Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Protect classrooms and communities with antimicrobials in schools
Following the decision by Government to close all schools, now is the time to introduce long-term protection against all viruses including Covid-19.
Bromoco International, makers of Touch Antimicrobial coating, is appealing to local councils and the Government to implement a long term, sustainable plan to protect classrooms and learning environments with antimicrobial coatings.
In recent weeks, the rise of positive cases amongst students and school staff was a strong indicator that hand-washing and cleaning of frequent touch-points was not sufficient to prevent Covid-19's spread.
However, there is a layer of defence that has been under-utilised in the UK that can protect against Coronavirus and most other bacterial and viral threats. Once applied, it works 24 hours a day for up to five years and doesn't rely on constant cleaning after every possible contamination.
Developed in the UK in 2013, Touch Antimicrobial is a permanent, retrofit, hard film, crystal clear coating that provides protection against enveloped viruses & bacteria including Covid-19 (as well as SARS-CoV-2 and MSRA) for all hard surfaces. It is already being used effectively in many institutions and organisations throughout the UK, including our high-security government buildings, while businesses and factories are also applying the product to help protect their employees.
Touch is an easy to apply coating which dries to form a permanent, invisible layer of protection, creating an environment where pathogens (including enveloped viruses such as Covid-19 and MRSA) cannot survive. It works by incorporating silver ions and sealing them onto the surface of the material treated, which disrupts the protective outer layer of the microbe so it cannot survive on contact with the coating.
Laboratory tests and real-life studies on Touch protected products prove that 80% of microbes are eradicated within 15 minutes, 90% die within one hour of landing on the treated surface and up to 99.99% are gone within two hours. Every minute that passes, the chance of cross contamination reduces.
Independent accreditations support the company's claims. "The science behind the technology in Touch Antimicrobial is well known and has decades of research to support it,” says Claire Kirby, director at Innovation Hygiene Consultancy. “Its effectiveness against enveloped viruses is perfect for protection against Covid-19 and Bromoco International has managed to develop this technology into a retrofit coating that is permanent, hard wearing and crystal clear, that will last up to five years.
"The product is very easy to apply with detailed instructions how to clean, coat and dry cure the surface. No more finger-prints, no more bacteria or viruses.... simple!"
Antimicrobial coatings are not new - metal ion technology dates back as far as 2200 BC with the Greek, Egyptians and Romans being found to have used copper and silver for their antimicrobial properties. They were used to purify water and to create antiseptic balms.
Tony Semple, technical director at Bromoco International, comments: "Touch Antimicrobial coating is not the whole solution, but it is a major piece of the puzzle of ensuring classrooms stay safe for both students and staff at all times. Knowing that all surfaces in the school are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to protect everyone from getting ill, will make it much easier for schools to remain open, staff to keep their jobs and students to continue to have access to the education they need. We believe the application of this extra layer of protection really is a no-brainer."
14th January 2021