As with all testing of wood preservatives the evaluation of the resistance to termites of treated wood requires methodology which is approriate to, and can be readily extrapolated to, the practical situation. Thus not only must the variations in possible treatment systems be taken into account (eg dip, brush or pressure application) so too must the range of termite species and the type of exposure of the treated wood (eg ground contact, internal or cladding). The European need for the testing of wood preservatives against termites is two-fold. Firstly there is a need to assess protective treatments against the termite hazard in Europe itself; this concerns only two naturally occurring subterranean termite species Reticulitermes lucifugis and Reticulitermes santonensis, as well as one introduced species Reticulitermes flavipes. Although the dry wood termite Kalotermes flavicollis does occur it is not regarded as a serious building hazard. Secondly there is a demand by preservative manufacturers or users for assessment of the termite resistance of formulations or treated materials exported to countries with substantial termite problems.

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