Termidor HE from BASF allows pest managers to increase their drill hole spacing while decreasing their trenching depth, making for easier post-construction termite jobs.
Most pest managers would agree that creating a post-construction treatment zone around existing structures is rarely easy and straightforward.
Each site itself is unique, with elements such as cement paths, tiles, hot water systems, or buried pipes, cables and wires being potential obstacles to applying an effective chemical soil treated zone. And pest managers know that drilling, trenching, backfilling and removing or shifting obstacles all add time and cost to a job. So any technology that can save time whilst improving treatments will result in an increase in bottom line profitability, and more importantly, customer satisfaction.
BASF’s Termidor, with its well known, genuine ‘Transfer effect’, is one of the best known and widely used termiticides for creating treated zones around buildings and structures.
“Liquid treatments such as Termidor are often the best solution for protecting properties from termites. But modern structures and building practices can make if difficult and time consuming for pest managers to apply products according to label recommendations,” said Dr David Elmouttie, technical development specialist with BASF.
“The current industry standard recommendations for creating a vertical treated zone are for holes to be drilled at 200mm intervals. However, it is often difficult for pest managers to know what lies beneath the slab or concrete path they are drilling. There could be some serious repercussions if wires, pipes or other utilities are struck!
“Another obstacle for pest managers creating treated zones is hot water systems. Many hot water systems are situated externally and adjacent to structures. Often with a diameter of 600mm and unable to be moved, hot water systems create difficulties for applying a continuous treated zone when the maximum drill hole spacing allowed is 200mm.”
In addition, with the trend to outdoor living, many properties have tiled exteriors and patios. In many situations these tiled areas need to be drilled and treated in order to establish an adequate treatment zone.
“This can make life difficult for pest managers,” added Dr Elmouttie. “Slate, and ceramic tiles for example, can be very expensive with the homeowner also reluctant to have them drilled for aesthetic reasons. But to be fully protected, there is little option other than to drill and inject.
“Given the difficulties, limitations and time consuming nature associated with drilling, it would be of great benefit if the drill hole spacing could be significantly increased to reduce the time spent drilling. And in the case of tiled areas, would lower the visual impact and damage to the tiled area.”
Where concrete is not present, treating an exposed trench and treating the backfill is widely used for creating vertical barriers in post construction situations. Current termiticide label recommendations are for trenching to a depth of at least 50mm below the top of the footing.
“Trenching to such depth is necessary to obtain adequate protection and to ensure a continuous treated zone to that depth. But trenching and replacing the backfill is both arduous and time consuming. It all adds up to extra cost for the pest manager.
“It would be a real win for pest managers if recommendations could be developed to reduce the depth of the trench without reducing the depth of the treated zone,” said Dr Elmouttie.
With their understanding of the difficulties that pest manager’s face, BASF have been developing a new Termidor formulation that will deliver significant time saving benefits whilst providing a premium solution for their valued customers.
That formulation has now been registered and will be marketed under the brand name Termidor HE (High Efficiency) Residual Termiticide. Among its various registered uses will be application in post-construction systems to address the problem issues previously mentioned.
“Termidor HE is the next generation of termiticide technology offering some great benefits. Among the advancements provided by this new formulation’s ‘Advanced polymer technology’, is the capacity to increase the drill hole spacing up to 450mm and decrease trenching depth to 50mm above the top of the footing, all whilst providing an enhanced treated zone.
“These advancements mean pest managers using Termidor HE will reap significant benefits. Using Termidor HE will mean less drilling, less trenching, less wear and tear on equipment and greater flexibility when encountering obstacles like hot water systems, all whilst providing a premium service to your customers.
“By using Termidor HE, pest managers will be able to complete jobs in a shorter time and increase the job value, making each job more profitable,” Dr Elmouttie concluded.
Backed by BASF research, Termidor HE is just another example of BASF’s solutions based approach to providing Australian pest managers with the tools required to grow their business and address industry needs. Termidor HE will be launched and available to pest managers soon.
