anti-bacterial solution

Transcription

1 anti-bacterial solution

2 the invisible risk SS, after more than forty years in the UK ceiling industry, have seen many developments in ceiling products from the basic wood fibre products of the early 1960s, to the high performance steel and aluminium products of today s generation of buildings. It is not surprising that steel and aluminium are among the most widely used materials for products in the construction industry replacing traditional products such as wood, plaster, plastics and mineral fibre. In the ceilings industry world-wide, metal ceilings have become the first choice of all specifiers in high performance environments. Projects completed include major infrastructures such as airports, railway stations, commercial office interiors, food stores, laboratories, pharmaceutical, maintenance and recreation areas such as swimming pools. In the past ten years improved hygienic requirements in both food preparation and the distribution and sales of food has seen metal ceilings become the benchmark, universally used by all UK major food companies. Metal ceilings have also been used by major supermarket chains and multiple product retailers, who require the highest quality and hygiene standards. With their easy clean polyester paint coatings and guarantees of 25 years metal ceilings are ideally resistant to routine and efficient cleaning with normal chemical cleaners. You can t see them but you can guarantee that they are ever present. In the last few years the threat of bacteria in the environment has grown, as has public awareness. There is underlying proof that certain environments are more susceptible to the major strains of bacteria. The media have named these bacteria Superbugs. Superbugs affect 100,000 people causing an estimated 5,000 deaths every year. (Department Of Health) Since 1990 cases have increased nineteen fold. (Health Protection gency) Superbugs cost the government an estimated 1 billion every year. (Department Of Health) Sectors at risk are public buildings: where a large number of people interact, schools, laboratories, food preparation areas, retail outlets and hospitals: where children and the elderly are most affected by HI (Hospital cquired Infections). These dangers have been highlighted recently by media and government initiatives. This includes campaigns by the Food Standards gency (regarding hygiene in the catering industry) and the vast development in the way the NHS approaches its cleaning, infection control and maintenance programmes in hospitals. With a presence everywhere, bacteria may build up quickly over a period of time multiplying on moist, warm, wet and un-clean surfaces in any environment. It is not only the build up of bacterial growth that is invisible to all but also the way it spreads within the environment. ir conditioning, human interaction and un-sterilised/un-clean products all add to the spread of bacteria. lthough there are ways of treating these Superbugs, some, particularly strains of Staphylococcus ureus (MRS), are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. In a typical hospital or school only the best is good enough when setting hygiene standards and protecting the working environment; floors, walls, ceilings and operational equipment. Designers are striving to provide the best possible preventative solutions. The use of transferable technologies such as metal and anti-bacterial coatings can help inhibit the potential invisible risk. 2 SS International

3 The ability to control or inhibit the growth of bacteria is a subject matter that has new significance. Researched and developed in recent years there are already a number of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal coatings available for different building products across a variety of sectors especially healthcare. SS in conjuction with kzo Nobel (the worlds largest powder coatings manufacturer) and by using Interpon B polyester powder coatings, SS are now able to offer an anti-bacterial solution for metal ceilings and architectural products in working environments SS B. Hygienic coatings are preferred as part of a controlled approach to cleaner facilities. Easy clean coatings that are resistant to routine and efficient disinfecting chemicals exist but coatings with active anti-bacterial properties provide extra protection for ceiling finishes. It should be recognised that the SS B coating has totally different performance criteria to the anti-fungal support claims made by other ceiling manufacturers. Cleaning Procedures s part of an existing cleaning procedure the new SS B coating effectively inhibits the growth of microorganisms. With cleaning programmes particularly in hospitals being reviewed and developed continously, metal ceilings are already proven to be the most effective ceiling surface to clean. ccording to the NHS National Cleaning Standards 2003 ceilings are presently rated as a cleaning priority or B depending on the functional area. This means that cleaning is either constantly critical or needs frequent attention (i.e minimum every 0 3 hours). These surfaces have to be extremely robust and claims made by some suppliers on the suitability of their products and technical composistion of the ceiling for cleaning are varied. n SS B system installed in accordance with SS recommendations can be cleaned regulary to the same standard as a stainless steel work top. No component in the ceiling can be dislodged using normal methods or pressurised cleaning equipment. Validation Statement kzo Nobel Powder Coatings have developed Interpon B anti-bacterial powder coatings for use in a range of applications requiring sustainable anti-bacterial activity. The anti-bacterial performance of these coatings has been tested by Law Laboratories, an independent test laboratory specialising in testing of materials for food and hygienic applications. Coated test panels and product coated by the customer have been tested using internationally recognised test protocols agreed with our customers. kzo Nobel Powder Coatings adopts the principle of having independent testing of every first batch of manufactured product before it is released to the customer to ensure the product has the required antibacterial activity. Tests have shown that Interpon B is microbiologically acceptable when tested against organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (resistant strain), Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli. The lifetime expectancy of Interpon B coated products are clearly important. Tests on coated products that have been in service for 4 years, along with ongoing tests on laboratory prepared panels using a test protocol agreed with Law Laboratories are demonstrating an excellent lifetime expectancy. Further details of the test results are shown in the validation test certificates from Law Laboratories, available upon request. kzo Nobel SS International 3staying safe: an anti-bacterial solution

