1. __________________________________________________________
Building Envelope Issues:
Birds, Bats, Rodents
__________________________________________________________
*Due to their small size, envelope-associated insect pests such as bees and wasps are extremely difficult to “build out.” Continual inspections and early treatment are usually a more efficient preventive measure for them.

2. Excessive & unnecessary penetrations of the building fabric.
Bad Practice #1:
Excessive & unnecessary penetrations of the building fabric.

3. Attention to detail in sealing penetrations with the proper materials.
Good Practice #1:
Attention to detail in sealing penetrations with the proper materials.

4. Excessive space under exterior doors.
Bad Practice #2:
Excessive space under exterior doors.

5. Nylon brush weatherstripping.
Good Practice #2:
Nylon brush weatherstripping.

6. Bad Practice #3:
Exposed pipes, ductwork, horizontal struts, and other attractive nuisances for perching birds – more broadly, excessive horizontal surfaces on the envelope.

7. Good Practice #3:
Concealment of overhead pipes & structural members, minimization of window & decorative ledges on building exterior.

8. Poorly chosen & installed bird deterrent systems.
Bad Practice #4:
Poorly chosen & installed bird deterrent systems.

9. Carefully selected and skillfully installed bird deterrent systems
Good Practice #4:
Carefully selected and skillfully installed bird deterrent systems
(“pin & wire” systems are usually best choice for protruding elements of the envelope.)

10. Primitive and ineffective waste storage equipment (i.e. dumpsters)
Bad Practice #5:
Primitive and ineffective waste storage equipment (i.e. dumpsters)

11. Good Practice #5:
Modern, pest-proof waste storage equipment (i.e. self-contained compactors) that are integrated with loading dock design.

12. ACTION RECOMMENDATION #1
Instill a “culture of inspection” in the facilities management community and a culture that is “solution-focused” among maintenance personnel.
(Training materials should focus on aspects that have immediate meaning to front-line personnel – e.g. a poster that emphasizes the extremely small spaces that various common pests use to enter or hide would be a graphically compelling message.)

13. ACTION RECOMMENDATION #2
Integrate diverse professional cultures in the process of building design.
(If the design team for the A/E firm sat down with the building management & maintenance folks, there would be a greater chance that items such as correct penetration sealing methods and correct loading dock design would be mandated by spec.)

14. ACTION RECOMMENDATION #3
Organize more training and outreach activities on the subject of “built-in” pest prevention.
(Try using the blunt, familiar, down-to-earth term of “Pest Control” rather than the complex, obscure, highfalutin “Integrated Pest Management”!!!)

15. ACTION RECOMMENDATION #4
Increase interactions with the U.S. Green Building Council to lobby for the inclusion of pest-preventive design features in the LEED rating systems, particularly LEED for Existing Buildings.
(LEED has been admirably malleable over its short history, and green building types tend to value inclusiveness in the standards.)

16. ACTION RECOMMENDATION #5
Develop grant projects that empirically test various designs and equipment for pest resistance – e.g. weatherstripping, compactors, trash containers, bird deterrent systems, sealants, etc.
(Objective data on product efficacy is the most conspicuous weak link in the chain of pest-proofing implementation.)