Whether moving into an existing office space or eyeing a new development, relocating a company can be challenging and stressful. There are so many factors to take into account – costs, location, and the structure and amenities of the building, to name a few. A building’s pest control plan should also be a primary concern; however, this often gets overlooked.

Moving into an existing building
How a building is constructed can have an impact on its accessibility to pests and the kind of issues a tenant may have down the road.

If moving into an existing building, the following can help determine if the facility will contribute to preventing pests or encourage their presence:

• Check to see if the space has positive airflow. Air flowing out of a space will help keep pests out, so look for this by holding a tissue up to a door to see which direction it blows. If the air blows inward, ask the landlord to work with a HVAC professional to correct the issue.
• Ensure all doors and windows are flush against their frames to prevent pest entry points. If this isn’t the case, find out whether the installation of weather stripping (to improve the situation) is allowed.
• Look to see if there are fluorescent lights near the building as these attract pests. If so, ask the landlord if it’s possible to replace them with sodium vapour lights, which are less attractive to flying pests.
• Plants should be at least half a metre away from the building to prevent excessive moisture and avoid creating hiding places for pests. Branches should be cut back to prevent easy access to the building. If this isn’t the case, ask the landlord to provide landscaping services.

Be sure to discuss the current pest control plan with the landlord. Determine who the provider is, how often the company services the building and whether its employees take proactive measures to reduce pest pressures or simply provide treatments when an infestation arises.

Moving into a new building
The advantage of constructing a new facility is knowing whether the building was well designed to keep out pests. Pests can cause issues very early in the construction phase if their habitats are disturbed. If consultants aren’t aware of a potential pest presence, pests displaced from their homes can find shelter in building materials such as wood or shingles, and can be built right into the facility, potentially causing structural damage down the road.

Consider involving a licensed pest management professional during the construction process to help identify and eliminate potential pest issues.

Best practices include:

• Using insect monitors and traps to check for pests in the area, allowing other contractors to take prevention measures accordingly.
• Grading the property to eliminate moisture and puddles, which attract pests. Because pests are attracted to water sources, cover up building materials and tools at the end of the day to prevent fungus or moisture build up.
• Using non-cellulose building materials (when possible) to deter pests that could do structural damage to the building.
• Confirming the foundation is solid before moving on in the construction process as some pests need less than a millimetre of space to access a building.

Bill Melville is the quality assurance director for Orkin Canada. He has 35 years experience in the industry and is an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. Bill can be reached at bmelville@orkincanada.com.