hygienic surfaces
Copper: Naturally Antibacterial
Antimicrobial copper is the most effective touch surface material, killing greater than 99.9% of bacteria within 2 hours of exposure. Bacteria, yeasts, and viruses are rapidly killed on metallic copper surfaces, and the term “contact killing” has been coined for this process. While the phenomenon was already known in ancient times, it is currently receiving renewed attention. This is due to the potential use of copper as an antibacterial material in health care settings. Contact killing was observed to take place at a rate of at least 7 to 8 logs per hour, and no live microorganisms were generally recovered from copper surfaces after prolonged incubation. The antimicrobial activity of copper and copper alloys is now well established, and copper has recently been registered at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the first solid antimicrobial material.
This technology can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria.
Glass, PVD & Powder Coating: Silver Ion Technology
Glass, and product features that can be coated using either PVD & Powder Coating can be upgraded to antibacterial finish by applying silver ion to the upper layers of the material; when it comes into contact with bacteria, the silver blocks their metabolism and/or disrupts their cell- division mechanism and in so doing, destroys them.
This technique coats the material with a layer of silver ions that can prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni. The technology can be used to protect medical equipment and offers a unique solution for washrooms. This technology can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria.
Laminate: Antibacterial Coating
Certain laminates are available with antibacterial coating incorporated into the laminate during the production process (microban technology within the resin, or alternatively nano-technology laminate). On a laminate surface, microbes can double in number every 20 minutes. This can result in staining, unpleasant odors and premature degradation that affects the durability, lifespan and hygiene of a laminate product. In many circumstances, once microbes have begun to proliferate on a laminate surface, constant cleaning is required to keep growth under control. Recognizing that the ability to clean constantly is unreasonable in some environments, the best weapon against the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew is antimicrobial protection.
This technology can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria.