Assessment and Retrofitting of

Existing Timber Structures

Lecture
Durability of timber: termites
(and timber structures)

Objective:
Additional information on durability of
timber with respect to termite attack.

Wolfgang F. Gard Biobased Structures and

Materials, Delft University of Technology, The
Netherlands,
Gaby Ehmcke, TU Munich
Jan-Willem van de Kuilen TU Munich & TU Delft

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 Wood decay processes: Termites
Termites: feed directly on cellulose (!)

They feed on:

• Live trees and plants
• Dead wood in terms of structures, windows, doors, furniture,
firewood

Three types of termites:

Dampwood termites (need wood with high moisture content):
Drywood termites (eat everything)
Subterranean termites (live underground, but may eat your roof if
you don´t watch out!):

Termites need water to live

Subterranean termites are most dangerous
Around 2300 different species identified
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 Termites

Termites feeding on wood

Larvae

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 Termites
Life cycle

colony
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2017 May http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/termites-in-florida/life-cycle/
 Termites

Subterranean and Non-subterranean Termites

Protection
• Physical barriers e.g. metal caps between
foundation and building.
• Bait systems with acting insecticides.
• Chemical treatment of the soil.
colony
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• Subterranean termites
create their own ´tunnels´
• They can destroy a timber
structure within a couple
of months
• Prevention and control is
essential

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 Structural details protecting against termites

• Steel sheet
protection

• Insulation must
be ´termite´
resistant foam

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Structural details protecting against termites

• ´Termite´ resistant
materials
• Ant cap to avoid
termites reaching
the timber

Some literatures indicates

species that may be moderately
to highly resistant to termites
(area dependent):
• Eucalyptus camaldulensis
• Eucalyptus deglupta
• Eucalyptus microcorys

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 Policies protecting against termites

Suppression: Reduce and eradicate termites from infested

materials in a designated area
Site management: Site preparation, clean-up, existing+new
buildings
Soil barriers: sand layers (1.6-2.5 mm grain size), stone/concrete, chemical
Slab design and foundation detailing: avoid pipes and installation
passages, avoid styrofoam closures, Facilitate inspection
Structural protection: preservative treatment, borates (non-toxic for
humans, functions indoors only)
Surveillance and Remediation: Bait, fumigation, heat treatment,
(max.) one yearly inspection, avoid wood and cardboard

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