TOWARDS PEST FREE DWELLINGS IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Abstract:
Pests are attracted to buildings for shelter, food and harbourage. They will take advantage of many different types of hiding places, from tiny crevices to large hollow spaces. The benefits of these hiding places to pests are two fold. Firstly concealment can allow quite large populations to develop unnoticed and render them difficult to find. Secondly the protection provided by such features can prevent or at least reduce the effectiveness of extermination procedures and/or pesticides. Consequently, infestations are more likely to occur and persist in buildings with ample harbourage (for example spaces behind the skirting boards, suspended ceilings, hollow partitions, ducts and conduits) than in those providing little or no shelter. The infestations resulting from such invasions into the domestic environment, in addition to causing economic loss, by, for example compromising the fabric of the dwelling, can result in anxiety and distress to residents. This paper examines the characteristics which facilitate the build up of infestations. Features such as gaps in the construction facilitate pest invasion, but in many cases can be remedied by ensuring good building practice. Avoidance of certain design features such as district heating and common service ducts and the adoption of specific measures where the risk of infestation may be high can reduce the likelihood of infestation. Building elements, such as prefabricated stud partitions and hollow cored doors which provide suitable harbourage for pests may be eliminated by using alternative materials. Prior to the building of new dwellings a programme will be developed to demonstrate the logic and sequence of events and project resources required during construction. This paper utilises a standard building sequence to highlight the features and elements of the construction process which may facilitate the possibility of infestation in the future. In addition to highlighting potential problems and solutions, suggestions are made for alternative materials and elements which may reduce the risk of invasion and infestation.