Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SECTION 3
ANTI-TERMITE WORK
be started at 500 mm below ground level except when the level is raised or lowered by filling after the
foundations have been cast. In such a case the depth of soil level shall be determined from the new
Fig 2 Treatment for masonry foundation with apron along external perimeter
ground level. The soil in the immediate contact with RCC shall be treated with 7.5 litre/m2 of the
chemical. The other details are as in Fig.3.
3.1.8 Treatment at junction of the wall and the floor - Special care shall be taken to establish
continuity of the vertical chemical barrier on the inner wall surfaces from ground level A (or other level)
up to the level of the filled earth surface. To do this, a small channel 30 mm x 30 mm shall be made at
all the junctions of wall or columns with the floor (before laying sub-grade) and rod holes made in the
channel up to the ground level 150 mm apart; the rod shall be moved backward and forward to break
up the earth and then the chemical emulsion be poured along the channel at a rate of
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7.5litre/m2 of the vertical wall or column. This would permit the soil to be soaked right down to the
bottom. The soil should tamped back into place after the operation.
3.1.9 Treatment of soil along external perimeter of the building - After the building is complete,
the earth along the external perimeter of building shall be rodded at intervals of
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so as to prevent entry of termites through voids in masonry, cracks, etc. The soil retained by the walls
shall be treated with the chemical emulsion at the rate of 7.5 litre/m 2 the vertical surface in contact
with the soil. This barrier should be in continuation of the barrier up to the plinth level.
3.1.12. Treatment of soil surrounding pipes, conduits, etc- When pipes, conduits, enter the soil
inside the area of the foundations, the soil surrounding each point of entry should be treated. For this
the soil shall be loosened for a distance of 150 mm and depth of 75 mm and then the treatment
should be commenced at the same rate as the foundation soil. When the pipes enter the soil external
to the foundations they shall be similarly treated for a distance of 300 mm unless they are clear of the
walls by about 75 mm.
3.1.13 Treatment of expansion joints - Expansion joints at ground level are one of the worst
hazards for termite infestation. The soil beneath these joints should receive special attention when
treatment under 3.1.6 for plinth filling is being carried out. This treatment should be supplemented by
treating the expansion joint after the sub-grade has been laid, at the rate of 2 litres per linear meter.
3.1.14 Treatment of voids in masonry- The movement of termites through the masonry walls may
be arrested by squirting chemical emulsion through holes drilled in the wall at plinth level. The holes
shall be drilled at a downward slope of around 45. This treatment shall also be done to internal walls
in contact with soil. Additional holes may also be drilled as needed, such as, wall corners, under door
and window frames, etc. The treatment holes shall then be sealed.
3.1.15 Treatment at points of contact with woodwork- All existing work, infested with termites,
shall be treated by spraying at points of contact with masonry with chemical emulsion in holes drilled
at an inclination of around 45, the rate shall be around half-a-litre per hole.
3.1.16 Treatment of woodwork
(1). Woodwork, which has been damaged beyond repair, shall be replaced after appropriate
treatment.
(2). Infested woodwork, which can be used, shall be protected with chemical treatment squirted
through inclined holes drilled into the woodwork up to the core, on the unaffected side of the frame. If
need be, the woodwork may be painted with one or two coats of chemicals.
3.1.17 Treatment of electrical fixtures - Wherever possible, the inside of the enclosures of electrical
fixtures shall be treated liberally with chlordane powder.
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A number of stakes 50 mm x 50 mm of timber species which are susceptible to termites, such as, chir,
kail, mango, etc, should be buried at least 150 mm into the ground spaced at 1 m centre-tocentre at
the proposed site. After 3-4 months, the stakes may be taken out and infestation of termites
observed. Termites, if present, will damage the stakes.
3.2.4.2 Clearance of site - Care shall be taken to see that all wooden debris, roots, leaves, stumps
and other organic matters are not accumulated or buried near the foundation or under floor of the
building. Typically termite nests are formed in a stump or other piece of timber near the site. If the
soil is covered by soil rich in decaying matter, the top layer of the soil (about 50-100 mm) shall be
removed. The soil shall be graded to maintain drainage around the building.
3.2.4.3. Elimination of moisture - Drainage shall be ensured so that water does not accumulate or
stagnate around the building. Access of water to the underside of the ground floor shall be prevented
through proper construction measures, such as, construction of concrete apron around the building.
