Review of remedial and preventative methods to protect timber in service from attack by subterranean termites in Australia

Abstract

With the phasing out of organochlorine compounds as termiticides in Australia in 1995, consumers and the building industry moved to adopt alternative termite control strategies. These include chemical barriers (organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, nicotinoids, and phenyl pyrazoles), physical barriers (graded granite stones, stainless steel mesh) use of termite resistant building materials (metal and plastic termite shields and adhesives), and installing a slab construction that conforms with Australian Standard AS 2870-1996. The latter requires vibration of the concrete during slab formation, regular inspections, preventative action such as keeping garden beds, mulch, or stacked firewood..