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Preventative Pest Management: Design and Landscape Basics Discourage Infiltration
July, 2008
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It's not too late to keep pests from moving in. Follow these simple tips:
- Implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that focuses on non-chemical solutions - such as facility maintenance and sanitation - to keep pests out.
- Implement a written sanitation program. A list of daily, weekly and monthly tasks makes it less likely that pest-attracting grime will build up.
- Line and tightly cover trash receptacles, and don't let garbage pile up outside the building.
- Clean and rotate dumpsters regularly. The residue can attract pests.
- Monitor for and fix leaky pipes and HVAC units. Pests only need a small amount of water to survive.
- A professional trained in pest biology and behaviour can help identify the best treatment option for any pests that may have taken up residence in a building.
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By Zia Siddiqi
Many people think that pest control is a reactive process, but planning for pest management before and during construction can save time, money and headaches down the road. Buildings should be designed to keep pests out.
Pests can threaten a building's structure and the health and safety of occupants. Perhaps the most feared pest for property managers is the termite, but other pests pose dangers as well. Cockroaches and flies can carry disease-causing organisms including E. Coli and Salmonella and they shed these pathogens onto surfaces where building occupants can unknowingly come into contact with them. In addition, cockroach skins and droppings have been associated with asthma.
Among larger pests, rodents are constantly gnawing - a behaviour that poses a fire risk as rodents are known to chew on electrical wiring that they mistake for tree roots. Meanwhile, bird droppings can erode metal structures, and they carry viruses that cause diseases such as Histoplasmosis.
Pests will take up residence anywhere they can find food, water or shelter. The light, temperatures and even odours coming from a building will draw pests in. Mitigating their access to the building will help to prevent infestations and the subsequent treatments needed to eliminate them.
A licensed pest management professional can view a construction site and building plans, and suggest how best to ward off pests.
Moisture attracts pests including termites so sites should be graded to prevent formation of puddles around foundations. Termites need less than a millimetre of space to move into a building so double-check the foundation before anything goes up.
When doors open, the air should push flying insects out rather than suck them into the building so positive airflow is important. A double set of automatic sliding doors provides an extra barrier for pests trying to fly or crawl through entrances, while plastic strip doors at entrances that must remain open - such as loading docks - block flying insects. Air curtains at entrances create an air current that flying insects can't cross. This is accomplished by installing fans or air hoses that point downward and out the door.
Non-cellulose building materials deter termites. Pest management professionals can further apply a preventive termite barrier. Cockroaches need only a 11/2- millimetre space to gain access to a building so ensure all doors and windows are flush against frames, and install weatherstripping.
Fluorescent lights in the parking lot can draw flying pests away from a building, provided there are no fluorescent lights on our around the building. Sodium vapour lights are less attractive to flying pests.
Once the building is built, landscaping can play an important role in deterring pests. Install a half-metre gravel strip around the building. Rodents do not like to be out in the open so this will provide a no-cover zone, and it creates a rough terrain for insects to crawl over.
Keep plants at least a half-metre away from the building, as they can promote excessive moisture and hide termite activity. Branches that touch the side of the building can create a bridge for pests to crawl over any barriers. Also, avoid planting fruit-bearing trees that attract flies and pest birds.
Many of the strategies to keep pests out also save energy, while preventing pest infiltration reduces the need for chemical treatments. Thus, building with pest management in mind has environmental benefits.
Planning ahead for pest management can translate into cost savings and operational efficiencies. If pests can't make their way into a building, it reduces risk of property damage and exposure to disease.
Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Quality Assurance Director for Orkin Inc. and a board-certified entomologist. For more information, see the web site at www.orkincommerical.com. |
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