FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you require clarification?
This section provides documented answers to the most frequently raised questions concerning the International Bed Bug Standards (IBBS). It is intended to assist accommodation providers, pest control contractors, and legal reviewers in understanding the scope, intent, and structure of the IBBS framework.
Learn more about IBBS Standards and Certification
What is IBBS?
IBBS is the International Bed Bug Standard. The Standard is in place to optimize prevention of bed bug infestations and protect accommodation providers against litigation and loss of reputation through the implementation of training, risk prevention, and guest handling procedures.
What is unique about IBBS?
IBBS is the only standard specifically designed to help prevent and mitigate the risk of bed bug issues. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis has proven that IBBS reduces the risk of bed bug infestation and subsequent litigation and loss of accommodation provider reputation by over 90%
How does IBBS help mitigate bed bug related risks?
Accommodation providers with the unique third-party IBBS certification are in a strong position to ensure protection against litigation and irreparable damage to their reputation in the event of a real or false guest bed bug complaint.
In the event of a legal case, IBBS provides independent third-party proof that the accommodation provider has taken all possible steps to prevent and manage any potential bed bug incident. Automated time-stamp actions are available to the accommodation provider to present as evidence of their actions in a court of law. This third-party proof is vital in any potential bed bug litigation case.
Who developed IBBS?
IBBS is the culmination of 6 years of research and development in the specialist area of bed bug prevention and mitigation. IBBS was established in 2018 by Geoffrey Simmonds MSc, and Lee Kelman, of CleanTech UV.
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Geoffrey is an ISO (International Standards Organization) qualified Lead Auditor, lecturer and trainer in Quality Management and Failure Mode Effects Analysis, and author of several international safety standards. He has implemented training and quality management programs with several Fortune 500 companies throughout Europe, North America and the Far East.
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Lee is an International Bed Bug expert with over 20 years of experience in implementing Bed Bug Pest Control prevention and eradication procedures for accommodation providers worldwide. He was instrumental in implementing specialist bed bug procedures for the Dubai Expo 2020.
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In 2023 Dale Story joined the team. Dale is an entrepreneur and specialist services provider for the accommodation industry.
How long does it take to become certified?
IBBS is ready to go. Once the property has completed the registration process and staff training is complete, IBBS will conduct the automated audit and the property is IBBS certified. This process can be completed in a matter of days depending on how fast the property is willing to work.
How much investment is required to join the Standard?
IBBS has an automatic flat-fee structure dependent on the number of staff to be trained. The membership fees can be easily calculated automatically by entering the property details on the IBBS website.
What are the IBBS hours of operation?
IBBS is available 24/7/365
Learn more about the benefits of being IBBS certified
Building a brand takes substantial time and investment. Paradoxically the higher profile the brand then the more damage that can be done to that brand in the event of a high-profile bed bug litigation case. The bigger the brand the more likely the media is to seize on the sensationalist opportunity. IBBS certification provides unique, robust, third-party, proof that all reasonable steps have been taken to prevent, mitigate and manage potential bed bug incidents. This proof can be used to prevent damaging media stories and provide evidence for legal counter-action against such stories.
IBBS provides all the third-party evidence that can be used by the Accommodation Provider’s legal defense team in order to prove that the property has taken all reasonable steps to reduce potential risks, prevent, control and handle any potential bed bug incident.
IBBS is a discreet risk-reduction, quality management tool that works quietly behind the scenes to help ensure negative publicity doesn’t become a problem. It is not designed to promote an image to the customer. The only time IBBS may be required to help bolster the customer image is in the event of a bed bug incident. Then IBBS becomes an invaluable ‘reputation protector’.
IBBS is a discreet quality/ management/risk mitigation tool that works behind the operation. The guest will only know about IBBS and the bed bug issue if an incident occurs. Then IBBS will help ensure the guest has confidence in the property’s management of bed bug issues.
Whilst IBBS can’t GUARANTEE that you will win a bed bug litigation case, it’s extremely unlikely that a lawyer would pursue a case if you have the IBBS standard as part of the property protocol and protection.
IBBS is currently working on the implementation of the following languages across the platform – French, German, Spanish and Chinese
Learn more about IBBS training
IBBS training equips staff with a clear understanding of basic bed bug science, how bed bug infestations can be prevented and what to do if and when they occur. The training provides staff with a guideline that enables the property to take charge of potential bed bug incidents thereby providing confidence to the guest that procedures are in place and taken seriously. The training is designed to instill bed bug awareness, provide tools to the staff that enable them to effectively handle and close any guest complaint process.
IBBS training is for Accommodation Provider Housekeepers, Front-Desk and Management. Pest Control Service Providers and their staff and management can also become IBBS trained and Certified.
IBBS Training certification is combined property and person specific. If a trained person leaves the property employment, they can print off their training certificate to keep. This is obviously a positive addition to their career history. Although the certificate provides proof of having completed IBBS training certification, it should be noted that refresher training needs to be completed annually. Staff leaving the employment of an IBBS certified Accommodation Provider and joining a non-IBBS Certified Accommodation Provider will no longer be certified until their new employer becomes IBBS certified.
No IBBS does not provide consultancy or replace the use of Pest Control Service Providers. IBBS largely eliminates the need for a property to engage Pest Control Consultants, instead, IBBS has built-in coordination linking Accommodation Provider and Pest Control Service Provider bed bug prevention and incident procedures helping to offer robust third-party documentation in the event of a potential legal case against the property.
Pest Control Services and IBBS
Pest Control Service Providers carry out bed bug inspections and eradication, whereas IBBS provides best practice prevention, training, risk mitigation, third-party logging and documentation and guest handling procedures. IBBS does not substitute for hands-on Pest Control Services inspection and eradication.
IBBS procedures facilitate the steering of correct interaction between the Accommodation and Pest Control Service Providers. IBBS provides Pest Control Service Provider Certification, and Properties are encouraged to use IBBS Certified Pest Control Service Providers.
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