Hawaii Building Code requires termite protection for all wood construction. What is the standard soil treatment depth around building perimeters?
Correct Answer
B) 6 feet
Hawaii requires soil treatment to a depth of 6 feet around building perimeters and under slabs to create an effective termite barrier.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Hawaii requires soil treatment to a depth of 6 feet around building perimeters and under slabs. Hawaii has one of the most aggressive subterranean termite populations in the US (including the destructive Formosan termite). The 6-foot depth creates a chemical barrier deep enough to intercept termite foraging tunnels before they reach the structure.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 2 feet
2 feet is far too shallow. Subterranean termites in Hawaii commonly forage at depths well beyond 2 feet, and a 2-foot treatment barrier would be inadequate to protect the structure. This depth might be sufficient for surface pests but not for subterranean termites.
Option C: 3 feet
3 feet is deeper than 2 feet but still insufficient under Hawaii's requirements. This distracter tests whether students know the precise code-required depth versus a 'reasonable-sounding' answer.
Option D: 4 feet
4 feet is closer but still does not meet the 6-foot requirement. Hawaii's aggressive termite environment and the Formosan termite's deep foraging behavior necessitate treatment to the full 6 feet.
Memory Technique
Six feet under — the same depth as a burial. In Hawaii, you bury the termite barrier 6 feet deep to keep termites underground and away from your structure. The Formosan termite is so aggressive in Hawaii that the code reflects this by requiring double the depth you might see on the mainland.
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