Sanitation and disinfection is more important than ever before. We have always been concerned and cautious, but with a global pandemic of COVID-19 running amuck, it is vital to public health and safety to keep our buildings truly clean. Truly, completely clean, means that even the smallest invisible threats are destroyed. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi lurk on surfaces for long periods of time. Traditional disinfection methods are only partially effective in protecting the public from these threats. The moment an infected person touches a traditionally sanitized surface, the virus or bacteria sticks, and waits for the next victim.
What Are Traditional Fogging Machines?
With schools returning to in-person classes, fogging machines have gained undeserved popularity, in an attempt to provide a sanitary environment. Although the concept of these fogging machines makes sense at first glance, they do not clean surfaces. In fact, Public health authorities in both Canada and the U.S. warn fogging can not replace proper cleaning and disinfection beforehand. Fogging machines produce unsuccessful results as they only spray in the direction the machine is pointed to. The tiny droplets emitted also fall unevenly and do not sufficiently cover surfaces
Traditional non-electrostatic fogging machines are a method many have implemented in an attempt to perform full room disinfection. This method is not the best method to protect against disease as it does effectively cover most surfaces and have adequate surface “kill time”. Fogging an area is helpful and better than just hand wiping easily accessible surfaces, but it is not best-in-class and not as effective in eliminating all types of pathogens and covering surfaces in 360 degrees. It is not a replacement for cleaning a surface first (i.e. microfibre cloth that picks up both visible and invisible debris) with an approved proper detergent or cleaning agent.
Protection Timeline & Surface Coverage
Traditional Fogging Machines
Surface area reach is limited and can be insufficient in surface coverage given kill time rations needed to kill some more resistant bacteria and viruses.
Electrostatic Antimicrobial Sprayers
An electrostatic sprayer offers 360-degree coverage, a ‘wrap-around’ effect. This ensures better coverage of all surfaces. Additionally, the positively charged ions exiting the sprayer and coming in contact with a negatively charged surface, aid in creating a protective coating that can adhere to a surface more efficiently and effectively.
Cost
Traditional Fogging Machines
Although a traditional fogging or nebulizer machine uses less product, we are now learning that it needs to deployed longer and more frequently to be truly effective.
Electrostatic Antimicrobial Sprayers
Electrostatic sprayers with a small micron nozzle disperse product (i.e. disinfectant and/or antimicrobial) sufficiently and efficiently to be effective.
Additionally, when an antimicrobial solution is also dispersed with an electrostatic sprayer it can better bond with a surface and provide an enduring protection against viruses and bacteria, and mold. A surface can stay protected for several days longer than traditional cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Safety
Traditional Fogging Machines
There is much debate as to whether fogging machine sanitation is safe. Reports show illness and discomfort from those exposed to the method.
Electrostatic Antimicrobial Sprayers
Since the chemicals are sprayed as a fine mist, and not vapourized into the air, spaces are safe to use almost immediately following the disinfection and antimicrobial spray treatment.
Traditional fogging machines or nebulisers spray up into the air. Because of their poor performance, they merely fall weakly onto and do not completely cover surfaces.
Electrostatic sprayers are pointed directly at a surface and provide 360-degree coverage, above, under, and around objects. The negatively charged surface attracts the positively charged particles in the spray. This is known as utilizing a charge disruption mode of action.
The following table illustrates the differences between traditional fogging machines and the more superior method of electrostatic spraying.
Health Canada has given cautionary advice on the use of fogging machines when used in conjunction with disinfectants and antimicrobials. When released into the air as a vapour or gas, special controls are to be employed, which some testing has shown to reduce the effectiveness of the disinfectants ability to thoroughly kill pathogens on a service. The issues lie not in the product inside the machine, but the method of distributing it. When the liquid is distributed through the fogging machine, it transforms the disinfectant or antimicrobial solution into vapourized particles that are distributed throughout the air, limiting the amount of surface that is left moist long enough to have a kill effect on pathogens. An electrostatic spraying gun distributes more directly and effectively instead of more directly onto a contaminated surface.
