Fumigation in South Africa
Fumigation is a pest control method that uses gas or smoke to eliminate pests in homes and businesses in South Africa. It’s often used when other methods aren’t effective or when multiple species of pests need to be treated. Fumigation in South Africa includes chemical fumigants such as phosphine, methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride.
How it works
A sealed area is filled with a fumigant gas at a lethal concentration. The gas kills all insects and pests in the area.
Who can fumigate?
Fumigation should be done by an experienced, reputable pest control company. Certification to use lethal chemicals requires stewardship training in both theoretical and practical application.
Read more about our free stewardship training here…
When is fumigation used in South Africa?
- For widespread infestations,
- To target multiple species of pests at once,
- To treat stored products like grains and food produce,
- To treat wood-destroying organisms, and
- To treat containers for export.
Stewardship Training
Fumigation for export
Specialized fumigation companies.
Many pest control companies specialise in a particular aspect of fumigation such as:
- Woodborer treatments in historical buildings or museums containing artefacts.
- Fumigation services for businesses in logistics and shipping including ISPM 15 certification for cargo and commodities for export.
- Fumigation for residential homes or business buildings.
- Grain silos and other storage facilities.
Other fumigation considerations
The price of fumigation depends on the volume of goods, preparation needed and the gas used. Sulfuryl fluoride fumigant gas is more expensive than its predessesor methyl bromide, for example, but less volume is needed for structural fumigations. This equates to a 60% saving for the client.
Certain pests may have built resistance to a particular fumigant, so an alternate works best. Phosphine resistance has been combatted with the advent of sulfuryl fluoride fumigant gas.
It is important to remove certain items before fumigation such as unsealed food, medication, plants and, of course, all animals including fish in tanks.
