STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS Structural…

   STATE OF CALIFORNIA
   DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
   Structural Pest Control Board



Questions & Answers Regarding




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California Department of Consumer Affairs




        Questions & Answers Regarding

    FUMIGATION
1. Q. WHAT IS FUMIGATION?
    A. Fumigation is a method of using a lethal gas
       to exterminate pests within an enclosed space.
       There are two methods of performing a
       fumigation. One is to seal the structure with
       plastic, tape or other sealing materials, and the
       other is by enclosing the structure in a "tent"
       of vinyl-coated nylon tarpaulins.
2. Q. HOW CAN I TELL IF MY HOUSE HAS
      BEEN FUMIGATED?
    A. Since 1961, the law requires that, upon
       completion of a fumigation, a sign indicating
       the name of the licensee, the date of the
       fumigation and the type of fumigant used be
       posted by the fumigator in either the attic or in
       the subarea of a house. These tags are to
       remain permanently and should not be
       detached.
3. Q. WHAT PREPARATIONS MUST BE
      TAKEN BEFORE A HOUSE IS
      FUMIGATED?
    A. All persons, pets and plants must be removed
       from the structure prior to fumigation.
       (This includes fish and seeds or bulbs in-
       tended for planting). Medicines, feed, and
       food not sealed in metal, glass or highly
       resistant containers must be removed from the
       structure or sealed in protective bags as




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For Pest Control
      recommended by the fumigant manufacturer.
      Ask your fumigator any questions you have
      regarding the fumigation.
 4. Q. WHAT INFORMATION ABOUT MY
       HOUSE SHOULD I GIVE MY TERMITE
       COMPANY PRIOR TO FUMIGATION?
   A. Your termite company is required to ask you
      about the presence of any construction
      elements, conduits, drains, or vacuum
      systems that could allow passage of the
      fumigant from your home to adjacent or
      adjoining structures.
 5. Q. HOW LONG DOES A FUMIGATION
       TAKE?
   A. The length of time required for a fumigation
      varies. A fumigation can take anywhere from
      six hours to one week depending on the type
      of infestation, dosage, temperature, size of
      the structure and other factors.
 6. Q. WHAT DOES THE FUMIGANT SMELL
       LIKE?
   A. Structural fumigants are odorless. Therefore,
      fumigators are required to release a warning
      agent such as chloropicrin (tear gas) within
      the structure at the time the fumigation
      begins and throughout the entire fumigation
      process.




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7. Q. WHEN DRYWOOD TERMITES OR
      WOOD BORING BEETLES ARE
      FOUND, MUST THE STRUCTURE
      ALWAYS BE FUMIGATED?
    A. No, fumigation is not always a required
       method of treatment for drywood termites and
       wood- boring beetles. Fumigation is an all-
       encompassing treatment in which the gases
       permeate the entire structure, eradicating
       termites that are inaccessible, in addition to
       the visible infestations. If an infestation is
       contained in a small area(s), the termites or
       beetles may be eliminated by local applica-
       tions. The inspector will use their professional
       judgment to determine, on a case-by-case
       basis, what type of treatment is necessary. If
       treatments other than fumigation are recom-
       mended, you should be aware that the
       localized treatments will not provide eradica-
       tion of other hidden infestations in the
       building.
8. Q. WILL FUMIGATION ELIMINATE ALL
      THE TERMITES AND PESTS IN THE
      STRUCTURE?
    A. No, subterranean termites require separate
       treatments to create a barrier between the
       structure and their nest in the ground. Under
       optimum conditions, the target pest will be
       dead or obviously dying by the end of the
       fumigation. Drywood termites can remain
       alive as long as a week after receiving a lethal
       dose of a fumigant. Lethal doses vary for
       different pests, depending on the type of
       fumigant used. It is entirely possible for
       household pests (such as spiders, cockroaches,
       etc.) to survive a fumigation with the dosage
       used for drywood termites.




