Application Equipment and Techniques
What this domain tests
This domain tests equipment selection, calibration, and application technique. Florida structural work ranges from crack-and-crevice gel guns to termite injection and ULV space treatment, so the exam expects you to match the equipment and droplet size to the job and to prove the output.
Core rules
- Equipment: compressed-air sprayers for spot and crack-and-crevice; backpack sprayers for larger areas; gel guns and bait stations for targeted baiting; dusters for voids; ULV and foggers for space treatment only where labeled.
- Calibration: output (fl oz/min) × time = volume applied. For broadcast: GPA = (GPM × 5940) ÷ (MPH × nozzle spacing in inches). Check pressure, nozzle, and pattern; recalibrate after changing tips or product. Calibrate each tank mix because product viscosity and tip wear change output.
- Droplet size: coarse droplets reduce drift but may not penetrate; fine droplets penetrate voids but drift. ULV/fog droplets are very fine and are not a substitute for crack-and-crevice treatment.
- Technique: treat harborages, not visible insects; use spot, crack-and-crevice, void, and broadcast only as labeled; avoid runoff and food-contact surfaces; clean equipment between products to prevent cross-contamination.
Worked example
A compressed-air sprayer delivers 15 fl oz/min. The label calls for 1 gallon of dilution per 1,000 sq ft. For 500 sq ft, you need 0.5 gallon = 64 fl oz. Time = 64 ÷ 15 = 4.3 minutes. Reason: calibrate first, then calculate time, then walk at a steady pace so the output is uniform. If the sprayer is not calibrated, the rate is unknown and the application may be illegal.
Traps that cost marks
Skipping calibration; choosing a nozzle by convenience; overapplying to “make it work”; using a fogger for bed bugs or cockroach harborages; failing to rinse between products; and ignoring pressure loss when the tank is nearly empty.