a physical termite barrier has been installed by siliconing it to the side of the concrete slab. The silicon has failed, and termites have entered the home. In both cases, the termite barriers have not been properly installed, and some question must be asked of training of the installers and the installation itself.
In the left hand photo above, stainless steel mesh (an ABCB accredited termite barrier) has been installed to the perimeter of a home. That is a 2½ inch diameter tree root showing through the brickwork. If the site had been properly prepared, the tree root wouldn't have been there. The bricklayer has cut a brick to get around the tree root, and the trained termite professional has laid stainless steel mesh over the top of the tree root. In the right hand photo, stainless steel mesh has been used as ant capping in the brick wall, and over the engaged pier. Unfortunately this grade of stainless steel mesh doesn't stand up to having timber bearers moved after the bearer has been laid on top of it, and it then tears allowing potential hidden termite access. (You can do this with sheet metal ant capping). Just to the right of the engaged pier, you can see termite mud packing coming to the stainless steel mesh at the top. The mud packing appears to stop at the stainless steel mesh. Look just above the mesh 2¾ bricks to the right, and you'll see where they continued. Perhaps this grade of stainless steel mesh isn't durable enough to be used as ant capping. Whilst this is an Australian Building Codes Board accredited barrier, once again, installer training appears to be an issue.
Once again, the physical termite barrier manufacturers have been handed an incredible opportunity, and those that want to go for ABCB accreditation like Granitgard and Termimesh, we'd encourage you to achieve that accreditation. There are some additional hoops to jump through, but if you can satisfy the Australian Building Codes Board, you are doing a lot better than those that have only achieved ABSAC opinions.
The different bodies above in red are links to further information on each one. Please follow the links.
© Mark Porter 2002
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