As a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic, health, hygiene and above all safety is at the top of everyone’s agenda – and in premises, people need to feel as safe as possible
“We are working closely with facilities managers to recommend that they take the right steps to ensure the safety of their staff and visitors, and to restore confidence”, said P-Wave® Sales and Marketing Manager Mark Wintle.
One of the biggest challenges in any building is keeping regularly touched surfaces, or ‘hotspots’ clean and free from bacteria and viruses. Door furniture is among the ‘most-touched’ of all hotspots in business premises, and is one of the fastest ways for infections and viruses to spread. The typical handle in a public toilet is home to up to 40,000 germs per square inch, and standard handles are without doubt the largest carrier of healthcare associated infections.
Keeping surfaces clean can only ever be a temporary measure as each person who touches a door handle transfers new bacteria, which multiplies and spreads to other users. Traditional stainless steel or painted handles increase the spread of infections by providing an area for transmission to occur, creating more carriers.
“What if the door furniture was antimicrobial and anti-bacterial, creating a permanent solution, which is effective against bacteria and viruses and continues to protect in between your standard cleaning intervals?”, asks Mark Wintle. “P-Wave® is delighted to introduce the perfect solution, which is not only affordable, but also features an additive which lasts for the entire lifecycle of the product.”
Antimicrobial to the core
P-Wave’s Steri-Core antimicrobial silver ion technology door furniture helps reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. Tested and proven effective against MRSA, E-Coli, Salmonella and Norovirus, the products feature a high concentration of antimicrobial which is blended with the polymer during the manufacturing process and forms part of the molecular structure of the product. This ensures that the silver Ion technology is active all the way through to the core of the handles. So unlike coated products or films, even if they become scratched or damaged, Steri-Core handles will continue to kill pathogens effectively for the life of the product, and each handle has a 10 year manufacturer guarantee.
To withstand heavy usage, the handles are one-piece injection-moulded from strong polymer material with rounded edges and no joints or joins, 100% recyclable and scratch and water resistant, the unique material will not rust, unlike standard metal handles. Available in two widths (75mm or 100mm), in blue, black or grey/silver, the handles are fire rated and UV and fade resistant, making them perfect for indoor and outdoor use.
The non-porous polypropylene material stops dirt embedding and staining the surface, making the removal of dirt and bacteria easier compared with traditional materials. The material used in the Steri-Core products enables quick effective all over cleaning using detergents, steam cleaning, and chlorine disinfectants (BS EN 12720:2009[1]). European standard specifies a method for the assessment of the resistance to cold liquids of all rigid furniture surfaces regardless of materials.
Patents have been granted for the range and independent tests prove that P-Wave’s Steri-Core products are made from the world’s only material clinically proven to kill the non-enveloped EPA FCA Strain F9 of Human Norovirus (ISO 22196:2011). P-Wave® is currently awaiting results of tests to prove that its Steri-Core products are also effective against Coronavirus, which – according to the American Chemistry Council – is an enveloped virus and easier to kill[2] than non-enveloped viruses.
“P-Wave’s P-Hold Steri-Core, P-Plate Steri-Core and P-Lever Steri-Core not only provide a high level of protection against virus transmission, but also save money over many alternatives,” said Mark Wintle. “This solution avoids the regular and costly replacement of antibacterial covers or films as well as their ongoing maintenance. We are delighted to be making a positive, and affordable, contribution to keeping people safe.”
[1] The BS EN 12720:2009 standard specifies a method for the assessment of the resistance to cold liquids of all rigid furniture surfaces regardless of materials.
[2] https://blog.americanchemistry.com/2020/03/cbc-answers-your-questions-about-covid-19/