WAC 16-228-2015   Wood destroying organisms.  (1) Evidence of WDOs found during an inspection must be described in all complete and specific WDO inspection reports. Report terminology must include, but is not limited to, the following:

     (a) Carpenter ants: Carpenter ants must be reported as carpenter ants or carpenter ant activity when one or more of the following are found on or in any accessible area of the inspected structure. The report must identify approximate location and type of evidence found. Evidence indicating the presence of carpenter ants includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Live carpenter ants or carpenter ant carcasses.

     (ii) An accumulation of frass unique to carpenter ants.

     (iii) Excavation or tunneling unique to carpenter ants.

     (b) Moisture ants: Moisture ants must be reported as moisture ants or moisture ant activity when one or more of the following are found on or in any accessible area of the inspected structure. The report must identify approximate location and type of evidence found. Evidence indicating the presence of moisture ants includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Live moisture ants or moisture ant carcasses.

     (ii) An accumulation of frass unique to moisture ants.

     (iii) Excavation or tunneling unique to moisture ants.

     (c) Subterranean termites: Subterranean termites must be reported as subterranean termites or subterranean termite activity when one or more of the following are found on or in any accessible area of the inspected structure or, within three feet of the structure. The report must identify approximate location and type of evidence found. Evidence indicating the presence of subterranean termites includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Live subterranean termites, including winged reproductive forms.

     (ii) Galleries or fecal material, unique to subterranean termites, in structural members.

     (iii) Mud tubes, unique to subterranean termites, on or in the structure.

     (iv) Evidence of subterranean termite activity found on or in form wood, other nonstructural materials, or wood products in landscape materials.

     (d) Dampwood termites: Dampwood termites must be reported as dampwood termites or dampwood termite activity when one or more of the following are found on or in any accessible area of the inspected structure. The report must identify approximate location and type of evidence found. Evidence indicating the presence of dampwood termites includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Live dampwood termites, including winged reproductive forms.

     (ii) Galleries or fecal material unique to dampwood termites.

     (iii) Evidence of dampwood termite activity found on or in form wood, cellulose debris, other nonstructural materials, or wood products.

     (e) Anobiid beetles: Anobiid beetles must be reported as anobiid beetles or anobiid beetle activity when one or more of the following are found on or in any accessible area of the inspected structure. The report must identify approximate location and type of evidence found. Evidence indicating the presence of anobiid beetles includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Circular, 1/16th to 1/8th inch (1.5 to 3 mm) emergence holes made by adult beetles in structural timbers.

     (ii) An accumulation of frass, unique to anobiid beetles, in and around adult beetle emergence holes or beneath the wood where emergence holes are present.

     (iii) Wood displaying the characteristic tunnels formed by anobiid beetle larvae.

     (f) Wood decay fungi: Wood decay fungi must be reported as wood decay fungi or wood rot. The report must identify approximate location and type of evidence found. Conditions indicating that wood decay fungi, or damage attributable to these fungi, must be reported when one or more of the following are found on or in any accessible area of the structure subject to inspection. Evidence indicating the presence of wood decay fungi includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Wood or wood products containing visible damage unique to wood decay fungi.

     (ii) Wood or wood products in which fungal bodies are developing.

     (2) Adult beetle emergence holes, unique to wood infesting species in the families Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Lyctidae, may be reported for clarification purposes at the discretion of the inspector.

     (3) Signs of wood decay fungi, such as brown pocket rot, and the marine mollusk (Teredo, shipworm) that may have occurred prior to the manufacturing or processing of lumber must, when observed, be reported as a nonreinfesting species or condition.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.58.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 02-24-025, § 16-228-2015, filed 11/27/02, effective 12/28/02.]