The powerful, long lasting chemicals used to protect houses from the ravages of termite attack were abolished from use in the building industry in the mid 1990s for many good and appropriate reasons. Since that time builders have had to rely on alternative methods deterring termites from entering causing damage to houses. A new Australian Standard (AS3660.1) was released to reflect the changed environment for builders and property owners.
This standard was very specific in describing the changed environment with regard to the long term protection of buildings. In Section 1.1 in capital letters it states:

“A TERMITE BARRIER SYSTEM CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STANDARD CANNOT PREVENT TERMITE ATTACK, AS BARRIERS MAY BE BRIDGED OR BREACHED. WHERE TERMITES BRIDGE BARRIERS THE EVIDENCE MAY BE DETECTED DURING INSPECTIONS.”

One of the best, most reliable and long lasting methods allowed under the new standards at the time your house was constructed  is to construct the concrete slab flooring in such a way that it is designed to act as an impenetrable barrier that termites can not pass through, the edge of the slab is designed to allow an inspection zone so that any termites gaining access to the building can be easily identified by the mud shelter tubes they would build on the exposed face of the concrete slab.

To achieve this, collars were placed around all the penetrations through your slab during the construction of your house to ensure that the termites could not gain access through the concrete floor where plumbing pipes and electrical conduits penetrated your concrete slab flooring and where joins in the slab where unavoidable stainless steel mesh would be fixed into the concrete across the join so that the integrity of the slab was maintained.

In areas of high termite activity it is important to remember that this system is only designed to prevent undetectable entry of termites into the building and does nothing to deter or prevent termites from entering the building if:

1. termites gain access from the perimeter of the building or
2. the integrity of the slab as an impenetrable barrier is comprised. ( this could happen if there is undue movement of the soil under the slab causing it to crack)

You might notice in your report that there is a recommendation for further, ongoing termite protection to your property. The inspector makes this recommendation if he believes:

1. The inspection zone around the perimeter of the building no longer complies with the standard (this could be caused by landscaping, gardens or pathways being built up over the slab edge, or any other thing that would obstruct the view of the slab edge)
2. The inspector believes that the slab edge might not be inspected on a regular basis, monthly or even weekly in high risk areas and that substantial damage could be caused by termites during the time between professional inspections.
3. The inspector believes they may have been a risk to soil movement under the slab causing a crack through the slab of more than one millimeter in width. (This might be caused by a heavy prolonged period of rain, a flooding event or might be evidenced by movement in the house or nearby houses.)

If you have any queries or concern please feel free to call Federal Pest Control on 1800 647996 they will only too happy to answer any questions you might have or even meet you onsite at your property.