Anti-Termite Treatment

What Is Anti-Termite Treatment?

Anti-termite treatment is a chemical procedure carried out for soil, masonry, wood, and electrical fixtures to provide the building with a chemical barrier against subterranean termites before and after construction.

Anti-termite treatment is like a shield for buildings. Termites, tiny but harmful insects, can damage wood in homes and offices. This treatment uses special solutions to stop termites from harming the structure.

It’s like giving a protective coat to keep termites away, making sure buildings stay strong and safe. This way, it saves money by preventing costly repairs. So, anti-termite treatment is a smart choice to make sure buildings last longer and stay in good shape.

Pre-Construction Anti-Termite Treatment

The following procedure of pre-construction anti-termite treatment

Site preparation
Soil treatment
Structure
Barrier

1. Site Preparation

Remove all roots, small plants, and stumps from the worksite.
Remove all the concrete debris from the worksite if left anywhere timber cutoffs, leveling pegs, and other types of building debris.
In case the soil is to be treated as porous, then firstly moistening process will be required to fill the capillary spaces in the soil.
To prevent the loss of chemical emulsion through excessive preclusion of the soil.
In the case of water logging in the foundation, the water shall be pumped out before injecting the chemical emulsion.
A chemical emulsion should be applied only when the soil is absorbent.
On the other hand texture of the soil is clayey and heavy in that case penetration is to be gradually and on sloping sites.
Where runoff is only one solution for that purpose soil surface should be provided a depth of 75mm.
Chemical Used as anti-termite agents.
Chlorpyriphos 20% Bearing ISI Certification.
Dilute 1 part of Chlorpyriphos 20% with 90% of water.

2. Providing Structure Barrier

1. Termite Proof Barrier at DPC Level

When no DPC is provided the mortar is used for 2 consecutive layers of masonry just below the plinth filing.
It shall be
made with emulsion as specified above.
These processes create termite-proof
the barrier in the plinth wall.
To prevent subterranean termites from entering through voids in the foundation into the superstructure.
As per Bureau of Indian standards, major and minor steps are given below for anti-termite treatment.
The bottom surface and Sides of the Trenches of the Foundation
Backfill in Immediate Contact with Foundation.
Junction of floors and walls.
Top Surface of Plinth Filling
External Perimeter of Building.

2. Sites and Bottom of the Trenches of the Foundation

The first stage that is Pre- Anti termite treatment in the foundation is carried out after the excavation of the pit is complete.
The bottom surface and the sides (up to a height of about 1 m) should be treated with the emulsion of chemical.
chemicals are listed above at recommended concentrations.
Masonry foundation and Basement should be treated with the emulsion of chemicals at 5 liters per sq. meter of the total soil surface area.

3. Backfill Treatment

After the treatment of the masonry foundation, when the retaining wall of the basements comes up, backfilling is immediately in contact with the foundation structure or substructure.
It should be treated at the rate of 7.5 liter per sq.meter of the soil surface area.

4. Wall floor Junction Treatment

It is an important step of the anti-termite treatment, to establish the vertical emulsion of the chemical barrier on the inner wall surface from the ground level up to the level of the filled earth surface.
To achieve this treatment, a small channel is 3 cm x 3 cm at all of the floor junctions, wall junctions and holes.
The channel is made up to the ground level at 15 cm apart and treated with the anti-termite chemical emulsion.

5. Plinth Filling Treatment

As per the Bureau of Indian Standards, the top surface of the consolidated earth is within the plinth walls.
It shall be treated with chemical emulsion at a rate of 5 liters. per sq. meter of the surface before the stone, debris bed is laid.

6. External Perimeter Treatment

After the completion of the building, the soil along the external perimeter of the building.
It should be tapped at intervals of 15 cm and to a depth of 30 cm.
By the forward and backward movement of the tamping steel, the rod broke up the soil and poured chemical emulsion along the wall.
At the rate of 7.5 liters per sq. meter of the vertical surface area of the building.
This process forms a chemical barrier for termites in the soil.
All these stages are mentioned above are very essential for the Prevention of Termites in New Construction work.
To make the building completely termite-proof. These miscellaneous stages are given below.

Post-Construction Anti-Termite Treatment

The following equipment and tools are used for anti-termite treatment

Sharp knife
Pressure Gun
Power drills of different Diameter and sizes
Safety equipment
Flashlight

Pressure Gun

Pressure Drill

Inspection

Before undertaking any treatment into the structure a thorough inspection should be required to determine the entry point of the termites.

Extermination of Termites in Building

After the inspection easy to find the location of termites. The extermination inside the building.
It shall be carried out sequentially, looking at the termites in their hideouts.
Such as switchboard, inside electrical wiring points, ceilings behind wooden panellings, conduits, and similar locations.

Preventive Measures

The following preventive measures should be taken to be safe from termite attack

Soil Treatment

The main objective of soil treatment is to establish the chemical emulsion barrier between the termites in the soil and the building to be protected.

It consists of treating the soil adjacent to or under the building with a chemical emulsion, which kills or repels termites.

Water emulsions are one type of chemical given above that shall be used in soil treatment and applied precisely at the prescribed rate.