4 staying safe: independent technical testing SS B: The Facts SS B is effective against many major strains of bacterium including E-coli and Staphylococcus aureus Interpon B powder coating was originally developed by kzo Nobel for the domestic appliance sector in 1994 and launched in the UK in Improving hygiene requirements in healthcare, food and other sectors has increased demand for such hygienic coatings The active ingredient is a listed product in accordance with the European Biocidal Directive, and is safe to use. SS B does not replace cleaning activity it contributes to established infection control and cleaning procedures helping to prevent the contamination of a working environment. SS B is more effective in the control of bacteria than a standard powder coating because it has active antimicrobial properties. The active ingredient is a proven anti-microbial agent and is bound into the coating during production. SS B is tested by Law Laboratories (an independent test centre) to the requirements of the internationally recognised test standard JIS Z 2801: 2000 and STM E This independent testing is ongoing. SS B has proven to be safe and effective in inhibiting bacterial growth on the coating surface across a wide range of bacteria types. The efficacy of the coating is maintained over time, as the agent is integral within the coating. SS B independently tested by SS B Performance Test Results ( = Microbiologically acceptable based on the STM proposed standard test method) Bacteria Polyester Powder Coating Hybrid Powder Coating Listeria monocytogenes Escherichia coli 0157 Salmonella enteritidis Staphylococcus aureus (resistant strain) Bacillus subtilis Pseudomonas aeruginosa Salmonella typhinium Streptococcus faecalis Legionella pneumophila Viibrio parahaemloyticus Enterobacter aerogenes Test method JIS Z 2801:2000 carried out at an independent microbiology laboratory. 4 SS International

5 During the last twenty years SS metal ceilings have become a benchmark providing quality solutions in offices, food environments, retailing, pharmaceutical and clean rooms. SS B is available on all SS products and ceiling systems. The preferred solution within a strict working environment has traditionally been System a downward demountable solution with a hinge and slide facility to retain the tile within the ceiling plane. The main benefit is that ceiling tiles are not required to be physically removed from the supporting grid and therefore, are less susceptible to damage during cleaning and maintenance work. System 150 tiles are available either bevelled edged as standard hinge-down or square edged for a crisper, cleaner appearance and are fully demountable to provide access to the ceiling void. The SS ceiling tile with B coating offers primary infection/bacterial control and from a risk assessment point of view should be the preferred choice for healthcare trusts specialising in working environments such as hospitals. Most ceiling systems are generally manufactured from porous, liquid absorbent materials with a form of paint sealant. t close examination (especially after the cutting of service perforations and accidental damage) product claims regarding cleaning characteristics are significantly inhibited and are not from a ceiling point of view comparable to a polyester painted steel product. Other non-metal ceiling systems that claim to be cleanable are in fact permeable barriers which in turn filter the air and its contents (i.e. dirt). If cleaning is attempted the contents of the tile are extracted to the surface. quality manufactured SS metal ceiling tile plain or perforated with aluminium foil on the back of the sound absorbing material acts as a barrier to any osmotic effect and renders the tile a truly inert material. Bevel edge cross section Square edge cross section SS system 150 SS International 5making the right choice

