CHEMICAL BARRIER TREATMENTS

"Austrapest has been established for over 20 years"

Austrapest offers termite barriers in conjunction with our integrated approach to termite control and in connection with our detailed inspection report and proposal. Barriers may offer an option for long term control which dusting and monitoring alone can not do. Chemical barriers are done to Australian Standard 3660.2-2000.

Chemical barriers have been used in termite management extensively since WW2 which enabled pest controllers to warrant against further attack of termites. Barriers did not kill the termite colony attacking a property as their function is to protect the building. Products used have changed over the time. The Organochlorines have not been used since 1995. While these products were very effective in the control of white ants and when used properly posed minimal risk, the concern was that they are persistent and bioaccumulate in the food chain and they were often misused. Today we have a choice of lower toxicity products and methods

Prior to a Chemical Barrier being carried out, Austrapest will always recommend a full inspection, report and proposal, followed by some colony elimination method if applicable. (note that Australian Standards 3660.2 - 2000 states that in cases where active termites are present and where possible, a method of collony eradication should be used prior to the installation of a chemical barrier)

Refer to sections on dusting, test drilling of trees/stumps, baiting systems.

We would suggest that ideally the following should be corrected prior to treatment either by homeowner, builder or Austrapest:

This is some of the often encountered problems

a. Improve subfloor ventilation/ drainage

b. Remove formwork timbers in contact with the ground.

c. Remove loose wood.

d. Remove wood piers and replace with bricks

e. Remove stored items from under the building.

f. Remove soil/ rubble piles which are too close to the timber frames from under the building.

g. Remove garden beds/ paths/bricks/ turf/ untreated sleepers abutting the house or above the floor level.

h. Rectify bridging/ breaching/ insufficient slab edge exposure

Note: in case of termites being active on the property, it may be necessary to carry some form of colony elimination prior to carrying out the above recommendations (a-h) to avoid impeeding the chance of success of the treatment.

This treatment consists of:

- trench, scarify and control agent application along all substructure walls and piers where clearance is 400mm or above.

- blanket spray (horizontal barrier) over the entire surface where clearance is less then 400mm.

- Drilling and injection at 150-200mm centres along the internal edge of the concrete slab areas to form a horizontal or vertical barrier as necessary.

for a more affective treatment drill and inject in a chess pattern.

- Drill and inject external paths where applicable, trench soil areas along external walls of the house to form a continuous barrier.

for a more affective treatment cut and remove concrete at the base of the external wall and then treat

- Remove pavers where applicable or necessary to allow access to soil abutting the building or structure for treatment.

- We also remove and relay the carpet to allow for drilling.

- Remove and replace obstructions such as air conditioner ducting

- Drill holes and inject termite control agent under steps, patios, and verandahs adjacent to the walls of the house outside and under the house where possible (if not possible it may form a limitation to treatment).

Serious limitations may also apply to these treatments such as areas low to the ground,inaccessible subfloor areas, concealed edge of the concrete slab, timbers in contact with the ground, external cladding touching the ground, external ground level too high, rock foundations or facade, slope of the land, vicinity of waterways.

Termites may enter via undetached adjacent properties or through soft mortar between sandstone foundation walls, through holes in concrete blocks foundation walls.

Chemical Options:

(download premise and termidor information brochure

note: need to have adobe acrobat reader)

- Premise 200SC, Imidacloprid