Sanitation in Schools
With the push of reopening schools amid a global viral pandemic, parents and teachers are justifiably worried about the health crisis this will cause. With many children already, or soon returning to in-person classes, the threat of COVID-19 has become all the more terrifying. The U.S.Center for Disease Control warns us of the dangers associated with in-person classes and COVID-19. Their report describes young people, under age twenty-one, contracting the virus, those hospitalized, and those who have died suddenly. Some parents are not worried about their healthy children contracting the illness, however, we need to think about the vulnerable people these children will expose to the virus, even if they are asymptomatic. If the educational facilities are not safe and consistently disinfected and protected, the aftermath of in-person classes could be catastrophic. The Center for Disease Control predicts that with schools reopening, there will be more pediatric cases and more household-related outbreaks. Regular disinfection protocols is not enough to protect our students from this viral threat.
Schools have implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols in an attempt to combat the virus: masks, social distancing, etc. As we already know, children, however, are notorious for not following instructions. Students simply do not fully comprehend the threat associated with this deadly virus, or how detrimentally important it is to comply with safety and sanitation standards.
It is imperative we properly and thoroughly clean, disinfect, and protect the surfaces in our schools for a more safe environment for young minds to prosper. In addition to the current COVID-19 concerns, there are numerous other health-related threats inside an education facility: bacterial, viral, mold, and fungal. Common threats inside schools include.
- Fungal Infections- Ringworm is the most common fungal infection found in educational facilities. Simply coming into contact with an infected individual can result in contracting this infection. This is the result of several different bacteria that can affect the skin, scalp, groin (jock itch), and feet (athlete’s foot).
- Bacterial Infections- Staph infections are the most common bacterial infections present in any facility frequented by large groups of people. These infections are resilient to most antibiotics and can even become life-threatening if they enter the bloodstream.
- Viral Diseases- Influenza A is still the most common viral infection. As of recently. Coronavirus 2019 has also become is a terrifying reality in our schools.
A research study at Yale University found that student desks were among the top culprits for harboring dangerous microbial communities. Other major sources of potentially dangerous germs include the drinking fountain, doors, restrooms, and cafeterias. The majority of germs were found to be coming from the children themselves, specifical microbes from the skin, mouth, and gut. Even more distributing, after traditional cleaning and disinfection, the levels of microbes were back to their previous exceedingly high amounts only a few days later. So, what is the best method to ensure our children will be safe, particularly during COVID-19?
Why Choose Select Shield Antimicrobial Electrostatic Spraying for Your Disinfection Needs?
In order to provide a safe, truly disinfected environment, surface spraying of an antimicrobial coating is the best method of ensuring more reliable and long-term results.
How to Implement Antimicrobial Coating
- Contact us at info@selectshield.ca. We will respond to you as soon as possible, usually within twenty-four hours.
- We will happily answer any questions regarding our disinfection and antimicrobial electrostatic spray services.
- Schedule a time that works for you.
- A SELECT SHIELD technician will pretest multiple high traffic surfaces within the facility.
- Using our 360-degree electrostatic sprayer, our team of technicians will then disinfect all areas thoroughly.
- Our technicians then conduct cleaning verification surface testing again to validate there has been an improvement from initial benchmark test results.
- Then we will apply the antimicrobial coating, again with an electrostatic sprayer, to all high traffic areas.
The disinfectant and also antimicrobial coating used by SELECT SHIELD are used in numerous industries including large stores, restaurants, educational institutions, fitness facilities, aviation, ground transportation, medical facilities, and assisted living communities. You can also use our disinfectant and antimicrobial coating to protect your home, automobile, and office.
Send us a message on our website to learn more about our services and how Select Shield can protect your facility. You can also send us an email at info@selectshield.ca
Call us directly at 1-833-606-2360 (PH) 778-326-0143 to speak with a representative. We look forward to performing your sanitation needs.
