Design Components, Your Trusted Metal Building Components Supplier, Says It’s Time To Kick Jerry the Mouse to The Curb
Steel buildings are often known and sought out for their spacious designs that allow for ample and customizable storage, equipment, and production layouts. Unfortunately, critters may appreciate them for that very same reason. Despite this, steel buildings will continue to be the best option for most businesses and commercial building owners. With an abundance of equipment, storage spaces, and products, this provides countless nooks and crannies for critters (wildlife and pests) to make a home. And while regulated cleaning is consistently performed, it is equally as important to limit access to the building. Metal building components can play a vital role for commercial steel buildings serving as distribution centers for food and other products in limiting access to the wrong visitors.
Limiting pest and wildlife access to any commercial building begins with the most vulnerable entry areas. For any steel commercial building, it is important to regularly inspect these areas of easy access and address them if needed.
Some areas of entry that should be regularly inspected are:
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Doors (loading docks, warehouse, and office entry)
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Windows
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Rooftops
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Gutter Systems
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HVAC Systems (ductwork, housing, etc.)
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Ventilation Systems
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Smoke Vents
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In addition to areas of inspection, it is important to maintain cleanliness throughout the building, especially in vulnerable areas such as production, storage, and any area where food may be present.
Cleanliness Considerations include keeping all work and storage areas free from debris. Limiting food or drink consumption to designated areas only should be a standard practice. Keeping outside areas free from debris is also important; those of us who have ever visited a loading dock understand this. Attracting critters to the door will undoubtedly attract them in the door.
Storage Considerations include keeping products on pallets and providing proper shelving. This is not only a critter-free workplace consideration but is more importantly significant in meeting OSHA guidelines for warehouse safety as well.
In addition, food distribution warehouses specifically are held to very high standards for production, storage, and the limiting of contamination through the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA, enacted in January 2011 to address warehouse safety and provide best food production practices.
Identifying Your Critters
While it is most important to keep areas of entry secured, large steel buildings with open loading docks are just going to constantly be at battle with these unwelcome visitors.
The most common offenders are rodents – mice and rats, roaches, and birds. Some warehouses backed up to natural areas have even reported wildlife such as bees, raccoons, and opossums being a continued nuisance.
And for those who regularly keep their warehouses locked tight, remember you still have parts, ingredients, and products coming in from the outside. Case in point, I once knew a Georgia repair technician who opened up a box from Arizona to find one of the largest scorpions he had ever seen.
Once you have spotted a critter, always take the safe stance that it has friends. It is important to address the issue immediately with a pest control or wildlife removal specialist. It is advised to never try to do it yourself as more than likely you are going to invest considerable money in trying to eradicate the problem only to find that you will need to call in a professional after all.
Metal Building Components and Creating Secure Access Points
It is always easier and more cost-effective to make it nearly impossible for pests to enter the building than it is to attempt to get rid of them once they have made it a home for themselves. Products, components and accessories designed for metal buildings with the stated purpose of keeping the weather out can double as protectors against pests –flashing, commercial grade doors and windows, metal louvers, and more.
DCI: Trusted Supplier of Metal Building Components
Eradicating your metal building of any small critters can be an unfortunate price of doing business as a distribution center or food production warehouse. However, it can be time-consuming, costly, and frustrating. With Design Component’s metal building components, you can be proactive by securing prime entry areas with high-quality products that keep your commercial steel building strong, secure, and safe.
