AS 3660.2:2000 HAS BEEN REVISED AND IS NOW AS 3660.2:2017

There will be 2 inspection reports, each for a different purpose as outlined in the Standard.

The Visual Termite Inspection Report is now referred to as the Regular Visual Termite Inspection Report but will have a few changes and additions. The second is a Special Purpose Inspection Report.

The major change introduced by this revised Standard, is the recommendation to use specialised tools when high moisture is discovered that cannot be readily explained, or termite activity is suspected, but cannot be readily located. The standard tools are listed on page 18 and Specialist tools at point 3.5.2 (termite radar unit, thermal imaging camera or a termite detector animal) with a recommendation to have available one or more of these specialised tools. The Standard says they are recommended, not that they are mandatory. A high moisture reading obtained with a moisture meter is generally sufficient to recommend an invasive inspection.

Other changes include:

• Time of the inspection
• Weather conditions
• The potential for associated damage arising from the termite activity
• The potential for associated damage where evidence of termites is located
• Inspection records kept for 3 years (Rapid Solutions recommends at least 7 years)
• Where evidence of previous chemical treatment is observed, report the period of protection of the chemical if the chemical can be identified
• Is non-durable timber in contact with the ground

Point 3.3.2.1 - Circumstances where the Regular Visual Termite Inspection Report shall be used are:

• Annual inspections
• Where a new infestation or suspected infestation is reported
• Where a pre-construction termite management system has been installed to AS 3660.1
• Where there is no termite management system installed
• Where a building has undergone an extension, ground level renovations and finished ground levels have affected the existing termite management system and all such works have effectively reached a stage of completion

In effect any new job would require the use of the Regular Visual Termite Inspection Report.

Note: shall = must. The Standard defines shall as - “indicates that a statement is mandatory”

Point 3.2 of the new Standard outlines where a Special Purpose Inspection report is used and what it needs to contain as follows:

The report is used for inspections carried out as part of a process of actions (treatment) to control or limit termite activity from infestations, suspected infestation, or an inspection resulting from an earlier inspection recommendation or work involving termite management components. A special purpose inspection can be undertaken at up to 6 months from the Regular inspection.

• Used whenever checking the effectiveness of termite treatment or risk reduction works
• At each stage of a multiple treatment e.g. at each termite dusting or baiting treatment
• When using radar, thermal imaging or detector dog outside of the Regular Inspection
• Where re-inspection is carried out to areas made accessible that were previously inaccessible.

Rapid Solutions will develop a Special Purpose Inspection Report and will notify clients when available.

This is a new requirement introduced in AS3660.2 - 2017. Rapid Solutions is considering incorporating The Management Plan with the Termite Treatment Proposal. We are looking at options that may minimise the paperwork load introduced by this Standard.

There are other minor changes to the Durable Notice and more substantial changes to the Certificate of Treatment which is now called the Standard “Certificate of Installation in accordance with AS3660.2 – 2017 – Post Construction” apparently to bring it into line with the Certificate of Installation AS3660.1 - 2014 – Pre- Construction.

Note: The two Certificates are not the same and not interchangeable.

Pest managers using ARSENIC DUST can no longer use it in occupied structures.

AS 3660.2-2017 Termite Management in and around existing buildings on page 26 section 5.5.1.3.1 states: “Any dust bearing the pesticide registrar’s label warning ‘DANGEROUS POISON’ shall not be used in an occupied structure.  Arsenic is the only Termiticide Dust currently registered as a DANGEROUS POISON.