WE ARE ALMOST READY for the tenting and fumigation of our premises at the very end of this month.
Although this was discussed and previously approved by the board in 2022, it turned out not to be feasible at the time. Many interlocking pieces needed to fall into place, but a few of them did not do so then. Same thing in 2024. However, this time around, it just might work—given the cooperation of our neighbors, the promised participation of many volunteers, and the preparations by our staff that I have already seen.
Below the jump, this post offers an FAQ about what is happening.…
Q: Which areas will the tent be covering?
A: Almost everything on our premises! That is: both buildings; the front steps and front planters on Main Street; and the entire play yard, including its wooden trellis, sandbox, and wooden and metal fences.Q: What fumigant will be used? What are its properties?
A: Vikane gas, which is heavier than air—and toxic to living things. Its active ingredient, sulfuryl fluoride, is used in virtually every fumigation in California. It is the only fumigant approved by the EPA for use in residential structures.
Vikane is favored for fumigation because it is nonflammable, noncorrosive, and odorless. It quickly penetrates structural materials, and it dissipates rapidly during aeration. It does not react with building furnishings or contents, including electronic devices. It does not form toxic surface residues—so dishes, clothes, cooking utensils, equipment, countertops, and so forth do not need to be washed following fumigation.
Vikane does not dissolve in water, which is why watering the ground around the foundation and watering any nearby plants helps to keep the gas inside the tent and out of the vegetation.
Studies on the atmospheric chemistry of Vikane published in 2008–2009 established that it is (unfortunately) a potent and long-lived greenhouse gas. Cumulative emissions since 1959 were estimated in 2008 to account for about 0.01% of the total contributions to global warming.
It can also react chemically with some organic compounds in foods and beverages. See below.
SOURCES:
Q: What is the concern about the exposure of foodstuffs and beverages?
A: According to the National Pesticide Information Center, sulfuryl fluoride can stick briefly in some oils. And when it mixes with food proteins, it can leave a fluoride residue. (Long-term ingestion of fluoride beyond a certain concentration can weaken teeth and bones, because it replaces calcium.)
Q: What preparations are being made for food and beverages on the premises?
A: We have asked the preschool staff to remove all foodstuffs from the school building. (Families: Please remove any food or medicines from cubbies, as well.)Meanwhile, a team of volunteers is taking care of food (and beverages) in the downstairs kitchen. They are following these guidelines:
- Any food, beverages, or spices can be safely left as is if they are sealed in glass jars, plastic bottles, or metal cans with the manufacturer’s airtight seal still intact.
- Other foodstuffs must be removed or double bagged in the special bags provided by the fumigation company.
- Water and ice can be safely left as is.
- Corked wine bottles must be lying on their sides.
- Frozen items that are double bagged can remain in the freezer until next used.
Q: What will happen to the preschool’s fish?
A: Mr. Fish, the company that maintains our fish, will board them during the preschool break.
Q: What will happen to Mishkon’s plants?
A: A team of volunteers is taking care of our plants, to the extent possible. They plan to temporarily move our potted plants to a neighbor’s patio, and to dig up the jade plants from the front planters.
The shrubs along Hampton Drive will probably be outside the tent, but they may suffer anyway, due to proximity. (And a few of them were cut at their bases, in order to make enough space for the tent to fit behind the shrubbery. That is, a few shrubs were sacrificed for the sake of the remainder.)
Q: How will the building be made safe for entry afterward?
A: Aeration on December 31 will involve fans to clear the gas from our structures. The aeration procedures allow enough time for the fumigant to diffuse from structural voids and building contents.
The indoor air will then be tested and certified for re-entry by the licensed fumigator. That is, they will use a government-approved measuring device to determine that the concentration of fumigant within the structure is 1 part per million or less, prior to allowing anyone to re-occupy it. (This is a lower level than what can affect people and pets following even long-term exposure.)
Once Vikane reaches the outside air, it rapidly dissipates to non-detectable levels.
Q: Will there be any residue on surfaces?
A: No. Hence there is no need to wipe down anything afterward—nor to wash dishes, linens, clothing, toys, or other non-edible items.Remember, the fumigant is a gas that will have dissipated into the open air by noon on New Year’s Eve. Hence no special measures will be needed for the safety of either preschool-age children or visiting infants when the preschool reopens on January 6.
Q: How is this being funded?
A: It is being paid for out of our Maintenance Fund, which is a reserve fund that receives a portion of member dues and a portion of the Building assessment that our members pay.
Q: What will be the biggest benefit?
A: Enjoying the peace of mind that our longstanding termite infestations have ended for the time being. That will maintain the integrity of our structures, which not only protects our safety as building occupants but also reduces future maintenance and repair costs.
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