3.2.4.4 Foundation and sub-base of ground floor:
a) Every effort should be made to avoid voids in the construction of foundations.
b) The earth and sand filling around the foundations and in sub-base shall be fully rammed so as to
prevent any subsidence in soil.
c) Where jointless sub-base is not possible, precautions may be taken to prevent crack formation
and the joints are sealed.
d) If concreting of sub-base has to be resumed on a surface which has hardened, such surfaces
shall be roughened, swept clean, thoroughly wetted and covered with a 15 mm layer of mortar
composed of cement and sand in the same ratio as in the concrete mix. This layer of mortar shall be
freshly mixed and laid immediately before placing of concrete. When concrete has not fully hardened,
all laitance shall be removed by scrubbing the wet surface with wire or bristle brushes, care being
taken to avoid dislodgement of particles of aggregates. The surface shall be wetted and all free water
removed and then coated with neat cement grout. The first layer of concrete to be laid shall not be
more than 150 mm in thickness and shall be well rammed against old work, particular attention being
paid to corners and close spots.
3.2.4.5 Selection of timber - Seasoned timber which is naturally durable in heartwood and which is
treated to withstand the attack of subterranean termites should be used in the building (see IS: 40-
1982 and IS: 1141-1993, on preservation and treatment of timber).
3.2.5 Design criteria
a) Anti-termite measures through construction will be effective if both external and internal protection
is adequately provided. The external protection refers to prevention of termite access on surrounding
area of the building. The internal protection refers to the access from soil under the floor area.
b) For external protection, provision of metal shields or masonry grooves around the periphery of the
building and cement concrete apron around the building are recommended. To be effective the shape
of the metal barrier shall be properly maintained.
c) For internal protection the concrete sub-base shall be extended under the walls so that the entire
plinth area is fully covered without any break. In case of depressed floors like lift wells, bathrooms,
garage pits, etc, the sub-base should be continuous.
d) The concrete flooring shall be laid over a layer of coarse sand (larger than 3 mm) as the sand
layer checks soil moisture rising up.
e) Termites do not generally penetrate masonry or concrete in which there are no voids. Masonry
with lime mortar mix leaner than 1:3 shall not be used to be in contact with soils. If the floor
construction gives rise to vertical joints between the floor and the plinth masonry, the joints may be
filled with heavy grade coal tar pitch conforming to IS 216 : 1961 to minimize the tendency of termites
to infiltrate through these joints.
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3.2.6 SPECIFICATIONS FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ANTI-TERMITE MEASURES
3.2.6.1 Construction methods - The construction methods as specified may be adopted for
protection against subterranean termites originating both internally from within and externally from the
area surrounding the building. Stagewise details are given.
3.2.6.2 Earth, free from roots, dead leaves, or other organic matter, shall be placed and compacted in
successive horizontal layers of loose material not more than 200 mm thick. Dry brick shall be inserted
at least 50 mm in brick masonry for providing apron floor around the periphery (see Fig. 4.)
3.2.6.3 Brick on edge in cement mortar shall be laid on the plinth wall. Dry brick shall be placed on
the inner side of the plinth wall for getting anticipated offset space for coarse sand and on the other
side for installing anti-termite masonry groove. In the case of intermediate walls, dry bricks are placed
on either side of the brick on edge masonry for getting offset space for coarse sand layer (see Fig. 5).
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3.2.6.4 The dry brick for the anti-termite groove shall be taken out and cement concrete (1:3:6) sub-
floor shall be laid casting an anti-termite groove in position. In case of internal protection walls, the
cement concrete sub-floor shall be laid on either side over dry bricks to sufficient extent for getting
staggered vertical joints over the joint of plinth wall and earth filling (see Fig. 6.)
3.2.6.5 Superstructure masonry shall be raised over the cement concrete sub-floor and overhead jobs
completed (see Fig. 7).
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3.2.6.6 The dry brick for coarse sand filling shall be removed and graded sand (of size 4 mm to 5 mm)
layer at least 100 mm thick shall be compacted over the earth filling (see Fig. 8).
3.2.6.7 Cement concrete (1:3:6 mix) sub-floor at least 75 mm thick shall be laid over the sand filling.
Masonry finish may be provided to the cement concrete sub-floor (see Fig. 9).
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3.2.6.8 Dry brick provided for apron floor (see Fig. 1) shall be taken out and 600 mm wide formation of
earth of 1:30 slope shall be made. Over the formation 75 mm thick lime concrete (1:3:6 mix) shall be
laid (see Fig. 10).
3.2.6.9 Over the 75 mm thick lime concrete bed at least 25 mm thick cement concrete topping (1:2:4)
shall be laid and 12 mm thick cement plaster shall be applied on the plinth (see Fig. 11).
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SECTION 3
3.2.6.10 The finished construction, incorporating the stages as mentioned appears as in Fig. 12
Fig 12 Anti-Termite construction Final Recommendations
3.2.6.11 The finished construction for stone masonry incorporating the stages as mentioned would be
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