Boron-treated expanded polystyrene insulation resists native subterranean termite damage after 3-year field exposure

Foam plastic insulation around or beneath building foundations can provide hidden entryways that must be considered for effective termite prevention. Borate-treated expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid foam insulation installed with construction sealant (CS) to a concrete block was evaluated for resistance to damage by native subterranean termites. The evaluation included 3-year exposure to termite attack in three widely separated test plots of insulation-enclosed concrete test units partially buried in soil, with untreated wood above and below the units to attract termites. By digital image analyses, the percentage of termite damage was quantified by treatment for field-exposed EPS samples to provide data amenable to statistical analyses. Borate-treated EPS with borate-treated CS had 3.2 percent damage compared to 23.9 percent for untreated EPS installed with untreated CS after 3-year field exposure.

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