BP12: Integrated Pest Management

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Official language

This best practice helps project teams reduce the amount of harmful, often toxic pest control chemicals used in their building. Conventional pest control programs use chemicals that have direct impacts on both human health and the natural environment. Alternative approaches - specifically ‘integrated pest management’ strategies- can reduce health risks and minimize harm to the natural ecosystem. Integrated pest management means replacing toxic chemicals with less harmful ones, focusing on prevention, carefully monitoring of pest populations, and educating building occupants on the ways their behavior can reduce pest problems.

This best practice intends to help building operators minimize the exposure of toxic chemicals to building occupants and reduce the adverse effects of those chemicals on the surrounding environment.

 

Objective

Create and implement an integrated pest management plan that focuses on long-term prevention strategies that are least harmful to human health and the environment

Submittal Requirements

The following are the required submittals in order to fulfill the objective of this best practice.

 

Option 1. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(certified IPM vendor services)

  • Documentation of certification under, at least, one of the following:
    • GREENPRO CERTIFIED ECO-EFFECTIVE;
    • GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED PEST CONTROL. PEACE OF MIND;
    • EcoWise Certified; or
    • For projects outside the U.S., a local equivalent (e.g., EN 16636 Certification - CEPA Certified®).
  • Documentation verifying the current use  of IPM services throughout the project (e.g., an executed vendor services agreement).

OR

Option 2. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(non-certified IPM vendor services)

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:
    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.
    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.
    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
    • Responsible Parties: person(s), vendor(s), or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.
      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.
      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.
      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.
    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants and contracted service providers.
    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.
    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.

OR

Option 3. In-House Pest Control Services

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:
    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.
    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.
    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants.
    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.
      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.
      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.
      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.
    • Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.
    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.

 

For Tenant-Controlled Spaces

Option 1. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(certified IPM vendor services)

  • Documentation of certification under, at least, one of the following:

    • GREENPRO CERTIFIED ECO-EFFECTIVE;

    • GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED Pest Control. Peace of Mind.;

    • EcoWise Certified; or

    • For projects outside the U.S., a local equivalent (e.g., EN 16636 Certification - CEPA Certified®).

  •  Documentation verifying the current use  of IPM services throughout the building or tenant-controlled space (e.g., an executed vendor services agreement).

OR

Option 2. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(non-certified IPM vendor services)

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:

    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.

    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.

    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.

    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.

    • Responsible Parties: person(s), vendor(s), or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.

    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:

      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.

      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.

      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.

      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.

    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants and contracted service providers.

    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.

    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.

    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.

OR

Option 3. In-House Pest Control Services

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:

    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.

    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.

    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.

    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.

    • Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.

    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:

      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.

      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.

      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.

      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.

    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants.

    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.

    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.

    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.

OR

Option 4. Declination from Ownership/Management

If ownership/management is unwilling to engage:

  • Documentation of request to ownership/management for a building-wide pest management policy.

  • Process for reengaging ownership/management on, at least, an annual basis.

Implementation Guidance

For additional details and recommended steps for implementing this best practice, please see the BIT Building Program Manual.

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BIT User’s viewpoint

Frequently asked questions

Online resources

Implementation toolkit

This best practice helps project teams reduce the amount of harmful, often toxic pest control chemicals used in their building. Conventional pest control programs use chemicals that have direct impacts on both human health and the natural environment. Alternative approaches - specifically ‘integrated pest management’ strategies- can reduce health risks and minimize harm to the natural ecosystem. Integrated pest management means replacing toxic chemicals with less harmful ones, focusing on prevention, carefully monitoring of pest populations, and educating building occupants on the ways their behavior can reduce pest problems.

This best practice intends to help building operators minimize the exposure of toxic chemicals to building occupants and reduce the adverse effects of those chemicals on the surrounding environment.

 

Objective

Create and implement an integrated pest management plan that focuses on long-term prevention strategies that are least harmful to human health and the environment

Implementation Requirements

For additional details and recommended steps for implementing this best practice, please see the BIT Building Program Manual.

Submittal Requirements

The following are the required submittals in order to fulfill the objective of this best practice.

 

Option 1. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(certified IPM vendor services)

  • Documentation of certification under, at least, one of the following:
    • GREENPRO CERTIFIED ECO-EFFECTIVE;
    • GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED PEST CONTROL. PEACE OF MIND;
    • EcoWise Certified; or
    • For projects outside the U.S., a local equivalent (e.g., EN 16636 Certification - CEPA Certified®).
  • Documentation verifying the current use  of IPM services throughout the project (e.g., an executed vendor services agreement).

OR

Option 2. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(non-certified IPM vendor services)

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:
    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.
    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.
    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
    • Responsible Parties: person(s), vendor(s), or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.
      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.
      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.
      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.
    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants and contracted service providers.
    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.
    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.

OR

Option 3. In-House Pest Control Services

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:
    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.
    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.
    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants.
    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.
      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.
      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.
      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.
    • Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.
    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.

 

For Tenant-Controlled Spaces

Option 1. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(certified IPM vendor services)

  • Documentation of certification under, at least, one of the following:

    • GREENPRO CERTIFIED ECO-EFFECTIVE;

    • GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED Pest Control. Peace of Mind.;

    • EcoWise Certified; or

    • For projects outside the U.S., a local equivalent (e.g., EN 16636 Certification - CEPA Certified®).

  •  Documentation verifying the current use  of IPM services throughout the building or tenant-controlled space (e.g., an executed vendor services agreement).

OR

Option 2. 3rd Party Contracted Pest Control Services

(non-certified IPM vendor services)

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:

    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.

    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.

    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.

    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.

    • Responsible Parties: person(s), vendor(s), or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.

    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:

      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.

      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.

      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.

      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.

    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants and contracted service providers.

    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.

    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.

    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.

OR

Option 3. In-House Pest Control Services

  • An IPM policy for the project that includes:

    • Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists  and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.

    • Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.

    • Scope: activities covered by the policy.

    • Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.

    • Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.

    • Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:

      • List of pest control products approved for day-to-day use for the project as well as those products approved for personal and immediate pest control needs.

      • Non-chemical pest preventative measures.

      • Provisions for identifying and monitoring pests.

      • Occupant notification protocols for use of toxic pesticides.

    • Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how IPM practices are communicated to occupants.

    • Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to integrated pest management.

    • Tracking: method of verifying adherence to policy guidelines and monitoring its success.

    • Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.

OR

Option 4. Declination from Ownership/Management

If ownership/management is unwilling to engage:

  • Documentation of request to ownership/management for a building-wide pest management policy.

  • Process for reengaging ownership/management on, at least, an annual basis.

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