Abstract
The moderate and humid climate of the southern United States provides attractive conditions for nature to damage wood framing. One destructive agent becoming more common in recent years is Formosan subterranean termites. Damage to wood structures from Formosan termites has been increasing since their introduction to the continental U.S. from Asia. It is estimated that Formosan subterranean termites cause in excess of $1 billion in property damage per year in the United States. The aggressiveness of Formosan termites and their ability to consume more wood in relatively less time has led to their label as a substantial destructive timber pest. Formosan termites often swarm in spring and early summer and have the ability to establish aerial colonies with no ground contact if a significant source of moisture is available above ground in a structure. Engineers are often asked to evaluate termitedamaged structures, design repairs, and provide expert testimony related to the extent of damage. This paper presents lessons learned from the structural evaluation of numerous termite-damaged structures. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate various conditions that may allow damaging termite infestations to become established in buildings.
Published Version
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