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<div align="justify"><b>Problem statement: </b>Termites are an essential member of the soil ecosystem and are found&#13; throughout the world. In their natural environment, they improve soil pH, organic carbon content,&#13; water content and porosity by cycling dead organics. They can negatively impact human welfare by&#13; causing damage to unprotected timber structures, underground cables, earthen dams, irrigation ditches&#13; and farming equipment. Globally, the annual economic cost of termite damage and termite prevention&#13; is estimated in billions. In underdeveloped countries data on damage is unavailable and it is difficult&#13; to estimate the cost of repair as funds are also not available. This study aimed at addressing termite&#13; damage in Zambia as a model underdeveloped country by: (a) identifying the injurious species of&#13; termites found in the country, (b) reviewing the factors affecting the natural durability of wood, (c)&#13; determining the nature of termite damage to timber, (d) determining the most common faulty&#13; construction practices which lead to termite entry and infestation in buildings, (e) reviewing chemical&#13; and biological techniques for prevention of damage to wood and (f) developing construction methods&#13; that will prevent termite entry to buildings. <b>Approach: </b>Several houses in selected villages, towns and&#13; cities in different locations in Zambia were chosen for study (ten houses in each location). The&#13; injurious species of termites and natural durability of construction wood were assessed. The damage&#13; to timber was evaluated and faulty construction practices that allowed termite entry to buildings were&#13; identified. <b>Results:</b> The interior of each house and surrounding area were examined for the presence&#13; of termites and termite related damage. Termites were found to gain entry to buildings by a number of&#13; paths. These included creating bore holes through walls, crawling through cracks in the foundation and&#13; climbing through the roof. <b>Conclusion: </b>To prevent termite entry into the buildings multiple&#13; approaches must be used. Before construction begins all nests and palatable wood must be cleared&#13; from the site. Once clearing is completed and before construction begins, wood should be selected&#13; based on its natural repellency. If no naturally repellent timber is available wood should be&#13; impregnated with a chemical preservative. A chemical barrier must be created by treating all exposed&#13; wood in the structure with termiticides and all wood should be placed above a concrete footing. Once&#13; materials have been selected additional constructional preventative measures consisting of internal&#13; preventive measures within the plinth and external preventive measure in form of concrete grooves and&#13; interlocking apron floors around the periphery building should be put in place. Educational and&#13; promotional activities will further lead to prevention of termite attack to buildings.</div

Termite Damage to Buildings: Nature of Attacks and Preventive Construction Methods