Pre-Construction Anti-Termite Treatment: A Builder's Guide to IS 6313

Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel through hairline cracks, expansion joints and service openings to reach the wood, paper and stored goods inside a building. In much of North India they are the single biggest pest threat to a structure. Once a building is finished, the soil beneath it is hard to reach. During construction, it is wide open.

What IS 6313 covers

The Bureau of Indian Standards code IS 6313 on anti-termite measures in buildings has three parts:

• Part 1: constructional measures, such as design details that make entry harder.
• Part 2: pre-constructional chemical treatment of the soil.
• Part 3: treatment of existing buildings.

The stages of treatment

1. Foundation trenches and pitsBottom and sides treated before the first concrete is poured.
2. Backfill against foundationsSoil treated in layers as it is returned around columns and walls.
3. Plinth fill and under-floor soilTreated before the floor slab or PCC is laid.
4. Junctions and service entriesPoints where pipes and conduits pass through are given extra attention.
5. External perimeterSoil along the outside of the plinth treated at the end to close the barrier.

Timing on site

Coordination is the most common failure. The treatment team needs notice before each stage is covered. A missed stage cannot be fixed later without drilling. We agree a schedule with the site engineer at the start and log each stage with date, area and quantity.

Add termite piping for the long term

Chemical barriers weaken over the years. Termite piping, laid before flooring, lets the barrier be recharged through refill points without breaking tiles. For villas and premium projects it is one of the best long-term investments.

Our track record

PCES has carried out pre-construction treatment on more than 110 projects, from IGI Airport Terminal 3 and PepsiCo plants to Tata Housing and Omaxe Heights. See the full list of projects.