About this guide
This guide covers the main categories of pest control equipment used by professional technicians in the UK — traps, bait stations, application equipment, PPE, and monitoring tools — and explains what distinguishes professional-grade equipment from consumer products available to the public. The page supports Apex Pest Control Ltd's pest control services by answering common questions about professional pest control practice before users choose a pest control provider.
Professional pest control draws on a range of specialist equipment that differs substantially from what is available to the general public. Understanding these differences helps property owners set realistic expectations about what professional treatment involves and why the results often differ from DIY attempts using consumer products.
Rodent traps
Professional pest controllers use a range of trap types depending on the species and situation:
Break-back snap traps: Available in both consumer and professional grades. Professional designs are typically more robust, hold calibration better over repeated use, and are designed for deployment in plastic tunnel housings that reduce non-target risk and provide a covered run that encourages rodents to enter.
Body traps (spring traps): The Fenn Mk 4 and 6, Kania 2000, and DOC 200/250 are professional kill traps approved under the Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018. The Kania 2000 and DOC 200/250 must be set in covered wooden tunnel housings when used in England. These traps are not available as consumer products and require professional knowledge of set and deployment.
Electronic kill traps: Professional-grade electronic traps often feature connected monitoring capability — the trap sends a wireless alert when a catch is made, allowing remote monitoring of large trap networks. Consumer electronic traps have a simple LED indicator requiring physical checking of each unit.
Multi-catch traps: Professional designs for mice hold 10–30 animals between emptying and are built for durability in demanding commercial environments. Consumer multi-catch designs are typically lower capacity and less robust.
The Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018 specifies which kill traps are approved for use in England, the species they may be used for, and the housing requirements that must be met — including the requirement for the Kania 2000 and DOC 200/250 to be set in covered wooden tunnel housings.
— Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018, UK Statutory Instruments
Rodenticide bait stations
Professional bait stations are tamper-resistant, lockable containers designed to secure rodenticide bait while allowing target rodents to enter and feed. Professional designs differ from consumer products in several ways: they are typically made from more durable materials (high-impact plastic or metal), can be secured to a structure or to the ground to prevent displacement, have internal pegs that hold bait blocks securely, and accommodate professional-grade bait products not available to the public.
Since January 2026, outdoor use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) by professional pest controllers requires CRRU registration and the RSPH Level 2 Award in Rodent Control. The bait stations used for outdoor SGAR programmes must meet the tamper-resistance standards specified in the CRRU UK Code.
Professional pest controllers are required to label all deployed bait stations with their company name and contact number, record station locations and bait quantities in a treatment log, and remove all stations and remaining bait at the end of the programme. These requirements do not apply to consumer bait station products, but the underlying principles — secure placement, clear identification, regular inspection — apply to any bait station use.
Application equipment for insecticides and biocides
Professional pest controllers use a range of application equipment for insecticides, biocides, and other treatments:
Compression sprayers: Portable hand-pump or backpack pressure sprayers for applying insecticides to surfaces, cracks, and crevices. Professional designs are built for repeated use with chemical resistance across a range of active ingredients.
ULV (ultra-low volume) foggers: Produce a fine aerosol mist that penetrates into cracks, voids, and inaccessible spaces. Used for flying insect treatment and in enclosed environments such as loft spaces. Require PPE and typically require occupants to vacate the treated area for a specified period.
Gel applicators: Used for cockroach and ant gel bait application. Professional gel formulations are not available to the public. Gel applicators allow precise placement of small quantities in crack and crevice locations where insects harbour.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Professional pest controllers wear appropriate PPE based on the products and situations involved. Common PPE in a professional kit includes: chemical-resistant nitrile gloves, respiratory protection (FFP2 or FFP3 for dusty environments or rodent droppings clearance), safety goggles or face shield, chemical-resistant coverall or oversuit, and appropriate footwear. The requirement for specific PPE is specified on each product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and COSHH assessment.
Monitoring and inspection tools
Pest assessment requires more than looking for obvious signs. Professional technicians use: inspection torches or head torches with high lumen output for dark spaces; endoscopes or borescopes for inspecting wall cavities, pipe runs, and inaccessible voids; tracking dust (non-toxic flour or chalk) to confirm rodent activity and travel routes; UV torches for detecting rodent urine fluorescence on surfaces; and in some cases, thermal imaging cameras to detect heat signatures from rodent activity in voids.
The combination of professional-grade treatment equipment with systematic monitoring tools is a significant part of what distinguishes professional pest control outcomes from DIY attempts — treatment decisions are based on evidence rather than assumption, and effectiveness is confirmed through monitoring rather than assumed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment do professional pest controllers use?
Professional kit includes approved kill traps (body traps, electronic traps), tamper-resistant lockable bait stations, compression sprayers, ULV foggers, gel applicators, and monitoring tools such as tracking dust, UV torches, endoscopes, and thermal imaging cameras. PPE (nitrile gloves, respirators, coveralls) is worn according to COSHH assessments for each product used.
Can I buy professional pest control equipment as a member of the public?
Some professional equipment is available to the public — heavy-duty snap traps, bait stations, and some insecticide products. However, second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), professional-grade insecticide formulations, and certain trap designs (including body traps under the Spring Traps Approval Order) are restricted to professional or authorised use. The most significant professional advantage is often knowledge and method rather than equipment access alone.
What is a tamper-resistant bait station?
A lockable container that secures rodenticide bait while allowing target rodents to enter and feed. Tamper-resistant stations prevent children, pets, and non-target wildlife from accessing bait. Professional designs are more robust, can be secured to structures, and accommodate professional bait formulations. Under the CRRU UK Code, outdoor SGAR programmes must use stations meeting specified tamper-resistance standards.
What PPE does a pest controller wear?
PPE depends on the task and product. Common items include nitrile gloves, FFP2 or FFP3 respirators (for dusty environments, rodent droppings clearance, or certain insecticide applications), safety goggles, chemical-resistant coveralls, and appropriate footwear. The specific PPE required for each product is specified in its Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and the operator's COSHH assessment.
What is tracking dust used for in pest control?
Tracking dust — typically non-toxic flour or chalk spread in a thin layer — reveals rodent footprints and tail drag marks, confirming which areas are actively used by rodents. It enables precise mapping of travel routes and population distribution across a site, which informs bait station placement and monitoring. It is a low-cost but high-value diagnostic tool in professional rodent programmes.
What are body traps and do they need special licensing to use?
Body traps (also called spring traps) are spring-powered kill traps approved under the Spring Traps Approval (England) Order 2018. Examples include the Fenn Mk 4 and 6, Kania 2000, and DOC 200/250. No specific licence is required to use approved spring traps, but they must be set correctly according to the approval order — for example, the Kania 2000 and DOC 200/250 must be set in covered wooden tunnel housings in England.
Can I hire pest control equipment rather than buying it?
Some specialist equipment can be hired from pest control suppliers, though this is more common in commercial and agricultural settings than for residential pest control. For most domestic situations, the equipment cost is a relatively small part of a professional pest control programme compared to the expertise, time, and treatment products applied. A professional pest controller supplies all equipment as part of the service.