02 NCAC 34 .0503             SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE CONTROL: BUILDINGS AFTER CONstruction

(a)  The following standards and requirements apply to the treatment of a building for subterranean termite control after construction if the building has a basement or crawl space:

(1)           Access openings shall be provided to permit inspection of all basement and crawl space areas of a building and all open porches.

(2)           Clean up and remove all wood debris and cellulose material, such as wood, paper, and cloth, contacting soil in all crawl space areas. This excludes shavings or other cellulose material too small to be raked with the tines of an ordinary garden rake. Remove all visible stumps from all crawl space areas. Remove all visible form boards in contact with soil.

(3)           Remove all earth which is within 12 inches of the bottom edges of floor joists or within eight inches of the bottom edges of subsills or supporting girders, but not below footings of foundation walls. If foundation footings are less than 12 inches below the bottom edges of joists, subsills, or supporting girders, a bank of soil 12 inches to 18 inches wide shall be left adjacent to footings for the purpose of support. Clearance shall be adequate to provide passage of a person to all crawl space areas of a building.

(4)           All visible termite tubes or tunnels on pillars, pilasters, foundation walls, chimneys, step buttresses, sills, pipes, and other structures below the sill line shall be removed.

(5)           Eliminate all wooden parts making contact with the building and soil, either outside or inside, as follows:

(A)          No wood of any access opening shall be in contact with the soil.

(B)          Where wood parts such as door frames, partition walls, posts, stair carriages, or other wood parts can be ascertained to be making direct soil contact through concrete or where there is evidence of termite activity or damage, such wood parts shall be cut off above the ground or floor level, the wood shall be removed from the concrete, and the resulting hole shall be filled with concrete or covered with a metal plate after the point of contact has been treated with a termiticide.

(C)          Where wood parts such as vertical wood supports or other wood parts under a building or steps outside a building are not resting on solid masonry or concrete bases extending at least two inches above the soil surface or are in direct soil contact and such supports or steps are not removed, the supports and steps shall be cut off and set on a solid masonry or concrete footing extending at least two inches above the ground after the point of contact has been treated with a termiticide.

(D)          When wood skirting and lattice work are suspended, there shall be at least a two‑inch clearance between the top of the soil and the bottom edges of the wood skirting or lattice work. If the two‑inch clearance is not acceptable to the property owner, it may be closed with solid masonry or concrete, but a minimum clearance of one‑fourth of one inch shall be provided between the masonry or concrete and wood.

(E)           Where houses or decks are built on pressure-treated wood pilings, pillars, or all‑weather wood foundations, such pilings, pillars, and wood foundation members, including wood step supports, are not subject to Parts (a)(5)(A), (B), or (C) of this Rule.

(6)           Where evidence of either past or present subterranean termite infestation exists, drill and treat all voids in multiple masonry foundation and bearing walls and all voids created by their placement at and a minimum distance of four feet in all directions from such evidence. Porch foundation walls shall be drilled and treated to a distance of three feet from the main foundation wall and the point of contact with any wooden members. Drill as follows:

(A)          The distance between drill holes shall not exceed 16 lineal inches and holes shall be no more than 16 inches above the footing or, for footings deeper than 16 inches, above the lowest soil level.

(B)          Test drill the main foundation wall behind any porch or slab area to determine if the porch or slab is supported by a wall whose placement creates a void between itself and the main foundation wall. If test reveals that a void exists, drill and treat all voids therein as specified in this Rule.

(7)           Where evidence of either past or present subterranean termite infestation exists, drill and treat all voids in all multiple masonry pillars, pilasters, chimneys, and step buttresses associated or in contact with such evidence and any void created by their placement. Drill as follows:

(A)          The distance between drill holes shall not exceed 16 lineal inches and shall be no more than 16 inches above the footing or, for footings deeper than 16 inches, immediately above the lowest soil level.

(B)          Drilling is not required if solid concrete masonry footings of pillars, pilasters, chimneys, or step buttresses extend eight inches or more above the soil surface.

(8)           Where concrete slabs over dirt‑filled areas are at the level of, above the level of, or in contact with wood foundation members, treat dirt‑filled areas with a termiticide as follows:

(A)          Drill vertically three‑eighths of one inch or larger holes in the slab, no more than six inches from the building foundation at no more than 12-inch intervals, and treat soil below slab from the bottom of the slab to the top of the footing; or

(B)          Drill horizontally three‑eighths of one inch or larger holes in the foundation wall of the concrete slab, no more than six inches from the building foundation every 16 vertical inches starting immediately below the bottom of the slab, and rod treat all soil adjacent to building foundation from the bottom of the slab to the lowest outside grade.

(9)           Trench or trench and rod treat soil to establish a continuous termiticide barrier in the soil adjacent to, but not more than six inches from:

(A)          all pillars, pilasters, chimneys, pressure-treated wood supports, and step buttresses;

(B)          inside of foundation walls;

(C)          outside of foundation walls; and

(D)          the outside of foundation walls of concrete slabs over dirt‑filled areas, and the entire perimeter of a slab foundation wall from the top of the grade to the top of the footing or to a minimum depth of 30 inches, whichever is less.

