• What does the new law say?
• What is a multiple occupancy residential complex?
• What are common areas?
• What must I do to notify residents if I am a strata or property manager?
• What should the notice say?
• How do I notify residents if I am a pest management technician?
• What should the notice say?
• Can I get help preparing a notice?
• What about emergency situations?
• When will the new requirements begin?
• What happens if the new requirements are ignored?
• Where can I get more information?

• Why are termites a problem in Australia?

• How can buildings be protected against termites?
• What chemicals are used as termiticides?
• Are termiticide chemicals safe?
• What about smells that remain after treatment?
• What about pets and wildlife?
• Hazard information on termiticides
  

Good risk management practices can help reduce the risk of damage from termite attack to buildings. This web-guide details these management practices; it is orientated towards helping builders and designers involved in housing construction across Australia. It starts by outlining regulatory and statutory requirements. It then provides guidelines to use in the building process. It finishes by discussing the risk of damage to houses from termites. Three major issues require special mention because of their underlying impact on the above issues:

• Builders and designers should work together to limit possible damage by termites.
• The Principal Certifying Authority should check and ensure that installed systems comply with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), and in most cases, AS 3660.1 as well.
• Consumers should be advised that they are responsible for organising post-construction management of termite risk.

A guide to the termite management issues which the public should be aware of before building a house.

A guide to the termite management issues which the public should be aware of before moving into a house.

AS 3660.2-2000 provides guidelines for the detection and management of subterranean termite ("termites") activity in and around existing buildings and structures. It provides information about both physical and chemical barriers, which impede termites from gaining concealed access to timber and other termite-susceptible materials in buildings and structures. Barriers may be used either singly, or in combination, to provide an integrated system for existing buildings.

The Standard also sets out the steps to be followed to determine the extent of termite infestation in existing buildings, the type of treatment to control or eradicate termites, the use of termite-resistant materials, and methods for managing the risk of re-infestation by termites. Details for the certification of a treatment are included.

AS 3660.2-2000 is not intended for use when providing a pre-purchase inspection report for any timber pest. The requirements for pre-purchase timber pest inspection reports are set out in AS 4349.3-1998.

AS 3660.2-2000 does not apply to the management of drywood termites.

AS 3660.3-2000 specifies the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of termite management systems intended for use in buildings and structures as required by AS 3660.1. NOTE: This Standard may also be used for assessing the effectiveness of termite management systems intended for use in existing building and structures as outlined in AS 3660.2.

AS 3660.3-2000 outlines procedures to assess the ability of a system and its components to manage termite activity in and around buildings and structures. It is not intended for the assessment of the system components to perform other functions as building materials. Such assessments are outside the scope of this Standard and, if required, will need to be determined separately.

NOTE: Any proposed termite management systems required to satisfy the performance criteria of AS 3660.1 will need to be assessed in accordance with this Standard. Approval for such systems by appropriate authorities is dependent on demonstration of assessments that meet the conditions outlined in this Standard.

Section 2 of AS 3660.3-2000 sets out the methodology for carrying out an assessment.

Sections 3 to 8 of AS 3660.3-2000 provide the minimum criteria for specific systems.

AS 3660.1-2000 sets out requirements for the design and construction of subterranean termite management systems for new buildings and ground level extensions or renovations. It includes performance criteria, general requirements and deemed-to-satisfy solutions for both physical and chemical termite barriers throughout mainland Australia. A range of options is provided so that barriers may be used either singly, or in combination, to provide an integrated termite barrier system.

AS 3660.1-2000 includes methods to deter concealed entry by termites from the soil to the building above the termite barrier system.

The 1999 Australian Housing Survey CURF contains data on 27,688 persons aged 15 years or more including demographic data for household and person levels.

The information includes 525 data items. A full list of the data items is included on pages 25 to 61 in the Australian Housing Survey (1999) CURF Technical Paper.

• Recognising termite activity
• Getting quotes
• The inspection
• Questions to ask
• Licensing requirements
• Pestcert
• Industry associations
• Insurance
• Warranties
• Dealing with termites