CHANGES to AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
in SECTIONS and APPENDICES
of AS 3660.1-2014 Termite Management, Part 1: New building work.

written by CHRIS LANGLEY

Overview
The objective of the new Standard AS 3660.1-2014 is to revise and update current needs and practices for termite management in new buildings and new building work. It has been altered, reduced and extended with new additions and a few deleted to incorporate a termite management system or component to form fully integrated termite management systems to new buildings and new building work.
Referencing the superseded Standard AS 3660.1-2000 and the new Standard
AS 3660.1-2014 could be difficult but together with one or both Standards this review of the changes will help to explain, how best to interpret and implement them into your business.

AS 3660.1-2014 Contents:

There is a reduction in the number of Sections and increase in Appendices. Sections have been removed with new Sections 5, Sheet Materials, Section 6 Granular Materials and Section 7 Chemical Termite Management System installed. Sectional aspects and Clauses have been amended, relocated to other Sections or added to Appendices.

AS 3660.1-2014 Sections:

Section 1 – Scope and Application
Scope and Application has been reduced with Clause 1.3 Unspecified Systems and Materials changed to 1.5 Termite Management Systems and Their Components.
Clauses 1.4 Interface Between New and Existing Work and Clause 1.5 Construction at or Near Boundary are now relocated as Appendix A1 and A2 respectively.

Section 2 – Design Requirements
Design requirements has been increased with the heading Performance Criteria
replaced. The Clause 2.2 Attachments and Items to Buildings and new
Clause 2.4 Potential Entry Points for Termites are amendments in this Section. The types of physical termite management systems are deleted but appear under other Sections 5, 6, or 7. The new Figures 2.1 show possible termite entry points in varied construction types with the Table 1 – Schedule for Assessment of Compliance deleted in accordance with AS 2660.1-2014.

Section 3 – Requirements – General
General has been reduced with the heading Deemed-To-Satisfy Requirements – General replaced. It specifies the procedures to be implemented before, and in association with any building practices and installation of physical or chemical termite management systems including those covered in Sections 4 to 7.
The old Clause 3.2 Building Site Management is relocated in Appendix F with the old Clause 3.4 Mixed Construction having been deleted and old Clause 3.4 Attachments to Buildings relocated to Section 2 while old Clause 3.6 Bridging and Breaching has been deleted.
Its worthy of note for Masonry that fired clay bricks have been specified and deleted is a note that masonry, whilst being termite resistant, is not a termite barrier in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.

The new Clause 3.3.4 Isolated piers, posts and stumps addresses the requirements of access for inspection with and without sheet materials and includes additional Figure 3.1(C).

Section 4 – Requirements – Concrete Slabs
Any penetrations through concrete slabs from temporary fixings, to support items such as formwork shall be cleared and filled prior to the final setting of the concrete using either concrete of the same strength and properties, or a non-shrink grout of minimum strength greater than that of the concrete.
After concrete final setting has occurred, any penetrations shall be filled using only a non-shrink grout equal in strength to that of the concrete.
The new Clause 4.3.2.4.2 Penetrations collars for use with concrete slabs allows for both collars consisting of an annular (ring) flange of sheet material being embedded into the concrete slab or adhered to the surface using a termite-resistant adhesive, an adhesive to be in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014 testing requirements.
Where a collar consisting of an annular (ring) flange of sheet material is embedded in a concrete slab it shall be placed so as to sit not less than 40mm from the upper surface and not closer than 50mm to any reinforcing mesh or bar chair.
The Clause 4.4 Slab Edge Exposure has been amended but the meaning is similar with the addition ‘other coating or cover that might provide scope for concealed termite access’ included to permit ready detection of termite entry. Figures 4.3 (a) and (b) has the vapour barrier or damp-proof membrane as turned up to the outside perimeter slab edge and finished at ground, landscaping or paving level to provide the minimum 75mm slab edge exposed for visual inspection.

