Timber pest inspection Adelaide: AS 4349.3 to the letter

A timber pest inspection is the formal name for an Australian Standard pest inspection. AS 4349.3 is the standard, and it covers timber pests specifically: subterranean termites, borer, and fungal decay. Some commercial contracts and lenders require "AS 4349.3 compliant" wording rather than the generic "pest inspection". The two terms describe the same scope.

For most commercial property due diligence, yes. AS 4349.3 covers the timber elements of the structure and the conditions that lead to timber pest activity. For larger commercial assets or specific contract conditions, you may need an additional structural engineer report or a specialised condition assessment alongside the AS 4349.3 inspection.

Residential standalone AS 4349.3 inspections in Adelaide typically run $250 to $400. Commercial inspections vary based on building size, complexity, and access requirements. A 500 m2 commercial unit might be $450 to $700. A 5,000 m2 industrial site or a multi-tenant retail building will be quoted on a case-by-case basis.

AS 4349.3 defines timber pests as wood-destroying organisms: subterranean termites (white ants), drywood termites (rare in Adelaide), borer beetles (Lyctus, Anobium, European house borer, Calymmaderus), and wood-decaying fungi (wet rot, dry rot, white rot). Carpenter ants and bees are not technically timber pests under the standard, although a good inspector will note them anyway.

AS 4349.3 is a visual, non-invasive timber pest inspection. It does not cover: detailed structural assessment (use AS 4349.1 for that), invasive sampling, asbestos, mould, environmental contamination, hidden defects behind cladding or in sealed cavities, or active extermination work. Pest control treatment is a separate engagement after the inspection.