In Hawaii's termite protection requirements, what is the minimum clearance required between wood framing and soil?
Correct Answer
C) 8 inches
Hawaii requires a minimum 8-inch clearance between wood framing members and soil to prevent termite access and allow for inspection.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Hawaii code requires a minimum 8-inch clearance between wood framing members (including sill plates) and finished grade. This gap prevents subterranean termites from bridging directly from soil to wood and allows inspectors to visually detect mud tubes that termites build when attempting to cross the gap.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 12 inches
12 inches is not the code-required minimum clearance for wood framing to soil separation in Hawaii. While greater clearance provides more protection and visibility, the code minimum is 8 inches. This option may be confused with crawl space minimum height requirements.
Option B: 18 inches
18 inches is a clearance requirement associated with crawl space floor joist height above grade (not framing-to-soil clearance). Confusing these two different measurements is a common error.
Option D: 6 inches
6 inches is below the Hawaii minimum. While 6 inches is sometimes seen in older codes or less termite-prone regions, Hawaii's severe termite pressure requires the 8-inch minimum.
Memory Technique
Think of an 8-inch ruler standing upright between the wood and the soil — that is the minimum gap a termite inspector needs to see clearly. '8 inches = termite inspection gap in Hawaii.'
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