The label is the law. Read your product's label before you mix or apply; the rates here come from the labels listed under Sources.
- Active ingredient
- Sulfuryl fluoride
- Chemical class
- Fumigant gas, chemical formula SO2F2; IRAC Group 8C miscellaneous nonspecific (multi-site) inhibitors: sulfuryl fluoride.[1][2]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 8C: Miscellaneous nonspecific (multi-site) inhibitors: sulfuryl fluoride[2]
- Signal word
- Vikane Specialty Gas Fumigant: Danger-Poison[1]
Who may fumigate your home
Vikane is a Restricted Use Pesticide because of inhalation toxicity. Only certified applicators, or people under their direct supervision, may buy or use it, and crews must take part in Douglas Products' stewardship training.[1]
Two trained people, at least one a state-licensed or certified applicator, must be present while the gas is released and when aeration begins. After you sign a fumigation contract, an adult occupant must be given the Vikane Fact Sheet.[1]
In townhouses, apartments and condos, every unit of the whole structure must be vacated, even if only one unit is treated. Doors are fitted with secondary locks so only the applicator in charge can get in.[1]
Warning gas, aeration and the 1 ppm clearance test
Because sulfuryl fluoride has no smell, the crew releases chloropicrin inside at least 5 to 10 minutes before the fumigant. It stings the eyes, causes tears and smells sharp, but it is a warning, not a way to clear out people or pets.[1]
After the tarp comes off, the house airs out with windows open and fans running for at least 2 hours. It then stays locked and posted for at least 12 hours from the start of aeration, longer at higher doses.[1]
Before anyone moves back in, the applicator measures each room with a clearance device. The level in breathing zones, where people stand, sit or lie down, must be 1 part per million or less.[1]
Where it is used
Food, drugs, tobacco and medicines can stay only if sealed in their original airtight plastic, glass or metal containers. Everything else, including opened fridge and freezer items, leaves the house or goes into double Nylofume bags.[1]
Mattresses and pillows inside fully sealed waterproof covers must be unzipped or removed. Covers with built-in air vents can stay as they are.[1]
Every flame and pilot light is put out and heating elements unplugged. High heat can break the gas down into corrosive products that damage metal, glass and fabric.[1]
Interior doors, cabinets, drawers, closets and appliances are opened so the gas spreads and later airs out. Opened toothpaste, cosmetics, lotions, ice and water don't need bagging.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikane Specialty Gas Fumigant[1] | Douglas Products and Packaging Company | 1015-78 | 99.8% | gas fumigant (liquefied gas under pressure) | Danger-Poison |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal words DANGER and POISON: fatal if inhaled. Vikane has no odor or eye irritation to warn you, so a toxic exposure can happen without anyone noticing. Early signs include respiratory irritation, slowed movement and slow or garbled speech.[1]
Pets
All people, pets and domestic animals must be out of the structure before fumigation. Fish tanks with live fish are removed, or the fish are removed, unless the fumigator has a plan to seal the tank.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The label carries no bee statement. Desirable growing plants are removed from the house, and soil next to the foundation is wetted to protect nearby plants from gas escaping under the tarp.[1]
Fish and water
The label has no fish or water warning. It notes sulfuryl fluoride does not deplete stratospheric ozone, and that it dissipates to non-detectable levels once a structure is aerated.[1]
Common questions
- How long after fumigation can I go back inside?
- At least 12 hours from the start of aeration at standard doses, and 14 to 24 hours at higher doses or in cold weather. Re-entry also requires a clearance reading of 1 ppm or less in every room.[1]
- What is the tear-gas smell during tenting?
- That's chloropicrin, a warning agent the label requires inside the structure because Vikane itself is odorless.[1]
- Does Vikane kill insect eggs?
- Eggs of most insects need much higher doses than larvae and adults, so the label sets pest-specific dose multiples. For carpet beetles and cockroaches, more than one fumigation may be needed after eggs hatch.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Vikane Specialty Gas Fumigant label, EPA Reg. No. 1015-78 (EPA-stamped, July 11, 2024).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/001015-00078-20240711.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, “IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 11.5 (Feb. 2026).” irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/ (accessed 2026-10-06)