Master Builders Western Australia — May-June 2017

Compliance needed on termite

management changes

Changes to AS3660.1 relating to termite management for pre-
construction treatment are effective from 1 May.

Builders need to be aware of the changes, the options available
for compliance with the revised Standard and the need to correctly
document construction to demonstrate compliance. The AS3660
suite of Standards was reviewed and updated in 2014. There has
been a transition period from the old to the new Standards and this
ended on 30 April.

What does this mean for builders?
Applications for Building Permits lodged from 1 May will be required
to comply with the new version of AS3660.1 (AS3660.1:2014 Termite
management, Part 1: New building work).

The NCC 2016 Building Code of Australia - Volume Two references
the Standard as a minimum for Termite Management (per Part 3.1.3 –
Volume Two Termite Risk Management). The main area of contention
is the defi nition of concealed and inaccessible areas. In practical
terms, if an area cannot be easily re-treated, it is concealed and
inaccessible and must be addressed.

Concealed and inaccessible areas
Concealed and inaccessible areas are any sections of a structure that
are not accessible for visual inspection, or application of a termite
management system, without the application being invasive, i.e.
requiring the removal of fi xed sections or drilling through substrates in
order to re-apply products or system components. An example is the
standard footing and slab construction methodology used in most
homes in metropolitan and regional parts of WA.

Where not required structurally, the slab is not tied to the footing, thus
an entry point is the gap between the two separate components.
If a concrete slab is relied on as part of a termite barrier, it cannot
not provide a complete termite management system (even with the
treatment of penetrations using a physical barrier).

Primary building elements
It is not all bad news. The BCA and Standard only require the
protection of primary building elements (the minimum standard).
A primary building element is a member of a building designed
specifi cally to take part of the building loads including the roof, ceiling
or fl oor frame, including bracing members. Many builders already
are opting to use treated timber for roof framing or installing a steel
framed roof, thus eliminating any further requirement for treatment –
i.e. compliance with BCA Clause 3.1.3.2 is already achieved.

The following fi gure provides a summary of concrete footing and slab
on ground full masonry building compliance pathways.

Master Builders’ technical consultant

Romina De Santis

Where a treated or steel roof is used, an additional barrier is not

required. However, given consumer expectation that other components

would have protection, for example, cabinetry, timber fl ooring, mouldings

and furniture, it is prudent to continue to provide supplementary

treatments that the industry has continued to include as part of the build.

It should be noted the additional barrier that may be included does

not need to meet the requirements of the Standard, but should not be

listed on the durable notice where it does not meet the requirements of

AS3660.1 – 2014. Advice on maintaining the supplementary treatment

should be provided to the building owner, or the choice to further

include a reticulated system to facilitate retreatment as required for the

chemical used.

The use of treated roof members

Clause 3.2 C2 and note in Appendix D of AS3660.1 – 2014 regarding

requirement for retreatment of preservative treated timber remains

unclear. The warranty for commonly used H2F Blue Pine notes that

retreatment of cut ends, holes and notches is not required to maintain

the 25-year warranty for the performance of the product.

Durable notice

The durable notice required under BCA Clause 3.1.3.4 must nominate

the termite management system used and the date of installation.

Master Builders will continue to liaise with the timber suppliers and

Building Commission for suitable industry outcomes in relation to

compliance and obligations of builders under consumer protection law,

and keep industry informed.

For further information contact Master Builders on 9476 9800 or

email [email protected].

Untreated

roof frame

Chemical barrier

Physical barrier

No treatment

required

No treatment

required

Steel roof frame

Treated timber

i.e. (min H2)

Monolithic slab Physical

barrier penetrations

Reticulation system

for concealed spaces

44 UPDATES technical

MAY–JUNE 2017