Treatment along the outside of the foundation: The soil in contact with the external wall of the structure/ building shall be treated with chemicals at the rate of 7.5 liters/m2 of the vertical surface of the sub-structure to a depth of 300 mm.

When adopting this treatment a shallow channel shall be excavated along and close to the wall. Then after chemical emulsion shall be poured at a rate of 1.75 liters per running meter of the channel. The next step is tamping, with the help of a tapping rod having 12 mm diameter at 150 mm depth apart shall be done in the channel.

If necessary for uniform spraying of the chemical to 300 mm depth from the ground level. If there is a concrete or masonry unit around the building, approximately 12 mm diameter holes shall be drilled as close as possible to the plinth wall at 300 mm.

The chemical emulsion is pumped into the holes to soak the soil below at a rate of 2.25 liter per linear meter.

Treatment of Soil Under Floor

The points where the termites enter through the floor following locations

At the junction of the floors and walls as a result of shrinkage or the concrete
At construction joints in a concrete floor, cast-in sections; and Expansion joints in the floor.
The floor surface owing to construction defects;
Chemical treatment should be provided within the plinth area of the ground floor of the structure. Wherever such type cracks are noticed, for protection drill the vertical 12 mm holes at the junction of floor and walls.
The constructional and expansion joints mentioned above at 300 mm intervals to reach the soil below.
Chemical emulsion shall be poured into these holes using a manually operated pressure pump until to a maximum of one liter per hole.
The holes shall be sealed.
In general, the idea is to treat the soil below the floor at the locations of cracks with emulsion .
so that termites in the soil are sealed the path through such cracks and openings in the floor.

Treatment of voids in masonry

Termites are entered into the masonry foundation by voids and spreading all members of building at ground level and super structure.
The movement of the termites through the building may be arrested by drilling holes into the masonry walls at plinth level and spraying chemical into the holes to soak the masonry.
The holes shall be drilled at a downward angle of about 45 degree preferably from both sides of the plinth wall.
At approximately 300 mm intervals. The spraying chemical emulsion by hand-operated pressure pump.
The depth of drilled holes shall depend on several factors like decreased or increased the size of wall, for normal size brick wall that is 230 mm thick wall, at that case depth of drilled holes shall be 150mm.
This process shall also be extended up to internal walls having foundations in the soil.
Holes are drilled at critical points, such as wall corners and where door and window frames are put in the masonry or floor at ground.
Chemical Emulsion shall be spraying through the holes till to a maximum of one liter per hole.
The treated holes shall be completely sealed.

Treatment at Points of Contact of Wood Work

All existing woodwork in the building which is in contact with the walls or floors and which is infested by termites.
They shall be treated by spraying at the points of contact with the adjoining masonry with the chemical of concentration.
The given above by drilling 6 mm holes at a downward angle of about 45 degree.
At the junction of woodwork and masonry and spraying chemicals into these holes.

Treatment of Wood Work

For the purpose of treatment, woodwork may be classified as below

Which is damaged by termites beyond repair and needs replacements
Which is damaged slightly by termites and does not need replacement.
The woodwork, which has already been damaged beyond repairs by termites, shall be replaced.
The new timber should be used before dipping at least twice with kerosene and mineral oil chemicals.
All damaged woodwork that does not need replacement shall be treated as follows
Infested woodwork in purlins, frames, joints, etc, in contact with the walls or the floors.
They shall be provided with protection purpose by drilling holes of about 3 mm in diameter with a downward slant to the core of the woodwork
These holes should have at least 150 mm center to center and cover the entire framework.
Any chemicals given above shall be liberally injected into these holes.
If the wood is not protected by the varnishing and painting two coats of the chemical shall be given on all the surfaces adjoining the masonry.

Treatment of Electrical Fixtures

If infestation in electrical fixtures such as switch boxes, panels, and wiring in the wall is noticed, covers of the switch boxes shall be removed and inside of such boxes.
These shall be treated liberally with 5% Malathion dusting powder or Chlorpyrifos Dust.
After dusting the powder the switchboards are re-fixed.

Safety

All works should follow safety instructions, municipality rules, regulations, and project safety plans.
Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall be worn by all laborers or staff workers.
All operatives shall be instructed before entering the site.

Necessity of Anti-Treatment

Termite control in buildings is very important as the damage likely to be caused by the termites is huge.
Termite is also known to damage non-cellulosic substances in their search for food.
Neoprene, plastic, Rubber, leather as well as lead coating used for covering of underground cables are damaged by termites.

Location of Termite

Termites need food cellulose, Moisture, and warmth to survive.
wood building material in and around the home from the basement to the crawl space to the attic can provide.
The ideal food sources for these wood destroying insects.
Common construction conditions around homes, including areas of sufficient grading that allow puddles to form near the foundation and air conditioning units.
That creates run-off moisture and can offer sufficient moisture for termite colony.

Code used for Anti Termite Treatment

IS 6313 – Code for anti-termite measure in buildings.
IS 6313 Part 1 – Constructional Measure
IS 6313 Part 2 – Pre-Constructionalanti-termite measure in building
IS 6313 Part 3 – Treatment for existing structure or building.

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Anti-Termite Treatment

What Is Anti-Termite Treatment?