As part of our Pre-construction Exposed segment, Barry Quon, National Technical and Training Manager for Termseal, outlines best practice when it comes to using penetration collars.
In the last issue I wrote about various types of concrete slabs and how, if built to AS 2870 or AS 3600, they are deemed to be a component of the termite management system. However, once you break the concrete slab, or penetrate the slab with waste pipes, conduits (electrical or data) and water pipes, it is no longer deemed to be impervious to termite incursion. So further termite proofing is required to prevent concealed entry.
Foraging termites will follow drainage pipes in much the same way that they follow tree roots. These pipes ultimately end up under house slabs and lead directly into the home. Therefore, a critical element of the termite management system – in combination with a concrete slab constructed to the Australian Standard – is the penetration collar.
Various penetration collars available on the market (main picture, above) protect the termite entry point between the pipe penetration and the concrete slab. Collars can be made from ABS sheeting, PVC sheeting, chemical-treated sheeting, granular material, or various types of metal sheeting. But do they all comply to AS 3660.1-2014?
The Australian Standard (3660.1-2014) clearly defines the requirements for the design and placement of slab penetration collars. To check if the collars you are using are compliant to AS3600.1-2014, they must:
- Have Shore hardness of D 80 (instantaneous) and a minimum thickness of 1 mm if made from PVC sheeting
- Consist of an annular flange of sheet material with a minimum annular width of 15 mm
- Have a minimum height against the pipe or service conduit of 20 mm
- Attach to the pipe or service with a gap not in excess of 0.4 mm
- Be above the horizontal annulus, wherever a flange to be cast into a concrete slab is clamped or tied to retain position on the pipe or service (applies to the clamp and/or tie)
- Be placed to sit not less than 40 mm from the upper surface and not closer than 50 mm to any reinforcing mesh or bar chair wherever a collar is to be embedded in a concrete slab.
Termseal has been developing, manufacturing and marketing Australian Standard compliant collars since entering the market in 2003, initially with our Universal Termite Penetration Lock Collar and ‘Wrap’ Penetration to the Soft Annular Wrap Collar, to comply with the introduction of AS3600.1-2014. All of our collars are Codemark certified.
Termseal’s Universal Termite Penetration Lock Collars are available to fit 40, 50, 65, 80 and 100 mm pipe or conduit sizes whereas the Soft Annular Wrap Collar is supplied in 40 mm (water), 40 mm (electrical), 50, 65, 80 and 100 mm sizes.
The original Wrap Collar and the more recent Soft Annular Wrap Collar were designed to be applied to penetration pipes over which you could not fit a rigid collar. This could be due to many reasons: the proximity of the pipe to the concrete form boards or to each other; steel reinforcing that could not be cut away, thus not allowing correct placement of the collar; or in some regions of Australia there is a requirement that the drainage network of the structure be water tested by the plumber for council approval. In these situations, the caps are glued on by the plumber, making the installation of rigid collars impossible.
After listening to and taking advice from you, our loyal professional pest managers, Termseal has now designed and patented a universal termite penetration lock collar, the Termseal Ezy-Collar, and it will be manufactured here in Australia, initially in the 100 mm size.
The Termseal Ezy-Collar consists of two different sections. They fit together by interlocking the mating ends with one another to allow the hinged movement of each section. At the other end of each section, overlapping the two ends forms a clasp, which creates the Termseal Ezy-Collar.
The Termseal Ezy-Collar can be posited on pipe penetrations adjacent to form work, on pipes without the need to remove caps (whether glued or not glued) or below any plumbing joints that would restrict the correct placement of the collar. In addition, there will be no requirement to cut away steel reinforcing unless it contradicts AS 3660.1 that requires the collar to be positioned no closer than 50 mm to any reinforcing mesh or bar chair.
Barry Quon, National Technical and Training Manager, Termseal
