PECM Issue 83 2026 | Page 9

relying solely on measures that manage insects after they have entered the building.
Looking at where the problem starts
Frequently used industrial doorways are an operational necessity, but they also represent potential points of exposure that warrant consideration as part of a manufacturer’ s approach to hygiene, contamination prevention and product protection.
An engineering approach to prevention
Following a detailed site survey and assessment of the entrance, an Enershield Air Barrier was specified and installed above the existing rapid opening door.
The Air Barrier technology creates a controlled, laminar flow of ambient internal air across the open doorway, helping to reduce flying insect ingress without introducing a physical obstruction.
This allows personnel, forklifts and equipment to move through the entrance while the airflow provides an additional protective measure at a known point of entry.
Importantly, the installation was not intended to replace the manufacturer’ s existing pest management arrangements. Instead, it complemented the EFKs, monitoring and periodic fogging already in place. increasing during the warmer months. Following installation, recorded numbers remained considerably lower, including during periods when fly activity would typically increase.
After accounting for seasonal variations in year-on-year fly populations, the manufacturer reported a 73 % reduction in recorded fly numbers following installation.
The result is particularly significant because the facility’ s existing pest management measures had already been maintaining insect numbers within acceptable limits.
The improvement demonstrates the potential value of introducing an additional preventative measure to an established food safety and hygiene programme, rather than
Understanding how entrances are used, reviewing existing pest monitoring records and identifying potential routes of entry can help manufacturers determine whether further preventative measures would be beneficial.
As this manufacturer’ s experience demonstrates, continuous improvement does not necessarily require replacing systems that are already working. In some circumstances, additional protection at a known point of entry can strengthen existing arrangements while maintaining normal operations.
Could your industrial entrances benefit from additional protection?
Learn how Enershield Air Barriers can help reduce flying insect ingress while maintaining access for people and equipment.
The approach addressed a potential route of entry while allowing the manufacturer to continue operating its existing insect control programme.
What did the evidence show?
The manufacturer had historical EFK data covering the five years before the Enershield Air Barrier was installed. These records provided a baseline against which fly numbers following installation could be assessed.
The historical data showed a clear seasonal pattern, with fly numbers
Find out more: enershield. com
Issue 83 PECM 9