7B Ch1 Cheat Sheet: Wood-Destroying Pest Laws

🎯 Top 5 Traps

1

Records: 1 / 3, not the other way. General-use = 1 year. Restricted-use = 3 years. The riskier products demand the longer paper trail.

2

A homeowner using RUPs is Subclass A. Subclass A is keyed to restricted-use, non-agricultural — not to who employs you.

3

Hand-held equipment is exempt from pad rules. Rule 6 (mix/load) and Rule 7 (wash) do not apply to backpack-only or pump-bottle operators.

4

4-hour school reentry is the floor, not the ceiling. If the label says 24 hours, the label wins. Right answer is always "4 hours or longer per label."

5

Spill kit not required under 16 oz. Single use-dilution containers under 16 ounces are exempt from the immediate-access spill kit rule.

🔢 Numbers You Must Know

Number

What It Represents

1 year

General-use pesticide record retention (Reg 636)

3 years

Restricted-use pesticide record retention (Reg 636)

4 hours

Minimum school room unoccupied period after insecticide (Rule 15) — label can require more

48 hours

Sign posting duration at commercial buildings, healthcare, daycare, schools (Rule 11)

16 oz

Spill-kit exemption — single use-dilution containers under this volume (Rule 4)

12 months

Maximum service contract duration without renewal/dated contract (Rule 12)

1 minute

Discharge volume the mix/load pad must contain (Rule 6)

10 workers

OSHA recordkeeping/reporting threshold for businesses

🔀 Easily Confused

Pair

Distinguishing Feature

Reg 636 vs Reg 637

636 = WHO (applicator types + records). 637 = HOW (the 17 use rules).

Subclass A vs B

A = restricted-use, non-agricultural (includes homeowners). B = non-ready-to-use OR for hire.

General-use vs Restricted-use

General = anyone may buy. Restricted = certified applicator OR direct supervision only.

FIFRA vs Endangered Species Act

FIFRA = registration, labeling, misuse penalties. ESA = species-specific label limits + 7B's duty to consult MDNR.

OSHA vs MIOSHA

OSHA = federal workplace records (DOL). MIOSHA = MI Right-to-Know (MSDS, written training, container labels).

Ready-to-use vs not

RTU = used straight from manufacturer's container (aerosols, pump sprays, baits). Anything that mixes/loads is not RTU.

📋 Reg 637 Quick Index

Rule

Topic (one-liner)

Rule 4

General use — label, drift, calibration, vehicle markings, spill kit

Rule 5

Notification registry — not applicable to 7B

Rule 6

Mix/load pad (impervious, bermed, 1-min capacity, primary shutoff). Hand-held exempt.

Rule 7

Wash/rinse pad (similar specs to Rule 6). Hand-held exempt.

Rule 8

Excess pesticides — use per label OR as diluent in compliant mixture

Rule 9

PPE minimums — long pants, footwear, long sleeves, impervious gloves

Rule 10

Drift management — HVAC counts indoors for 7B work

Rule 11

Posting at commercial/healthcare/daycare/schools — 48 hours, MPCA cloud-house symbol

Rule 12

Service agreements — consent + contact + schedule, 12-month cap, info each application, risk/benefit at initial

Rule 13

No misrepresentation — no "absolutely safe," no agency endorsement, no "all natural"

Rule 14

IPM training (7 elements) for schools, healthcare, public buildings

Rule 15

Schools — 4 hr minimum unoccupied (label can extend), parents notified before (after for emergency)

Rule 16

Certified organic farm registry

Rule 17

Penalties for local pesticide ordinance violations

💡 Memory Hooks

Records: "1 for general (short), 3 for restricted (serious)." The riskier the pesticide, the longer the paper trail.

School reentry: "4 hours or label, whichever is longer." Both halves matter.

FIFRA vs Reg 637: "FIFRA is the federal floor, Reg 637 is Michigan's rulebook." Federal sets minimum, state adds specifics.

636 vs 637: "S ix-three-six = S tatus (who's certified). Six-three-seven = use." Mnemonic: 636 has an S in Six, status starts with S.

Ch.1: Wood-Destroying Pest Laws

🎯 Top 5 Traps

🔢 Numbers You Must Know

🔀 Easily Confused

📋 Reg 637 Quick Index

💡 Memory Hooks