Friday, August 25, 2006
[RealEdge] TodayOnline : The $30m problem
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| The $30m problem With no insurance schemes for pest damage, termites are eating their hearts out at our expense Friday August 25, 2006 Sheralyn Tay sheralyn@newstoday. THE problem is as invisible as the insects themselves that is, until things literally fall apart. To say that termites can eat you out of house and home is not an understatement. Just ask president of the Singapore Pest Management Association (SPMA) Major (Retired) G Surajan, who has been in the pest control industry for more than 20 years. He recalls one case where a home with an artificial ceiling got infested with termites. "The family didn't do anything about it. When they stepped out one evening, the entire ceiling chandelier and all just came crashing down," he said. Another of his clients called him in to check the floors of her new house. When he got there, he was able to literally rip out the floor. "The entire floor was eaten underneath all the parquet skirting, even the wiring was exposed," he said. Contrary to common perception, the problem is not isolated to landed property, say pest experts. Even a hairline crack is enough for termites to make their way up rubbish chutes and into your home. Exact figures on the extent and cost of the problem in Singapore are not known, but experts say it is bigger than we realise. In fact, about $30 million, or over 40 per cent of the $70 million pest control industry, went into termite control in 2004. Of late, the focus on dengue has taken the attention away from these ravenous insects, but Maj Surajan and vice-president of the SPMA John Ho say it is a prevalent, often-overlooked problem with nasty and expensive consequences. The humid climate and soil conditions of what was once plantation land make Singapore a "termite haven", said Mr Ho. Termites live on cellulose (plant fibre) so they can eat through almost anything and Mr Ho estimates that one out of five untreated buildings are struck with termites in five years or less. He added: "It is thought around the world that losses from termite damage are more than that from all the natural calamities added together." Termite protection can be done pre or post-construction. According to the Housing and Development Board, all its building contracts state that soil treatment has to be carried out to prevent manifestation of white termites. Upon completion, the warranty is then handed over to the respective town councils, which manage the common areas. This chemical barrier can still be broken, however, with cable-laying, plumbing works and other activities that disturb the soil, so vigilance is important, said Maj Surajan. Despite the problem, there are no home insurance schemes in Singapore that cover termite damage. A spokesperson from insurance company Overseas Assurance Corporation Limited explained that "in general, insurance schemes are meant to cover losses caused by either by accidents or specified perils. Damage caused by insects and vermin et cetera are normally excluded". Part of the problem, say industry players, is quality control in the industry. Maj Surajan explained: "There are some schemes in Australia, but insurance companies must control the quality of the operator. "In Singapore, we don't have insurance (covering this) because the insurance companies are not confident of the quality of work in Singapore. Because they are unable to assess or determine the quality of the operator or the job done, it is difficult to come up with proposals for termite protection." Due to the current focus on dengue, there has been an influx of new entrants into the pest control industry and SPMA is looking to clamp down on errant operators. Said Maj Surajan of some newcomers: "They quote low to undercut, but in doing so, they may not be doing proper work or not using enough chemicals. We want to put a stop to this." The recent move by the National Environment Agency to ensure all its vector contracts are fully accredited under the National Skills Recognition Scheme will be a good start to demanding higher standards from pest control companies, he said. And when that happens, homeowners will benefit even more as it may be possible to insure homes for termite infestation. | |
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// posted by Shajahan @ 9:01 AM 