15/10/2015. Mark spoke at the Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC) Inspectors Conference in Brisbane today. The talk’s subject was Termites and Thermal Imaging, plus a session on termite barriers, termite inspections and termite disputes, including comment on some recent termite disputes that have been the subject of QBCC investigation. One termite dispute in particular involved considerable deliberate concealment of termite damage in a home, that in part resulted in the termite damage not being found by a combined pre-purchase building and timber pest inspector. Unfortunately for the combined pre-purchase building and timber pest inspector, there were significant visible factors that should have led to further investigation by the combined pre-purchase building and timber pest inspector.
In short, that inspection didn’t satisfy what a reasonably competent timber pest inspector should have found. We showed some photos from ongoing disputes and matters of interest in the termite issue, including our macro image of a live termite (Coptotermes acinaciformis) taken from the Howard Smith Wharves, under Brisbane’s Story bridge. To assist with the thermal imaging side, David Rice from Termicam in Melbourne joined Mark in the presentation. David’s presentation included a live demonstration of his latest camera, and highlighting the performance difference between a “high end” thermal imaging camera (with a competent thermographer), and the lower resolution (cheaper) cameras used by most in our industry.
We discussed thermal imaging from Queensland’s Parliament House, Macarthur Chambers in the city, and even a thermal image of a termite infested gum tree at DPI-Forestry’s compound, at Meiers Road at Indooroopilly. The presentations appeared to be well received by all attending. To the Queensland Building & Construction Commission, thanks for having us along!