Section 5 – Requirements – Sheet Materials
Sheet Materials has been amended to include use of stainless steel mesh minimum grade 316, PVC sheeting of a minimum thickness 1.0mm (1000 microns) and chemically treated sheet material tested in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014 and registered with the pesticides registrar with other materials and dimensions not specified in Clause 5.2 Material requirements shall be tested in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014.
Where sheet materials are used, the entire width of the external walls, including and cavities in the wall, shall be sheeted to the outside wall face and the sheeting shall be continuously visible at the exterior. When the external wall is rendered the sheet material shall be finished flush with the outside face of the render.
The new Clause 5.3.5 Under slabs has been amended from Clause 6.5.5 Under slab to address those occasions where a concrete slab is not to be termite-resistant, it may be fully underlain with a sheet material, placed to accommodate expected movement, integrate with management system components to pipes and penetrations and being integrated continuously with the perimeter termite management system.
The new Clause 5.3.6 Concrete slab penetrations has been amended from
Clause 6.5.3 Penetrations to address the requirements of installation for a collar on a slab-penetrating pipe or service, consisting of an annular (ring) flange of sheet material to be cast into the concrete slab and where it is to be concealed beneath a permanent fixture i.e. flooring mortar bedding, tiled bedding, kitchen cupboard or vanity it shall be sealed to the top surface of the slab with a termite-resistant adhesive tested in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014.
The new Clause 5.3.8 External walls
The new Clause 5.3.8.1 General has been amended from Clause 6.5 Installation to address use of flexible sheeting installed with a fold at the corners, it shall be placed so that no fold opens to the wall interior and such folds should open to the visible perimeter.

The Clause 5.3.8.2 External walls in conjunction with concrete floor slab has been amended from Clause 6.5 Installation – Clause 6.5.2 to address Knock-out block slabs and in fill slabs poured against masonry where the sheet material shall extend from the concrete slab to the exterior surface of the wall and if not fully compressed beneath the bottom plate or other building component, such that no gap exceeds 0.4mm, the sheet material shall extend a minimum of 35mm and be triple-rolled, brazed, welded or jointed using a termite-resistant filler or termite-resistant adhesive, refer figures 5.5 (in part).
Clause 5.3.11 Joints has been amended from Clause 6.5.4 Joints to address chemically treated sheet material that shall be overlapped by a minimum of 50mm with joints that are not fully and permanently compressed between other building components shall be jointed using a compatible termite-resistant filler or termite- resistant adhesive.
Any fasteners, rivets, clips, tape or other restraints applied to a sheet shall be compatible with that sheet, shall be assessed in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014 as not reducing the design life of the sheet material.
Full and permanent compression of sheet joints may be achieved by a mass of masonry or block work such that there is no measurable gap between overlapped joints and sheet material draped across the cavity of masonry wall (if it exists) is not in a compressed state.

Section 6 – Requirements – Granular Materials
The new Clause 6.2.1 Granules denotes a granular material used as a termite management system shall comprise a termite-resistant material tested in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014, where a granular material is compacted it shall replicate the compaction to which it was tested and the capping systems may consist of concrete, bituminous material, acrylics or other plastics.
The new Clause 6.2.2 Interface with sheet materials requires sheet materials used in conjunction with granular materials shall comply with item (f), (g) or (h) of Clause
5.2 or Clause 3.2(f) and at their interface, sheet materials and granular materials shall be placed in direct contact with an overlap or penetration.
The Clause 6.3.2 External walls identifies there are mineral granules and impregnated granules referenced in the new Standard with installations to external walls with minimum width in wall cavities as 40mm for mineral granules and 25mm for impregnated granules. Sheet materials shall be incorporated into the masonry with a minimum vertical penetration of 35mm and a maximum vertical penetration of 50mm into the granules with the sheet material finished flush to the outside edge of masonry or where applicable render.

