Anti-Termite Treatment in Buildings

 Anti-Termite Treatment in Buildings:

Anti-Termite Treatment in Buildings

General:

Termites are popularly known as white ants. They are responsible for for most of the the damages to the wooden structures in building and other household articles like furniture's, clothing's ,stationary etc. Therefore, some sort of treatment tp prevent or control the growth of termites in existing as well as in new buildings is very important. Now a days high cost of buildings and increased cost involved in repairs and replacement of damaged portions by termites have necessitated to provide some suitable anti termite treatment for preventing and controlling the access of termites to building and their contents.

A).Anti-Termite Treatments:-

The process or treatment which  makes any structure or building and its contents termite proof is known as Anti-Termite Treatments.

The success of these treatments depends largely on the extent to which the different methods of treatment are feasible in the building.

This further depends upon on the type of construction, the amount of wood-work and the manner in which it is installed in the building.

a. Purposes of anti-termite treatments:-

i. To prevent the possible invasion of sub-terranean termites from hte ground to he building and its contents through external entry or internal attack from under floors. This is done by providing a chemical barrier and other suitable protections at the time of constructing a building.

ii. To eliminate the existing effect of dry-wood-termites and sub terranean termites on wood work, cellulosic material and others contents of a building and to make them resistant to termite attack for future.

B. Classification of Anti-Termite Treatments:-

1. Pre- Constructional Treatments.

2. Constructional Treatments.

3. Post-Constructional Treatments.

1. Pre- Constructional Treatments.

 The  anti termite treatments measures adopted at the time of construction of a building are known as Pre- Constructional Treatments.

This type of anti-termite treatment consists of treating the soil adjacent to and under the building at the time of construction with a suitable insecticide (treating solutions). 

The purpose of these treatments is to form a chemical barriers (which is repellent to sub-terranean termites) between the ground and the wood work, cellulosic materials and other contents of  building.

 2. Constructional Treatments.

The anti-termite treatment measures employed during the construction of a building are known as Constructional treatments.

This type of anti-termite treatment consits of providing external and internal protection in the form of masonry groove or termite shield or string course and cement concrete apron  floor, solid type floor etc, during the construction of structure or building.

the existing effect of dry-wood-termites and sub terranean termites on wood work, cellulosic material and others contents of a building and to make them resistant to termite attack for future.

The purpose of these treatments is to prevent the possible invasion of sub-terranean termites from beneath the ground to the building through external entry or internal attack from under floors.

3. Post Constructional Treatments:-

The anti termites treatment measures adopted in existing building are known as Post Constructional Treatments in existing buildings.

This type of anti-termite treatment consists of treating the wood work and wooden based materials of an existing building with a suitable chemical (termiticide) solution . 

The purpose of these treatments is to eliminate the existing termite effect on wood work, cellulosic materials and other contents of building and also to make them resistant to termite attack for future.

C). General Principles & Precautions in Anti-Termite Treatments:

The following general principles and precautions should be considered while providing anti-termite treatments in buildings:-

i. Clearance of Site: The site of building should be carefully inspected and cleared of all scrap, timber, wooden debris , roots, leaves, roots, slumps, and other organic matter. The mounds of subterranean, if found should be destroyed effectively by forcing insecticides, through openings made at a number of points. If the site is covered by a soil which is rich in decaying matter , about 50 to 100mm of top layer of the soil should be removed and cleared.

ii. Proper Drainage: Effective drainage around the building site should be ensured so that water does not stagnate in the vicinity of the building.

iii. Chemical treatment: The chemicals toxic to sub-terranean termites should be used effectively to check termite effect in the soil.

iv. Foundation without voids: Every effort should be made in the construction of a sound foundation without voids.

v. Less Joints: In the case of depressed floors like lift wells, bathrooms, garage, etc the sub-base must be continuous i.e, without any joints.

vi. Staggered: Where jointless sub base is not possible the joints in the toppings should be staggered from those of the sub base.

vii. Properly Sealed: The floor Joints should be sealed by a suitable sealing compound in order to make them termite-proof.

viii. Shields: Both internal and external termite protections in the form of metallic shields or masonry grooves, cement concrete aprons, continuous sub base etc. should be adequately provided during the construction of a building. 

ix. Superior Material with Skilled Labour: The construction of foundation and super structure should be done with superior quality of material & better workmanship.

x. Good Quality Timber: Well seasoned timber which is naturally durable and is resistant to termite should be used.

xi. Use of Preservatives: The materials of superstructure which are easily susceptible to termite attack, should be treated with suitable preservatives.

 Notes:

Dry Wood Termites: The termites which live in wood without maintaining any connection with the soil are known as Dry-Wood or Non-Subterranean termites.

These termites causes great damages to the buildings and its contents in Coastal Areas.

Subterranean Termites: The termites which build nests and live in the soil are known as subterranean termites.

These termites form nests or colonies underground in the soil, near ground level in a stump or other suitable pieces of timber in conical or dome shaped mounds. These colonies may persist for many years and when they mature contain a population running in to millions. These termites attack the timber laying on or burried in to the ground through under ground forging galleries from which the attack may spread well above ground level, either inside the wood or byway of mud-walled-shelter tubes constructed over unprotected foundations or else by the erection of an independent free standing mud structure.