Principles of

FUMIGATION

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BENEFITS
to the Client

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Benefits
1. Penetrates everywhere
2. 99% destruction of target pests
3. Little chemical residue left behind
4. Little inconvenience to the client
5. If carried out correctly, no physical damage inflicted
on goods
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Commonly
Used
FUMIGANTS

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1. Methyl bromide

CH3Br

Buildings, container boxes, commodities

2. Phosphine

PH3

Infested tobacco, commodities

3. Hydrogen Cyanide

HCN

Used mainly on ships to destroy rats

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Molecular Structure

methyl bromide

Methyl Bromide
CH3 Br

phosphine

Phosphine
PH3

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Other Fumigants

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1. Carbon Dioxide

CO2

2. Nitrogen

N2

3. Formaldehyde

HCHO

Bubble + N2

historical items awaiting fumigation in a Singapore museum

Nitrogen in a Bubble.
Cutting edge fumigation technology
Available only from Rentokil

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Characteristics
of
FUMIGANTS

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Important Parameters of
Fumigants
Smell
Boiling Point
SG
Flammability
Action against metals
Colour

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Usage
of
FUMIGANTS

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Formulations
Type formulation

Packing

Quantity Fumigant
release

Phostoxin Tablet

3 gm

1 gm

Degesch Plate

117 gm

33 gm

Degesch Strip

(117 x 20) gm

33 x 20 gm

Methyl Bromide
(liquid phase)

450 gm cans
35 kg cylinders

450 gm (gaseous
35 kg phase)

Common fumigants are supplied in either solid or liquid form. But

the final phase is always gaseous.

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Holding periods
Fumigant

No. of hours / days

holding

Methyl Bromide

Normally 24 hrs

Phosphine

5 10 days

A quality fumigation requires time to give the best results.

The duration of gas holding depends on the type of
fumigant used.
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Measuring
EQUIPMENT
for Fumigators

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Types of Instruments
There are 2 categories:
1. Those that measure gas leaks.
2. Those that measure gas concentration.
Professional Fumigators use both.

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Leak Detection
Fumigant

Equipment

Phosphine

Riken PH3 Checker

M Bromide

Riken Leak Checker

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Riken PH3
Checker
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Riken Leak
Checker
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Measuring Concentration
Fumigant

Equipment

Phosphine +

Draeger Pump

M Bromide

Kitagawa Pump
Draeger Multiwarn
Riken IF-18

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Detection tubes

Draeger Pump

Kitagawa Pump
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Riken IF-18

Draeger
Multiwarn

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Occupational Exposure Std (OES)

(previously called TLV)

Fumigant

OES (ppm)

Phosphine, Hyd. Cyanide

Methyl Bromide

Carbon Dioxide

5,000

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Respiratory
PROTECTION
Equipment
(RPE)

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Why required ?
1. Humans require 40 litres air / minute
2. Toxic effect of fumigants ( when accidentally
inhaled ) is felt within minutes / seconds !
3. Law requires all Fumigators to use RPE for
their personal protection

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The Full Face

Mask (FFM)

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The Self
Breathing
Apparatus (SBA)

SBA has 30 minutes of

breathable air in a cylinder

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Stack
FUMIGATION

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Stack Fumigation

Sometime or other, many industries will experience a sudden increase in

pest insect population.
The quick solution: Stack Fumigation.
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Conditions for Clients to achieve a

successful Stack Fumigation
A. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Level floor surface
2. Concrete floor surface
3. Height < 6 m ( = 4 pallet height)
4. Goods on pallets
5. 1m free surrounding space
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Conditions for Clients to achieve a

successful Stack Fumigation
A. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
6. Protection from rain,
direct sunshine & wind
7. Sufficient space within for gas
circulation
8. A stable & safe pallet stacking
configuration

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Conditions for Clients to achieve a

successful Stack Fumigation
B. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
9. Stack sufficient distance from
humans ( Rentokils risk assesment )
10. A safe, secure site; with controlled
access

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Fumigating
CONTAINERS
for Export

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Types of Container
boxes
The common box
types used are :
Length of
Box (ft)

Dimension
(ft)

Volume (m3)

20

20 x 8 x
8.5

32.0

40

40 x 8 x
8.5

64.0

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20 ft or 40 ft in
length

Why fumigate ?
1. Insect pests, rodents can infest container
boxes. Spread plant & animal diseases
across borders. Harm human health ,
economies & world trade.
2. Strict National Quarantine Laws, ensure
containers are suitably treated before being
permitted to enter the destination country
e.g. Australia
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Why fumigate at the source

country located in Asia ?

Cheaper
!

Example: Malaysia

RM (120 180)

Indonesia

RM (130 150)

Singapore

S$ (90 110)

Hong Kong HK$ ( 2,000)

UK

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GBP (200 250)

Preparing a container
Danger sign

Container Box
Trailer
Weighing scale
35 kg MB
cylinder
Application Line

A Trained Rentokil Fumigator

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A Checklist for Exporters

To make an informed judgement before quoting the cost of a container
fumigation , Exporters must give Rentokil the following information :

1. Nature of the cargo to be fumigated

2. Container box size
3. Is ventilation required upon arrival ?
4. Port of Destination
5. Where is the fumigation site ?
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Ventilating Containers
2 types of container fumigations from the viewpoint of ventilation:
Type

A.

Ventilation ?
No ventilation before
loading onto ships
( container fumigation-in-transit)

B.

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Compulsory ventilation
before loading onto ships

Destination

Most countries.
But trend is rapidly changing to Type
B.
1.
2.
3.

Singapore
Netherlands
Upon special customer request

MB dosage for containers

depends on destination !
Type
1.
2.
3.

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Dosage

Destination

48 gm / m3

1.
2.

Australia (excl. Darwin)

Malaysia + most countries

80 gm / m3

1.
2.

New Zealand
Malaysia Khapra beetle in an
empty container box

128 gm / m3

1.

Only Darwin (Australia)

Health & Safety

in
FUMIGATION

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Objective of H & Safety

in Fumigation
1. Protect Fumigator
2. Protect Clients staff, property, products
3. Comply with local laws
4. Comply with Rentokils internal standards &
international best practices
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Rentokil manages Fumigation

Safety in several ways
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Written Risk Assessments (Rentokil)

Warning Notices (by Law)
Warning Signage (by Law)
Training Fumigators (Rentokil + Law)
Right equipment (Rentokil)
Internal Safety Audits (Rentokil)

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Conducting a Written Risk

Assessment
a. Site inspection, &
assessing on a case-bycase basis.
b. Before job is confirmed.
c. Client cooperation
essential.

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The Law
HYDROGEN CYANIDE
(Fumigation) ACT, 1953
1. Require Licensed Fumigator
2. Issuance of Notices prior to
commencement of fumigation , clearing
gas, keeping records

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Using Warning Signs

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Training Fumigators in-house

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Using the Right Equipment

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Thank You !
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