The Clause 6.3.3 Penetrations has been amended from Clause 7.4.3. Penetrations to address use of mineral granular materials to a minimum compacted depth of 75mm or 40mm for impregnated granular materials where each service pipe or similar concrete slab penetration passes through a circular void that surrounds the penetration and the top of the graded granular collar shall be capped to prevent granule loss or contamination.
In such installation where granular materials may be employed around pipe penetrations the edges of the cut or broken concrete shall be flattened so that comple3te contact between the granular materials and concrete can be achieved and where saw cuts are used, they shall be opened to permit contact with the granular material or shall be filled with a non-shrinking grout.

Clause 6.3.4 Joints installation of mineral or impregnated granular material is similar to Clause 6.3.3 Penetrations with the joint void filled with granular material to the same depths, the top, bottom and ends of the resultant granular material shall be capped to retain integrity and to prevent egress (any exist) of the granules.
Clause 6.3.5 Mineral granular material under slab where the mineral granular materials is used beneath a slab-on-ground, it shall be compacted and installed so as to cover all foundation areas to the following;
(a) Over-compacted bedding sand or fill material more than 50mm thick……75mm
(b) On sites without bedding sand or fill……………………………………. 100mm
(c) On sites with compacted bedding sand or fill less than 50mm thick……. 100mm Where slab thickenings are deeper than 150mm, particles may be omitted.
Clauses 6.3.6 Mineral granular materials under suspended floors have been amended in text with no other changes in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.
Clause 6.4 Mineral granular material used with pole, posts, or stumps has been amended in text with no other changes in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.
Clause 6.5 Mineral granular material at access ramps have been amended in text with no other changes in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.

Section 7 – Requirements – Chemical Termite Management System
In conjunction with the requirements of Section 3 this Section sets out requirements for chemicals to be used as a component of a termite management system to deter termites from gaining concealed access to a building and all chemical products shall be in accordance with the pesticides registrar.
Chemical products shall be applied to the soil by hand-spray or reticulation systems and in accordance with the rates and manner specified by the pesticides registrar’s approved label and shall be tested in accordance with AS 3660.3. When applied by hand-spray, only low-pressure, high-volume spray equipment that delivers coarse droplets shall be used.
Chemical termite management systems applied under concealed and inaccessible areas shall be replenishable via a reticulation system providing an even and continuous distribution of the chemical into the soil.
A chemical hand-spray may be installed by excavating trenches, treating the exposed trench and backfilling the trench with treated material to areas where the soil is permanently exposed and readily accessible without the requirement under the
BCA 2016 Volume Two for a cover strip at external perimeters to buildings and in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.

The BCA 2016 Volume Two amendment in Queensland provides a termite management system shall have a design life of at least 50 years or if it is easily and readily accessible for replenishment or replacement and is capable of being replenished or replaced. Where a chemical is used as an external chemical perimeter termite management system, it must be installed by excavating trenches, treating the exposed trench and backfilling the trench with treated material covered by a concrete cover strip not less than 50 mm thick and 300 mm wide measured from the external wall of the building. This is best suited to a reticulation system and not a hand-spray application and in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.

The BCA 2016 Volume Two amendment in the Northern Territory excludes use of naturally termite-resistant timbers in areas where Mastotermes darwiniensis are prevalent and provides when used as an external chemical perimeter termite management system for Mastotermes darwiniensis it must be installed by excavating trenches, treating the exposed trench and backfilling the trench with treated material covered by a concrete cover strip not less than 50 mm thick and 300 mm wide measured from the external wall of the building. This is best suited to a reticulation system and not a hand-spray application and in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.
Where a chemical termite management system or termite management component does not meet the requirements of the Standard AS 3660.1-2014 it shall be in accordance with testing under AS 3660.3-2014, registered by the pesticides registrar and applied in accordance with the rates and manner specified by the pesticides registrar approved label.
Penetrations and joints not provided with a termite management system detail to the slab shall be fully underlain by a horizontal application through a reticulation system tested in accordance with AS 3660.3-2014.
The vapour barrier or damp-proof membrane under slab-on-ground construction shown illustrated in the Standard AS 3660.1-2014 appears to stop at the finished ground.
Clause 7.3 Restrictions On areas Of Application;
Clause 7.3 (d) Concrete perimeter, at a concrete perimeter, chemical products shall be applied so as to maintain direct contact with concrete slabs and noted “Only where a vapour barrier or damp-proof membrane is not required by the NCC can a chemical concrete perimeter system be used”.
The NCC (BCA) 2016 Volume Two, Clause 3.2.2.6 Vapour barriers (a) 0.2 mm nominal thickness polyethylene film; and (c) The vapour barrier must be placed beneath the slab so that the bottom surface of the slab is entirely under laid and extends under edge beams to finish at ground level in accordance with Figure 3.2.2.3.

