Consumer Notice: Structural Fumigation
Florida law requires fumigators to give consumers specific information before a structural fumigation. This page provides that information for treatments performed by Tent Fumigation Specialists.
The Fumigant
Structural fumigations are performed with sulfuryl fluoride (commonly known by the brand name Vikane), a colorless, odorless gas that penetrates the structure to control drywood termites and other wood-destroying organisms. Because the fumigant itself cannot be smelled, a warning agent called chloropicrin is introduced with it; chloropicrin causes eye irritation and tearing at very low levels, alerting anyone who enters a treated structure.
During Fumigation
- All people, pets and plants must leave the structure for the full treatment and aeration period, typically 2 to 3 days
- Food, feed, medicine and other ingestible items must be removed or double-bagged in approved fumigation bags as described in our preparation guide
- The structure is posted with warning signs and secured; do not enter for any reason until clearance is posted
Clearance and Re-Entry
After aeration, a licensed fumigator measures fumigant levels throughout the structure with sensitive instruments. The structure is released for re-entry only when concentrations are at or below the clearance level required by the product label and Florida rules. The fumigant leaves no residue on household surfaces, dishes, clothing or furnishings.
Your Responsibilities
Your signed service agreement and preparation checklist list your specific duties: arranging lodging and pet boarding, preparing food and medicine, providing access, and notifying your coordinator of any person with respiratory conditions or other concerns before treatment day. If anyone in the home is pregnant, an infant, elderly or has health conditions, tell us before scheduling so we can plan conservatively.
Questions and Complaints
Questions about your fumigation: call TFS at (407) 476-3589. Pest control businesses in Florida are regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Bureau of Compliance Monitoring, which can also answer questions about fumigation rules. In an emergency involving a treated structure, call 911 and then the number posted on the warning sign.