TERMITE

PROOFING
INTRODUCTION
Termite popularly known as white ants though they
are no way related to ants. The front pair of wings of
ants is longer than their rear pair whereas in termites,
both the pairs are equal.
Found in abundance in tropical & sub-tropical
countries.
Over 2300 species of termite, of which 220 found in
India
All species are not considered to be serious, only 4%
responsible for damages in building Fig: Ant and Termite
They Also damage non cellulosic materials like plastic,
leather, rubber etc

SOME FACTS ABOUT TERMITE

Termites are present since the time of Dinosaurs!
Termites are the most destructive pests of the world! They can destroy anything with
cellulose- Wood, Paper and Clothes
Termite colonies eat nonstop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
The total weight of all the termites in the world is more than the weight of all the
human in the world!
Termites cause damage worth $2 billion every year.
TYPES OF TERMITES
Termite cause considerable damage to wood work, furnishing etc.
There are two types of :
Dry Wood Termite and
Subterranean Termite

Dry Wood Termite

Live in dry wood in small colonies.
Do not maintain any connection with
soil.
Found in humid coastal areas.
In India, found in coastal region of
South India
Travel & work through wooden
structures only
Attack is mainly restricted to the
sapwood, but galleries may extend into
outer layers of sound heartwood
Infestations are often indicated by the
presence of dry, sand-like faecal
pellets (frass) expelled from openings in
the gallery systems.
SubTerrnean Termite
Main colonies in soil, underground
Cannot survive without
maintaining connection with
prime colonies
Main food is wood and cellulose
Travel through shelter tubes or
tunnels in other materials
These tunnels are coated with soil
around
As they consume wood, second
colonies are developed there
Requires moisture for existence
Enters building
Through foundations
Adjacent ground to building
Through cracks & cervices in
masonry joints
Cracks in floor
 Subterranean Termite

They build their main colonies in soil,

underground but travel in search of food to
mostly wood, cellulose matter through
shelter tubes or galleries or tunnels coated
with soil

Requires both moisture as well as darkness

for survival
These Termites have five categories:
Queen
King
Soldiers
Sexual winged male & female adults
and
Workers

Their workers hunt over extensive areas of

edibles, maintaining direct connection
with colony which develops on soil
moisture for survival
Subterranean Termite Drywood Termite

Nest is In ground . Nest is Inside the wood they infest (structural

wood; furniture); don't require soil contact
No mud tubes
Can arrive and infest from air
Require much less moisture than
subterraneans

Travel to structures through ground. Can arrive and infest from air
Make mud tubes (a covered highway) - protection from Require much less moisture than
dehydration and predators when leaving ground. subterraneans

Eat spring wood only (softer) Eat spring wood and hard summer wood
Eat along grain of wood Eat along grain of wood

FECAL PELLETS is Usually moist; no ridges; used to line Dry and hard, six-sided (color varies; color not
galleries and tunnel associated with type of wood eaten)called
Frass
They live in large colonies They live in small colonies

They require constant moisture supply to survive. Drywood termite do not need a source
of water and live off of the water that is
produced from the digestion of the
cellulose.
 TERMITE TREATMENT
A careful examination of untreated building will show that damage by termites and
evidence of their activity is not difficult to find.
Often such damage can be found on upper floor as well. Even if damage on lower floors
is not clearly visible, this should not lead to wrong conclusion that they have not
established a colony on upper floors

TERMITE PROOFING- PRINCIPLES

Following should be observed:
1. Avoid Bridging: No bridge to be formed between any
part of building & untreated soil
2. Pre construction treatment to avoid heavy treatment
Cost: It is difficult & costly to completely remove
established termite from building. Advisable to go for
appropriate treatment during construction
3. Proper Drainage to reduce moisture in building: Ensure
adequate site drainage as Termites are attracted to
moisture. Wherever possible, concrete/masonry apron
should be constructed around periphery of building to
prevent water seepage to underside of building. If it is
not possible, stone slab should be provided below rain
water down take pipes to help drain the rain water
4. inspection and treatment of Filling Materials: Inspect all
the filling material & debris used for reclamation of soil. If
it contains termite colonies, high rise buildings,
constructed on such land becomes victim of termite.
 TERMITE PROOFING- PRINCIPLES

5. Floor Joints: Suitable floor joint fillers or metal strips may be used to make floor joint
termite proof

6. Foundation: It is not possible for termite to penetrate through dense cement

concrete foundation. Not necessary to start treatment from bottom of excavation
in such case. Sufficient to treat soil up to 500mm below ground level or up to
bottom of plinth beam, if this level is less than 500mm. Therefore construction of
foundation should be carried out with superior quality of material & workmanship

7. Method Of Termite Proofing: Should be decided while keeping in view, local

conditions & materials to be used in construction

8. Site Clearance: Site should be carefully inspected & cleared off all dead woods,
old tree stumps etc. If mounds of subterranean termites found, should be
destroyed by forcing insecticides at number of points along them after making
holes in earthen tunnels.