APPENDICES
Clauses have been relocated to Appendices in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014 and some removed i.e. Durable Notices, now referenced in accordance with the BCA 2016 Volume One and Volume Two, Clause

Appendix A – (Informative)
Appendix A – Guidance on Installation of Termite Management Systems.
The Certificate of Installation as set out in the Standard AS 3660.1-2014, and where a reticulation system is installed, the maximum pressure to be applied in replenishing the system specified by the reticulation system manufacturer shall be displayed on the Certificate of Installation, along with the volumes of termiticides required at each fill point.

In the case of a chemical soil or chemical sheet termite management system, the name of the chemical product used, the service life on the manufacturer’s product label and, if applied as a liquid, the total volume used. For a physical termite management system, the name of the system and methods of installation is required. The locations of chemical application with area, in metres squared, perimeter and linear applications, in metres.
The extent of the termite management system provided and whether a single system
or integrated system has been applied and a diagram to show the location of the
termite system components. Any limitations to the installation of the system or the
ability to maintain or inspect system components, which may have occurred due to the
design or construction of the building or the requirements of the person soliciting the
work.
New items (i), (j), (k), and (l) should be read fully as you will provide on the Certificate of Installation the builder or concreter’s certification of concrete slab compliance with AS 2870 or AS 3600, where a slab requires additional works, details of work to suspended floors and works to the building perimeter, including where systems have been applied internally or externally, and the length of perimeter treated, in metres.

Appendix B – (Informative)
Appendix B – Economically Important Wood-Feeding Species of
Subterranean Termites in Australia.
There has been no changes to the list of subterranean termite species with the note reworded to “The Microcerotermes are not well-known as pasts; however, the genus does contain several economically important wood-feeding species.”

Appendix C
Appendix C – Naturally Termite-Resistant Timbers.
Some naturally termite-resistant Australian Hardwood timbers have been removed, ‘forest red gum’, ‘grey gum’, jarrah’, ‘grey box’ and new timbers added, ‘ grey box’, ‘grey gum’ (check botanical name).

Appendix D – (Normative)

Appendix D – Preservative -Treated Timber.
There is now some Australian Standards which are used in New Zealand also and have the reference AS (AS/NZS). There is an added note that “All cuts, drill holes, notches and planned surfaces will need to be retreated to prevent termite entry.” I have misgivings about builders meeting this compliance and who should regulate.

Appendix E – (Normative)
Appendix E – Soil-Sampling Protocol for Testing Horizontal and Vertical Chemical Soil Termite Management Systems.
In essence this Appendix C remains untouched with some minor amended text that should be read in full.

Appendix F – (Normative)
Appendix F – Building Site Management.
This Clause 3.2 under Section 3 in the superseded Standard AS 3660.1-2000 has been relocated to an Appendix with the same enforcement due to it being (Normative) in accordance with AS 3660.1-2014, some minor amened text that should be read in full.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Acknowledgement by list of referenced Australian Standards and Publications used in the production of this Standard AS 3660.1-2014.

Summary
This concludes a summary of the main issues I consider of importance that should be read in conjunction and accordance with AS 3660.1-2014.

To review the complete Australian Standard AS 3660.1-2014 clause by clause you can refer to my article “COMPLETE & DIFINITIVE LOOK INTO CHANGES IN AS 3660.1-2014”.