Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An Integrated Pest Management plan reduces occupant exposure to dangerous toxins and allergens, supporting healthy indoor air quality and contributing to enhanced physical and mental health.

Key Terms

• An Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) is a plan that sets forth an environmentally friendly, health-promoting, and coordinated approach to controlling and preventing pests and using pesticides only as needed.

Strategy Insights

A qualifying plan should act as a de facto property policy, outlining control and preventive measures. Unadopted proposals/quotes for on-site service do not qualify. 

• An external, contracted vendor may demonstrate that they incorporate all IPM measures outlined in Fitwel’s strategy requirements. 
• The IPM plan needs to be applied to the entire building (including individual residential units of a MFR project), and is required to address both interior and exterior areas of the submitting property. 
• Regarding physical barriers/impediments: Fitwel does not require that barriers be present in all windows, doorways, and/or entry points, however that these spaces be incorporated within the plan provided that action becomes necessary to control/prevent pests. 

The requirements outlined for this strategy may function as a turnkey plan for any property that wishes to adopt and/or improve an IPM. It is acceptable to directly incorporate the language of this strategy into an official on-site plan. 

Documentation Guidance 

• Ensure that if two documents are submitted, they are intended to supplement each other and do not contradict each other. Vendors and contractors must be aware of the Integrated Pest Management requirements.