We’re well and truly in the midst of winter. As we start to really feel the drop in temperature, it’s worth bearing in mind that pests do too. This means they’ll be looking for warm spots indoors to survive the cold. Commercial property owners, facilities managers and particularly anyone responsible for hygiene compliance in a hospitality business need to know how to pest-proof their properties, in order to reduce the likelihood of unwanted visitors making a new home for themselves this winter.
Peter Cox has some of the best solutions available for pest proofing premises, while surveyors may also recommend in some cases, specialist solutions from Rentokil Pest Control to help keep animals such as rodents away. In this blog I’ll outline some of Peter Cox’s services and discuss the importance rising prominence of digital pest control too.
What is pest proofing?
Prevention is better than a cure when it comes to pests. Proofing is the process of sealing all entry points that pests could use to get into your premises. In taking a proactive approach to pest control, property owners are less likely to have to deal with costly infestations in the future. 
Keeping pests out
Once your property has been surveyed for potential entry points, it’s likely your surveyor will recommend a metal plate is fitted over any holes in the premises and on the bottom of relevant doors. Metal is the best rodent proofing material and when installed, looks aesthetically pleasing in most circumstances.
Installing metal kick plates on doors no greater than 5mm from the ground can prevent rodents from gnawing on the wood and gaining entry to buildings. Doing the same to any existing gaps in walls can prevent rodent entry points as well.
Inspection hatches
Peter Cox often install ‘inspection hatches’ in walls and ceilings which provide access points for technicians and surveyors to both identify and deal with any potential future pest problems, without sections of walls or flooring having to be removed and business operations disturbed. If pests do get into a building, these inspection hatches will mean the problem can be dealt with promptly, out of sight and away from customers or clients entering the building.
Digital pest control
Peter Cox technicians often work in tandem with Rentokil Pest Control providing customers with access to the most innovative, digital pest control solutions on the market.
Harnessing modern technology, Rentokil’s PestConnect is a digital pest management system, providing 24/7 monitoring, rapid response and effective elimination of rodents. This connected and fully integrated pest control solution acts like a rodent burglar alarm, providing more insight into rodent activity than ever before. Connected devices send an alert via SMS immediately when a rodent is detected, so technicians know exactly where and when a pest has triggered an alarm. A professional technician can then visit the premises to dispose of the pest and address the root cause of the problem.
PestConnect is the ultimate in proactive pest management and limits the use of toxic pesticides. It uses three versions of ‘connected’ traps – ‘AutoGate’ which uses infrared sensors to detect rodents outside the premises, RADAR for those mice that manage to find a way indoors and Rat Riddance Connect, a ‘smart trap’ used to monitor for and control rat activity inside.
Harnessing the latest technological breakthroughs and innovation, digital pest management solutions help facilities managers to manage and prevent infestations while preventing harm to the environment, and with a level of efficiency and visibility not possible without connected solutions. PestConnect also provides an unprecedented level of insight for pest technicians and facilities managers, so they can create a highly effective pest management strategy that complies with all health and safety legislation while reducing environmental impact.
Final thoughts
Having the foresight to pest proof your property can have significant benefits. It is a preventative measure, designed to save on costs and reputational damage that could come in the future if steps aren’t taken.
Peter Cox works side by side with Rentokil Pest Control to combine the knowledge of building specialists with experts in pest behaviour. If you’re considering pest proofing your business, contact Peter Cox to ensure your property is equipped to keep unwanted visitors from entering.
By Richard Walker, National Technical and Development Manager at Peter Cox and Paul Blackhurst, Head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control
