AS 3660 is the Australian Standard for protecting new homes from subterranean termites. In a climate like South East Queensland's, where termite pressure is significant, it is a standard worth understanding before you take handover.
What AS 3660 actually means
AS 3660 describes how a new building should be protected against subterranean termites — the species that travel underground and can reach a home's structure unseen. The standard sets out the accepted barrier systems, how they must be installed to form a complete and continuous line of defence, and how the protection must be recorded so the homeowner knows what they have and how to maintain it.
The aim is not to make a home termite-proof in an absolute sense, but to ensure that termites cannot reach the structure without being deterred or forced into the open where activity can be detected.
Where it applies in your new home
AS 3660 protection is built into the foundation and perimeter of the home. Barriers are installed at the points termites would use to gain entry: around pipe penetrations through the slab, along construction joints, and around the building perimeter. Depending on the system chosen, this may involve physical barriers, treated soil zones, or a combination.
Because some of these elements sit beneath or within the slab, they are installed early in the build and concealed once construction proceeds.
What VG Inspect checks against AS 3660
Termite management spans two key inspection moments. At the pre-pour stage, an inspector can confirm that barriers around penetrations and beneath the slab are present and correctly installed before the concrete locks them in. At practical completion, the focus shifts to the perimeter system, the absence of obvious bridging points where the barrier could be defeated, and — importantly — the durable notice.
Every finding is documented in writing with photographs, and the presence and completeness of the required documentation is checked, not just the physical work.
What can go wrong
Common shortcomings include barriers that are incomplete around a penetration, perimeter protection that is bridged by later landscaping or paving, and a missing or incomplete durable notice. A barrier is only as good as its weakest point — a single unprotected penetration can give termites the concealed path the system was meant to close.
The durable notice is frequently overlooked. Without it, a future homeowner has no record of what system protects the home or when it needs servicing, which can compromise both protection and resale.
What AS 3660 does and doesn't cover
AS 3660 covers the management of subterranean termites in and around new buildings. It is not a guarantee against all timber pests, nor a substitute for the ongoing termite inspections every Queensland home should have throughout its life. It establishes the initial barrier and the maintenance framework; keeping that protection effective is an ongoing responsibility.
A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector (QBCC Licence 1318443) checks termite management at the relevant stages of your build, including the durable notice at completion. Call 07 3180 8041 or book an inspection online.