9. Super Structure: All vulnerable to termite material to be treated with suitable

preservatives. Wooden members like door frame, staircase should be set on
flooring & not through flooring
 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT
Divided into two categories:
Pre Construction and
Post Construction

Pre Construction Treatment

Starts right at initial stage of construction of building and divided into three operations:
Site Preparations
Soil Treatment and
Structural Barrier

Site Preparations
Consists of removal of :
Stumps
Roots
Logs
Waste wood and
Other fibrous material

This is essential since termites thrive on these materials. If termite mounds found, should
be destructed by insecticide solution.
 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT

PRE CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT

Site Preparations
Insecticide consists of following chemicals:

Chemical Concentration by Weight

DDT 5.0%

BHC 0.5%

Aldrin 0.25%

Heptachlor 0.25%

Chlordane 0.5%

Four litres of above chemical is required per cubic meter of mound. Holes are made in
the mound with the crowbar and chemical is poured
 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT

Soil Treatment
The best & only reliable method
Complete barrier created between ground & damage
wood work in building
Various patented chemical insecticides available such as
DDT
BHC
PCP
Following chemicals in oil solution or preferably water
emulsion have proved to be successful:
The emulsion is applied evenly by means of sprayer or with
watering cans

Chemical Concentration by
Weight
Aldrin 0.5%
Heptachlor 0.5%
Chlordane 1%
Dieldrin 0.5%
 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT

PRE CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT

Soil Treatment
All chemicals are chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Insoluble in water & hence they are not leached out by
subsoil water.
Application of these chemical creates chemical barrier
between building & ground.
Very effective method of termite proofing
Soil treatment with chemicals should start when
foundation trenches are ready to take mass concrete.
Laying of mass concrete should start when chemical
emulsion has been completely absorbed by soil &
surface is dry
 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT
PRE CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT
Soil Treatment
Treatment should never be carried when it is
raining or subsoil is wet with rain or subsoil
water
Chemical solution should be uniformly
sprayed over & suitable hand operated
compressed air sprayer or vessel containing
water should be used

Aldrex 30 E.C. is most effective chemical with

following advantages:

Highly toxic to termites

Can be easily applied after dilution with
water
Insoluble in water, hence will not dissolve in
subsoil water & disappear quickly from site.
Effective even after many years of
application
One part of Aldrex 30 E.C. is diluted with 59
water.
Emulsion . This provides an emulsion
containing 0.5% aldrin should be applied
evenly either with a watering cane or
sprayer at following stages

TREATMENT FOR RCC FOUNDATION

 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT

PRE CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT

Soil Treatment
Stage-I : In foundation pits to treat bottom &
sides up to height of 30cm. Emulsion required is
at rates of 5litres /sq.m. STAGES 1

Stage-II : Refill earth on both sides of all built up

walls for width of 30cm & depth of 45cm.
Emulsion require at rate of 5litre/sq.m.

Stage-III: Before laying the floor, entire levelled

surface is to be treated at 5litre/sq.m.

Approximately 200ml of Aldrex 30 E.C. to treat

1sq.m. of covered area.

STAGES OF SOIL TREATMENT

 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT
PRE CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT
Physical Barrier
Continuous impenetrable physical barrier provided at plinth to prevent entry to termite through walls.
This can be in form of concrete or metal layer

Cement Concrete layer

5 to 7.5 cm thick
Preferable to keep it projecting 5 to 7.5 cm both internally & externally
Metal Barrier
Consists of non-corrosive sheet of copper or GI of 0.8mm thickness.
If damaged, becomes ineffective against termite ,movement
POST CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT
Maintenance treatment for building
under termite attack.
Termite maintain contact with their
nests or colony in ground through
shelter tubes or tunnels lined with soil.
This fact is well used in anti-termite
treatment
Deep inspection is necessary to
estimate seriousness of termite
problem in building
Entry points may be
Near vicinity of columns
Basement
Steps leading from ground
Bathrooms & lavatories
Leaking pipes, drains etc. and
Wood work embedded in ground
 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT

Entry points in case of High Rise building may be

Lift wells
Casing covering of electrical wirings
Water supply lines
Soil pipes

Wherever shelter tubes are detected, should be destroyed after injecting anti-termite
emulsion through these.
In case of severe attack, soil around building & under floor may be injected with
anti-termite emulsion

Treatment applied up to a depth of 30cm below ground.

To prevent entry through voids in masonry, 12mm dia holes drilled at 30cm c/c at
downward angle of 45 from both sides of wall at plinth level & chemical emulsion
under pressure pumped into these.

Holes are than sealed

 ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT
POST CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT
This is carried out at critical locations like:
Wall corners
Column bases
Place of embedment of wooden door/window

Similar holes are drilled in damaged wood work also & then oil based chemical
emulsion is pumped into.