In March 2010, and following three years of research and extensive testing, Rentokil Pest Control, in partnership with Revival Environmental (part of The Revival Group), announced a new chemical-free pest control process, called ‘Entotherm’ that can eliminate insect pests. The treatment is quick, efficient to apply, and reaches all areas of infestation.
The Entotherm Process is recognised as a viable alternative to conventional methods for pest control. In support of Rentokil, Revival Environmental provide:
- A comprehensive on-site survey
- A detailed report
- A Method Statement
- A Risk Assessment
- A thermal graph proving temperature attainment
Background
The Revival Hydrothermic Drying System (a product of The Revival Group) is a relatively new way of drying buildings with hot air and has had a major impact on disaster recovery, in both domestic and commercial situations.
Using the hydrothermic drying system, buildings can be dried in a matter of hours or days, rather than traditional methods, which can take months. The whole project can be monitored and controlled remotely, via the Internet, to ensure the temperature and humidity remain at the optimum for safe, fast drying.
Already innovators in this area, Revival Environmental suspected that the heating process could be used to eradicate insect infestation. Combined with Rentokil’s expertise in pest biology and pest control, the Revival process is now targeted at the pest control market.
What is the Entotherm Process?
A method of thermal disinfection that is totally chemical-free, quick and efficient to apply, and reaches all areas of infestation, wherever situated. It means that the process is not reliant on the integrity of any human, mechanical or pressurised systems of application.
How does it do that?
With the use of a mobile heating system that can control and deliver clean, dry and transferable heat to any contained area.
A heated liquid syrup is delivered through insulated pipes to heat exchangers, which are placed inside the infested treatment zone. The heat exchangers convert heat into hot dry air, which is discharged at a pre-determined temperature. Strategically placed electronic heat probes monitor and record the core temperature. The process is monitored remotely on a laptop, producing a computer-generated graph as proof of heat exposure. The treatment zone is heated up and maintained at 56°C for one hour to eradicate pests. Reports are run using the heat probes and thermal imaging technology to confirm that all target pests have been eradicated effectively.
Where can it be used?
Virtually anywhere, as long as the thermal integrity of the building, or operational area, can be controlled and maintained. Entotherm can be used to treat: cockroaches, dust mites, bed bugs, stored product insects, wet rot/dry rot/mould, plaster mite and wood boring insects.
All life cycle stages of the pest, from eggs and larvae to fully grown adults, can be eradicated with just one treatment.
The Benefits
The most important differentiator in pest control, and therefore highlighting the innovative attributes of Entotherm, is the fact that insecticide does not kill eggs.
Unlike spray treatments, it kills every lifecycle stage of an insect, from eggs to larvae, to fully- grown creatures, making it a more efficient way to treat infestations. Chemical spray treatments normally need to be repeated several times and can fail to reach insects living in wall cavities or crevices. Examples include:
Food processing and manufacturing facilities
The process makes it possible to eliminate insect infestations in food manufacturing factories, warehouses and grain silos quickly and efficiently. Stored product insects can contaminate foodstuffs at both larval and adult stages and are then easily transferred to milling and processing machinery. As Entotherm is chemical free any factories or machinery treated are safe to be fully operational again within hours, minimising production downtime and associated costs involved.
Bed bugs, cockroaches and pharaoh ants
An infestation of insects such as bedbugs, cockroaches or pharaoh ants can force hospitals to close wards for days or weeks. Entotherm eliminates the need for a prolonged closure by killing insects, mould and pathogens. It is quick and efficient to apply, reaches all areas of infestation, and treats infected bedding and soft furnishings without damaging them.
Pest in hospitals can pose a serious health risk to patients who are prone to infection. Pests typically spread infection very easily and it’s not just the more well-known insect pests, such as cockroaches and bedbugs that pose a problem. Whilst bedbugs very rarely cause any major infection, pests such as pharaoh ants can spread diseases quickly. Pharaoh ants feed on proteins such as blood and if they find a bloody bandage they could cross contaminate other patients very easily.
Key consumer benefits of Entotherm:
- Chemically free
- Cost saving – ‘Business as usual’ services resumed quickly
- Versatile/mobile
- Quick and easy to apply
- Graphical evidence of completion
- Less inconvenience to consumer
Rentokil is the only company offering this kind of treatment nationwide. The development of Entotherm is a huge advancement in the treatment and eradication of insect pests. Not only it is highly effective requiring one swift treatment, it causes minimal disruption to production.
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