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     NOTE: Reinfestations of the target pest could
     occur following a fumigation.
     Drywood termites and some wood destroying
     beetles generate small pellets or dust that
     remains in the tunnels after the insects are
     killed. You may continue to notice these signs
     after a fumigation. This does not necessarily
     mean the fumigation failed. If you have any
     questions about the success of your treatment,
     contact your pest control company. Since
     fumigants have no residual effect, other
     household pests can reinfect after a
     fumigation.
9. Q. HOW ARE OCCUPANTS OF A
      STRUCTURE NOTIFIED THAT A
      FUMIGATION WILL BE DONE?
  A. Before a structural pest control company
     applies a fumigant, it must have in its posses-
     sion an occupant fumigation notice that has
     been signed by the occupant(s) or designated
     agent of a structure. The occupant's fumiga-
     tion notice must state the pest to be controlled,
     the proposed pesticide(s), including their
     active ingredients, and the caution statement.
     This form must state that a lethal gas will be
     used in the building on indicated dates and that
     it is unsafe to return to the building until a
     notice of reentry is posted by the licensee in
     charge of the fumigation. The owner should
     receive a copy of the occupant's fumigation
     notice.
10. Q. HOW CAN A CONSUMER FIND OUT
       WHAT FUMIGANTS WERE USED ON
       THEIR PROPERTY?
  A. Before a structural pest control operator
     applies a fumigant, he must inform the owner
     or owner's agent and tenant(s) of the fumi-
     gants proposed to be used and their active


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        ingredients. Also, this notification must alert
        the consumer to call their physician or poison
        control center and the pest control company in
        the event of a reaction after fumigation. The
        form should advise consumers to call if
        anyone entering the structure experiences
        symptoms of dizziness, nausea, reduced
        awareness, slowed movement, garbled speech
        or difficulty breathing within 24 hours and
        give any other symptoms of overexposure.
        The name of the fumigant used will be entered
        on the notice of reentry that will be posted on
        the door. This is in addition to the fumigation
        tag, which indicates the name of the pest
        control company, date of the fumigation, and
        the name of the fumigant used. These tags will
        be permanently affixed in the subarea and/or
        attic. (See question 2.)

11. Q. WHO CAN ENTER A STRUCTURE
       WHILE IT IS BEING FUMIGATED?
    A. Chemicals used in fumigation are lethal!
       Exposure to fumigants in a structure being
       fumigated, even for a few minutes, will result
       in death or serious injury.
        Absolutely NO ONE can enter a structure
        until it has been certified safe for reentry by
        the licensee in charge of the fumigation.
        Warning signs are posted in plainly visible
        locations on or in the immediate vicinity of all
        entrances.
        To ensure that even the owner or tenant cannot
        reenter a structure, the company is required to
        put a secondary lock on all outside doors that
        only the company can open. These locks can
        be any device such as padlock, keyway lock or
        deadbolts from the inside which will prevent
        opening by anyone but the licensee in charge.

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12. Q. HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN IT IS SAFE
       TO MOVE BACK INTO A HOME
       WHICH HAS JUST BEEN FUMIGATED?
  A. The fumigator is required to post a reentry
     notice on the property at the time the structure
     is actually deemed safe for occupancy. The
     notice states that the building is safe for
     reentry, and gives the date and time that the
     building was released, the name of the
     structural pest control company issuing the
     notice, and its license and telephone numbers.
13. Q. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF PHYSICAL
       DISCOMFORT IS EXPERIENCED
       IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A
       FUMIGATION?
  A. If, within 24 hours following application, you
     experience headaches, dizziness, nausea,
     tearing, coughing, nose/throat irritation,
     develop shortness of breath, double vision,
     unusual drowsiness, weakness, or tremors,
     leave the fumigated structure and immediately
     contact your physician, poison control center,
     the structural pest control company and the
     Structural Pest Control Board to report the
     incident. (See question number 18 for the
     telephone numbers of the Board.)
14. Q. CAN A HOMEOWNER CONTRACT
       DIRECTLY WITH A FUMIGATION
       COMPANY?
  A. Yes, a homeowner can contract with a Branch
     1 Fumigation company (to fumigate) by
     providing a copy of an inspection report
     (which identifies a wood destroying pest that
     can be eradicated by fumigation.) The Branch
     1 company will issue a certification of
     fumigation to the homeowner and to the pest
     control company that performed the inspec-


