AS 3660.1: Termite Protection for New Construction

If you're building in Sydney, AS 3660.1 is the standard that governs how termite protection gets built into your home before the slab's even down. Here's what it actually covers, in plain terms.

What AS 3660.1 is

AS 3660.1 is the Australian Standard covering termite management for new building work, pre-construction. It's referenced in the National Construction Code as the accepted way to meet the legal requirement for termite risk management on new residential builds in NSW. In practice, this means if a termite management system is installed in accordance with AS 3660.1, the build satisfies the Code's termite requirement.

I've written separately about the legal side of this from a builder's perspective. This post is about what the standard itself actually requires and what it means for your new home specifically.

The core idea behind the standard

The standard doesn't pretend a new build can be made completely inaccessible to termites, that's not achievable. What it requires instead is a system that forces any termite attempting to reach the structure through a visible inspection zone, rather than a concealed path. A termite that has to expose itself to approach the building can be found during a routine inspection. One with a hidden route straight to the timber can't be.

What the standard actually specifies

The minimum inspection zone. AS 3660.1 sets a minimum termite inspection zone of 75mm, roughly one brick height, around the accessible perimeter of a structure. That zone needs to stay clear and visible, not built over or landscaped away, so any termite activity crossing it has a real chance of being spotted.

Physical barriers. These include products like stainless steel mesh, graded stone, and ant caps, installed at specific points to physically block termite access while keeping the inspection zone principle intact. TermSeal, the physical barrier I install, falls into this category, laid before the slab is poured and carrying a 50-year warranty, conditional on annual inspections continuing.

Chemical barriers. A chemical soil treatment, Termidor in my case, applied at penetrations and pipes passing through the slab, covers the specific gaps a physical barrier alone can't fully close. Pipes moving through concrete create small paths, and treating the soil around those points closes that gap.

Combined systems. Many builds use a combination of physical and chemical protection, since each addresses different weak points in the structure.

Site management during and after construction. The standard also covers precautions during and immediately after the build, since construction activity itself can disturb or bypass a correctly installed system if it isn't managed carefully around the protected zones.

Why this is a build-stage decision, not a later one

Once the slab is poured, the physical barrier option closes off. There's no way to retrofit a product like TermSeal once the structure is sealed over it. This is why AS 3660.1 compliance needs to be planned and installed at the right point in the build sequence, not treated as something to sort out after the fact.

What you get as documentation

Once the barrier and chemical treatment are installed, you should receive a certificate confirming the work was completed to the standard, along with a durable notice fixed near the meter box, stating what system was installed and who to contact for future inspection or maintenance. That paperwork matters for your building certifier, for any future sale, and for keeping the warranty valid.

Common questions

Is AS 3660.1 the same as the termite requirement in the NCC?
Related but not identical. The NCC sets the legal requirement, and AS 3660.1 is the technical standard builders and pest specialists use to meet it. Installing in accordance with AS 3660.1 is the accepted way to satisfy the Code.

Does AS 3660.1 apply to renovations, not just new builds?
It's specifically written for new building work. Existing buildings and their ongoing inspection requirements fall under a different part of the standard, AS 3660.2.

What happens if the 75mm inspection zone isn't maintained after the build?
If soil, mulch, or paving builds up and covers that zone over time, the visible inspection area is compromised, which is exactly the kind of conducive condition I check for during annual inspections.

Do I need to organise this myself if I'm using a builder?
Your builder should be arranging termite protection as part of the build, but it's worth confirming directly who's doing the installation and getting your own copy of the certificate and warranty documentation.

Get your new build protected properly

Call 0405 790 927 to talk through termite protection for your build. I'll install the physical barrier and chemical treatment to AS 3660.1, and hand over the certificate and durable notice on-site once the work is done.