If you build it, they will come: using facility design to keep out pests.

In the battle against pests in nursing homes, the physical building might not be the first weapon that comes to mind. But the design of your facility can be an integral and cost-effective tool in helping to prevent pest infestations.

Since pests enter your nursing home in search of food, water, and shelter--often carrying diseases that can threaten your residents--it's important to make sure that everything possible is done to reduce the number of pests that cross the threshold. To ensure that building design is an asset rather than a liability when it comes to pest control, ask your pest management professional to inspect and recommend any design improvements that might reduce the potential for pest problems. You may find that some simple changes will have a major effect on your pest-control efforts.

Design Suggestions

The roof. To some people the roof may just be a way of keeping out the rain, but for pests it may be a comfortable home or even a doorway into the facility. For birds in particular, the roof provides a great shelter, roosting area, and nesting spot. Birds also like to nest in the areas under HVAC units. Because birds prefer to roost on flat surfaces, consider changing roof ledges to a 45-degree angle or steeper. If modifying the roof ledges is not feasible, work with your pest control professional to eliminate potential nesting areas by installing bird controls, such as spikes or netting, along ledges and other roosting spots.

The roof also provides an easy entry point for rodents. Since rats and mice can squeeze through very small openings, inspect the junction of the roof and the siding closely for any openings and seal them as needed. Another tip: Make sure gutters are clear of debris. The cleaner your gutters, the less attractive they will be to mosquitoes, ants, and other pests that are drawn to the moisture and harborage such debris provides.

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Airflow. Positive airflow (i.e., air flows out, not in, when doors are opened) will help repel flying pests from open windows and doors. To check airflow at your facility, stand at an open door with a lighter or match. If the flame blows into the building, the airflow is negative; if it blows outward, it's positive. If airflow is negative, consult an HVAC professional for recommendations.

Lighting. Many flying pests will approach buildings because they are attracted to the lighting. Since fluorescent lights, in particular, are the most attractive to pests, mount them at least 100 feet from the building to help draw pests away. Use sodium vapor lights, which are not as attractive to pests, around entrances that must be well lit.

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Doors/windows. Because visitors to your facility will be coming and going, make sure that all doors seal tightly. Consider installing door sweeps to prevent pests from entering. Windows also should close securely. Install #16 mesh screens to help keep even the tiniest pests out.

Landscaping Tips

Nothing eases entry for crawling pests like a quick jaunt from a tree or plant onto the building's exterior wall. Trim all vegetation at least two feet from the building so that pests don't have an easy way in. Consider installing a 30"-wide gravel strip around the immediate exterior of the building to deter pests; gravel is tough for crawling insects to navigate and makes rodents feel vulnerable (they prefer dark, protected spaces). And when planning new landscaping, consult your pest management and landscape professionals to discuss which decorative elements, plants, and flowers can discourage pest activity.

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Shut Out Pests

Finally, don't forget to use structural maintenance to keep pests outside. Inspect your building's exterior for unnecessary cracks, crevices, and holes, and seal them with weather-resistant foam sealant or caulk. Even an opening the diameter of a pencil is large enough for many pests to fit through--including rodents. Make sure your pest management professional applies appropriate sealants to help prevent rodents from gnawing through the exterior.

It's never too late to work with your pest management professional to revaluate your facility for vulnerabilities. And if you are building a new long-term care facility, don't let pest control fall off your list of considerations. Incorporating some simple design techniques into the building can help prevent future problems from the beginning.

Orkin Technical Director Frank Meek, BCE, is a board-certified entomologist and an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. Orkin Commercial Services provides pest management service to more than 250,000 commercial customers, making it one of the largest commercial pest management providers in North America. For more information or to schedule a free inspection, phone [phone] or visit www.orkincommercial.com. To send your comments to the author and editors, e-mail meek [e-mail].

BY FRANK MEEK, BCE