What do we need know about managing termites

1. Construction
Pitfalls of Construction.…

2. So what do WE need to know?
Australian Standards
Legislation
Measurements
Method of Construction
Service Penetrations
Understanding of Ventilation
What builders leave for US
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3. Currently under
review

4. Currently
under
review
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5. Slab on Ground Constructions
The Australian Standard AS 3660.1-2000 Termite management Part 1: New building work
specifies that a slab on ground should be designed and constructed either in accordance
with AS 2870 or AS 3660.
Section 2: Performance Criteria
2.3.1 Concrete slabs as termite barriers
• A concrete slab or footing used as a termite barrier shall
(a) be designed and constructed so that any cracks passing through the slab or
footing do not exceed 1 mm in width through the depth of the slab;
(b) have all interfaces between the penetrations and slab or footing provided with a
termite barrier system integrated with the slab; and
(c) have all joints, except for tied footing slab construction joints, provided with a
termite barrier system integrated with the slab.

6. Legislation
• Queensland amendment to the BCA.
• BCA amendments only apply to building classes 1 & 10
• AS2870 -2011 Residential Slabs and Footings
• Soil Classification – A, S, M, H, E, P
− Slightly reactive to Extremely reactive.
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7. ‘The Measurements’
Standard Height Brick – 230mm x 110mm x 75mm
Besser Block – 390mm x 190mm x 190mm
Mortar Joint – 10mm-12mm
Render – 8mm-10mm
Bagging – Up to 3mm
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8. Timber Detail
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9. Figures from HIA

10. The Beginning……..
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11. ‘The Exposed Edge Slab’
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12. ‘The Exposed Edge Slab’…..gone!
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13. ‘The Exposed Edge Slab’
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14. ‘The Monolithic Slab’
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15. Monolithic Slab Construction

16. ‘The Infill Slab’
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17. ‘The Infill Slab’
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18. ‘The Waffle Pod’
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19. ‘The Waffle Pod’
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20. ‘The Inslab Water Tank’
•Inslab water tanks have been developed to cater for new houses
constructed on a concrete slab.
•They provide architects, designers and builders with a unique water
storage solution, especially where space is limited.
•Inslab water tanks conform to BCA AS2870-1996
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21. ‘The Inslab Water Tank’
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22. 22

23. ‘The Service
Penetration’
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24. ‘The Service Penetration’
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25. 25
‘The Service Penetration’

26. 26
‘The Open End’

27. ‘The Service Penetration’
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28. ‘The Open End’
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29. ‘The Open End’
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30. ‘The Service Penetration’
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31. ‘The Shower Recess‘
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32. ‘The Shower Mess’
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33. ‘The Pier’
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34. Piers
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35. ‘The Pier’
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36. Ventilation
Sub-floor ventilation is often a forgotten part of termite management.
The BCA (Vol. 2) requires the sub-floor between a suspended floor and the ground to be
ventilated.
AS3600 specifies ventilation to be minimum of 8,400 mm squared nett ventilation/Lm
This minimises sub-floor moisture which helps to prevent timber decay, and creates an environment
that discourages termite attack.
To be effective, acceptable sub-floor construction must:
•Be free of building debris and vegetation
•Provide cross ventilation,
•Contain no dead air spaces
•Be graded to prevent ponding and be above the external ground level
•Have evenly spaced openings
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37. Minimum Ground Clearance

38. Ventilation(cont)
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•230mm x 150mm
•Terracotta 6,200 – Veta 11,200 – Galvanised Metal11,700

39. Ventilation(cont) House only 6 months old poor ventilation and termite damage
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40. ‘The Good’
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41. ‘The Good’
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42. ‘The Bad’
Retaining wall tinsel
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43. ‘The Bad’
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44. ‘The Bad’
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45. ‘The Bad’
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46. ‘The Ugly’
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47. ‘The Ugly’
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48. ‘The Ugly’
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49. Summary
• Understand construction methods
• Always ask for a plan
• Ask customer questions
• Each house is Different
• Never ASSUME
• If in doubt, phone a friend…….
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50. Pestech Promotion 2014
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