Where footings are exposed, treatment shall be performed adjacent to the footing but not below the bottom of the footing. The trench shall be no less than six inches in depth or to the bottom of the footing, whichever is less. Where outside concrete slabs adjacent to the foundation prevent trenching of soil, drill three‑eighths of one inch or larger holes, not more than 12 inches apart and within six inches of the foundation wall, through slabs or through adjoining foundation wall, and rod treat soil below slabs as indicated above to establish a continuous termiticide barrier at all known points of entry. The soil around pipes and other utility conduits making contact with the structure shall be treated.

(10)         Where stucco or similar materials, including extruded or expanded rigid foam insulation or similar materials, are installed on wood and extend to or below grade, trench soil to a depth below and under the edge of the stucco or similar materials and treat soil to establish a continuous termiticide barrier in the soil. After the soil has been treated, a masonry barrier wall may be erected to hold back the soil from making direct contact with the stucco or similar materials. Where outside slabs on grade adjacent to foundation prevent trenching of soil, drill three‑eighths of one inch or larger holes through slabs within six inches of the foundation wall or through adjoining foundation wall, not more than 12 inches apart, and rod treat soil below slabs. Where drain tile, french drains, or other foundation drainage systems present a hazard of contamination outside the treatment zone, treatment shall be performed in a manner that will not introduce termiticide into the drainage system.

(11)         The requirements set forth in Paragraph (b) of this Rule shall be followed if applicable to basement or crawl space construction.

(b)  The following standards and requirements shall apply to the treatment of a building for subterranean termite control after construction if the building has a slab-on-ground construction:

(1)           Treat soil to establish a continuous termiticide barrier in, under, and around all traps and openings in the slab.

(2)           Drill vertically three‑eighths inch or larger holes at all visible or known expansion and construction joints, cracks, and crevices in slab and around all utility conduits in the slab at no more than 12-inch intervals and rod treat soil below slab to establish a continuous termiticide barrier from the bottom of the slab to a depth of 30 inches or to the top of the footing, whichever is less, at all known points of entry. Where wooden structural members are in contact with concrete or masonry floors which have joints or cracks beneath the wooden structural members, including wall plates in utility or storage rooms adjoining the main building, the concrete or masonry shall be drilled and treated in order to achieve treatment of the soil beneath them; however, expansion and construction joints at the perimeter of the exterior wall may be rod treated by drilling through the foundation wall at no more than 12-inch intervals directly below the bottom of the slab.

(3)           The requirements set forth in Paragraph (a) of this Rule shall also be followed, where applicable.

(c)  Reapplication of Pesticide(s) to a Structure Previously Treated for Subterranean Termite Control:

(1)           Termiticide shall be reapplied if soil test by the Division reveals that the soil is deficient in the termiticide which was applied to the soil.

(2)           Any reapplication of pesticides under this Rule shall be in accordance with the label of the pesticide used.

(d)  A licensee may enter into a written agreement for the control or prevention of subterranean termites in a building after it has been constructed without having to comply with Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule provided that:

(1)           The licensee has written proof that he or she or his or her authorized agent treated the entire building for subterranean termites at the time of its construction as required in 02 NCAC 34 .0505 or 02 NCAC 34 .0506 (or comparable rules in effect at the time of treatment); and

(2)           A written agreement is issued in compliance with 02 NCAC 34 .0605.

(e)  Paragraphs (a)(3), (a)(6) through (a)(11) and (b) of this Rule shall not apply to subterranean termite treatment performed using termite bait(s) labeled for protection of the entire structure if the licensee provides a warranty for the control of subterranean termites on the entire structure.

(f)  If the licensee uses a termiticide that has been approved by the Committee pursuant to 02 NCAC 34 .0502(a)(2)(B) and the licensee complies with the requirements of that Part, the licensee shall not be required to comply with 02 NCAC 34 .0503(a)(4) and (a)(6) through (11). For a list of termiticides the Committee has approved under 02 NCAC 34 .0502(a)(2)(B), see

http://www.ncagr.gov/SPCAP/structural/documents/TTermiticidesApprovedForUseInNorthCarolinapdf.pdf.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 106-65.24; 106-65.29;

Eff. July 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. November 22, 1977;

Amended Eff. August 1, 1980;

Temporary Repeal Eff. August 24, 1987 for a period of 30 days to expire on September 22, 1987;

Temporary Repeal Expired Eff. September 22, 1987;

Amended Eff. January 1, 1989;

Temporary Amendment Eff. January 10, 1997;

Temporary Amendment Expired Eff. October 31, 1997;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2017; July 1, 2010; August 1, 2002; July 1, 1998;

Readopted Eff. June 1, 2020.