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        tion within five days of the fumigation. The
        pest control company that performed the
        inspection will attach the fumigation certifica-
        tion to any reinspection report, notice of work
        completed or certification which it issues.
15. Q. ARE FUMIGATIONS SAFE?
    A. Fumigations are highly regulated by the State
       of California. To perform fumigations,
       companies must be registered with the
       Structural Pest Control Board (Board).
        Pest control companies may also be required
        to notify local fire departments before a
        fumigation takes place. The State Department
        of Pesticide Regulation registers all fumigants
        used in California and contracts with each
        County Agricultural Commissioner to monitor
        their use. If you have any questions regarding
        safety of fumigants, chemicals or pesticides,
        you may call your local County Agricultural
        Commissioner.
16. Q. ARE THERE ALTERNATIVE METHODS
       AVAILABLE IN LIEU OF
       FUMIGATION?
    A. There are several alternatives to localized
       chemical treatments that pest control compa-
       nies offer. There are, however, only two
       methods for whole-house eradication of
       drywood termites: fumigation and whole-
       house heat treatment. Other methods such as
       electro-gun, microwave, and freezing with
       liquid nitrogen are local/spot treatments that
       are designed to eradicate termites within a
       specific area, but are not intended for whole-
       house eradication and, therefore, are NOT
       alternatives to fumigation. The University of
       California, Berkeley conducted a study for the



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     Board on these methods and issued a report
     which is available in condensed version to the
     public at no charge.
17. Q. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF A COMPANY
       IS PROPERLY LICENSED AND IN
       GOOD STANDING?
  A. You can call the Structural Pest Control
     Board's complaint unit to determine if a
     company is properly registered or if an
     individual holds a valid license. Information is
     also available on their complaint history for
     the past two years (see question number 18 for
     phone numbers). You can also get license
     information on the Board's Web site at
     www.pestboard.ca.gov.
18. Q. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE IF I AM
       DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES
       OF A STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL
       COMPANY?
  A. If you are unhappy with the service you
     received, call the company and discuss your
     concerns. If the company does not resolve the
     problem to your satisfaction, you can contact
     the Structural Pest Control Board for addi-
     tional information or assistance by calling:
     (916) 561-8708         Sacramento
     (800) 737-8188, Ext. 2 Outside of Sacramento

     Or by writing to:
     Structural Pest Control Board
     Complaint Unit
     1418 Howe Avenue, Suite 18
     Sacramento, CA 95825-3204

     Or visit our Web site at:
     www.pestboard.ca.gov


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California Department of Consumer Affairs




T
        he Structural Pest Control Board will
        first try to mediate your complaint. If
        this does not result in a satisfactory
solution, the Board will make a determination as
to the responsibility of the company. The Board
can compel the registered company or licensee to
correct violations, but the Board does not have
jurisdiction over monetary matters. If you seek a
monetary settlement, you may want to consider
taking legal action as the Board cannot guarantee
that you will receive any restitution.
The Board regulates all persons who perform
structural pest control work by issuing licenses
and bringing disciplinary action against licensees
who fail to comply with the Structural Pest
Control Act.
The Board is composed of seven members: three
representatives from the structural pest control
industry and four representatives from the
public. The Board meets regularly to act on
disciplinary cases, issue rules, and make policy
governing the structural pest control industry in
California.
All structural pest control licensees in California
must successfully meet state licensing require-
ments in at least one of the three branches of pest
control work: Branch 1, Fumigation; Branch 2,
General Household Pest; and Branch 3, Termites
and Other Wood-Destroying Pests and Organ-
isms. Although each category requires a different
examination, a licensee may hold a license in
more than one category.
             STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL BOARD




Publications offered by the
Structural Pest Control Board
·    General Information: A ­ Z
·    Household Pest Control
·    Structural Pest Control Inspections
·    Fumigation for Pest Control

For your free copy, write to:
     Structural Pest Control Board
     Complaint Unit
     1418 Howe Avenue, Suite 18
     Sacramento, CA 95825-3280




    MISSION STATEMENT
    The mission of the Structural Pest
    Control Board is to protect
    California consumers by regulating
    the structural pest control industry
    to benefit and promote public
    health, safety, and welfare.



               STATE OF CALIFORNIA

    DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Structural Pest Control Board
1418 Howe Ave. Suite 18, · Sacramento, CA 95825-3280
            www.pestboard.ca.gov

                 SEPT 2002 - 10M
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Structural Pest Control Board
1418 Howe Ave. #18, Sacramento, CA 95825-3280