TermiMesh: the stainless-steel mesh termite barrier

TermiMesh is a chemical-free physical termite barrier made from fine stainless-steel mesh with openings too small for a termite to pass through. It is installed during construction around the slab perimeter and as collars at every service penetration, sealing off the concealed paths termites use to get into a building. It is one of the recognised physical alternatives to a chemical soil treatment like bifenthrin or a graded-stone barrier like Granitgard.

What it is made of

TermiMesh uses a woven stainless-steel mesh to the manufacturer’s TMA725 specification. TMA725 is described as superior to the grade 316 stainless steel listed in Section 6 of AS 3660.1-2014, with roughly twice the molybdenum content of standard 316 alloy (verified 2026-05-25, TermiMesh product composition). That extra molybdenum matters on a building site: it gives the mesh corrosion resistance to harsh construction conditions and to chemicals it will meet in service, notably brick-cleaning (hydrochloric) acid, which can attack lesser stainless grades. A termite barrier that corrodes is a barrier with holes, so the alloy grade is not a detail to gloss over.

The mesh is woven from nominal 0.17 mm diameter wire, giving an aperture of roughly 0.66 x 0.45 mm (or a tighter 0.45 x 0.45 mm weave). That aperture is the whole point: it is below the size a termite can squeeze through or chew open, so the mesh stops them mechanically.

How it works

TermiMesh is a mechanical barrier, not a poison. It works on aperture size alone: the holes are too small for a termite to pass, and stainless steel is too hard for them to chew. Like every compliant termite system, it does not kill termites; it blocks the concealed entry routes and forces any termite trying to get in out into the open, where it has to build a visible mud tube and can be picked up at inspection.

Because it relies on being an unbroken screen, the continuity of the install is everything. A mesh barrier is only as good as its worst join, clamp, or termination. One unsealed penetration is the gap the colony finds.

Where and how it is installed

TermiMesh is fitted at the points where termites would otherwise get hidden access:

• Perimeter: the mesh is run around the foundation perimeter, typically affixed to the first course of brickwork and to the concrete slab so there is no concealed gap at the slab edge.
• Penetration collars: a mesh collar is fitted around every service penetration through the slab (pipes, conduits), at-grade and below-grade, and secured with stainless-steel clamps.
• Junctions and terminations: where the mesh meets the slab, brickwork, or another element, it is sealed (often with a parge/render detail) so the barrier stays continuous.

This is fiddly, detail-heavy work. Unlike pouring a stone bed, a mesh barrier is a lot of small, precise terminations, and that is where its reputation for being “complex to detail” comes from. It is durable once in, but it has to be installed correctly at every junction.

Certification and who installs it

• CodeMark and AS 3660.1. TermiMesh is certified under the CodeMark scheme (the ABCB’s product-certification framework) as complying with the Building Code, and it sits within the physical-barrier provisions of AS 3660.1 (verified 2026-05-25, ABCB CodeMark scheme). The mesh material exceeds the Section 6 stainless-steel requirement of AS 3660.1.
• Accredited installers only. TermiMesh must be installed by a TermiMesh-accredited installer holding a current accreditation card. It is not a builder DIY item, and the installer’s certificate forms part of the building’s termite-management documentation.

TermiMesh versus the other barriers

	TermiMesh (stainless mesh)	Granitgard (graded stone)	Chemical soil (e.g. bifenthrin)
Type	Physical, mechanical screen	Physical, particle bed	Chemical, repellent or non-repellent
Chemicals	None	None	Yes
Stops termites by	Aperture too small to pass	Particles too hard/big/tight	Treated zone
Main strength	Durable; corrosion-resistant alloy	Permanent; non-toxic	Even, continuous treated zone
Main weakness	Detailing complexity at junctions	Disturbance by later trades	Chemical ages out (~10-yr label)
Install by	Accredited installer	Accredited installer	Licensed pest technician

All three are recognised, compliant approaches. Mesh and stone both appeal where a chemical-free system is wanted; the choice between them often comes down to the build detail and the installer’s preference. Physical barriers like mesh are also relevant in the tropical north, where Mastotermes darwiniensis limits the acceptable product list, because a correctly installed mechanical barrier resists any species by aperture rather than chemistry.

For a builder

• Book the accredited installer into the sequence. The perimeter and penetration work happens at a specific point in the slab and brickwork stages; coordinate it rather than chasing it late.
• Protect every penetration. The collars are the weak point. Do not add a penetration after the mesh is in without getting the installer back to collar and seal it.
• Mind the brick-cleaning acid. The TMA725 alloy is chosen partly to survive acid wash, but that is a reason to brief trades, not to be careless with where acid runs.
• Keep the durable notice and inspections. As with any system, the installed barrier goes on the durable notice fixed in the building, and the home still needs ongoing annual inspections. The mesh also relies on a clear inspection zone so any bridging stays visible.

Related

• Termite barriers
• Granitgard (graded stone)
• Bifenthrin (chemical termiticide)
• AS 3660 termite management
• CodeMark
• Pest management technician

See also

• Termite inspection zone
• Mastotermes darwiniensis (giant northern termite)

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Last updated: 2026-05-25. Verified: 2026-05-25. Quarterly review for currency.