6 recycling and sustainability Recyclable Product The steel used to manufacture SS metal ceilings is highly sought after and 95% recyclable. The rising costs of landfill and significant residual value of such a recyclable product offers obvious environmental and cost benefits when the products finally need to be disposed. In % of all manufactured steel comes from recycled scrap steel. 95% of the SS metal ceiling solution at the end of its natural life is capable of being reprocessed. The life cycle of the product is in excess of 25 years. The resultant scrap value of recyclable steel has doubled in the past 3 years and today equates to approx 20% of replacement cost. This results in long term value for any project using SS products. Research carried out by SS with a construction products survey organisation found that 90% of all non-metal ceiling materials currently being used in the construction industry are never recycled and have significant land fill disposal costs. Steel is the world s most recycled material, 5 6 million tonnes of steel scrap are recycled every year in the UK alone. Life Cycle Costing SS, in conjunction with a recognised quantity surveying practice for a major national retailer, have researched the overall costs of a metal ceiling throughout its expected life cycle. The metal ceiling solution was compared with other ceiling systems and the associated costs identified. The report highlighted the significant capital cost benefits in the context of the total long term costs of a building. The exercise was based on a 20 year period and concluded that projected real cost savings of some 47% are achievable using an SS metal ceiling compared with a non-metal ceiling system. The consensus within the industry was that non-metal ceiling systems would be considered un-serviceable after years. When comparing other metal ceiling products with SS metal systems, aspects such as the thickness of the metal, the grade of steel or aluminium, the method of painting, the thickness of paint coating and the final surface performance are critical factors to the aesthetic appearance and long term performance of the installation. SS are totally committed to providing enhanced real value to their customers and can prove this to be a fact under the most stringent analysis. Standard SS paint coatings have a 25 year product life given appropriate care and maintenance. SS quality control procedures ensure consistency of performance. 6 SS International

7 Public Environments (irports, Offices, Government Buildings, Washrooms and lobbies) In an environment where many people are commuting or making use of the same facilities the specification of high performance easy to clean products is essential. The climate of such an environment also dictates the cleaning standards to be high. These public places are significantly open to cross contamination. Laboratories and Clean Rooms These highly demanding environments need to be free of any contamination that could threaten the activity that is undertaken or the people within them. These spaces often have to be completely sterile and products used within them have to be specified in accordance with stringent cleaning procedures. Traditionally these environments are subject to a high level of use and have to be maintenance sympathetic. Food Industry Whether food preperation, processing, storage or retail the risk of contamination in the food industry is always high. When preparing food for consumption the environment has to be specified with products that ensure the chance of cross contamination through air conditioning and condensation is limited. Hospitals and Schools Due to the development of cleaning and infection control procedures within hospitals and healthcare facilities the importance of specifying the best possible solution is paramount. Maintaining a public space and restricting the spread of numerous infection is extremely difficult. Continuous hand washing, cleaning of associated equipment in working environments and using any protective products (i.e. gloves) are all foundations of the ongoing procedures that are currently being developed to inhibit the cross contamination of bacteria such as MRS. Schools are also at risk from cross contamination. In a demanding, high use environment it is important for any potential risk to people and particulary children to be reduced. SS B acts as an additional supplement to effective cleaning reducing the risk of the growth and spread of bacteria throughout a building. It has been estimated that hospital-acquired infections, cost the NHS around 1 billion a year. SS International 7demanding environments

8 frequently asked questions How often does the ceiling system with B coating need to be cleaned and what is it cleaned with? How does the B coating really work? How long does it take to kill the bacteria? What colour does the coating come in? How is the coating applied to the product? Is there a British Standard that needs to be adhered to? How has the coating been tested? Cleaning is dependent on the working environment. The system should be cleaned at least once a week for high performance environments with hot soapy water, mild chemicals or depending on how sterile the environment, the ceiling can be steam cleaned. The B coating inhibits the growth of bacteria by disruption of the cell wall. SS B controls and inhibits the ability for bacteria to grow. The coating s effectiveness is measured over a 24 hour period in tests carried out by Law Laboratories the independent testing centre. ll the colours in the standard Interpon range are available. SS can also match to shade on request. The coating is applied in exactly the same way as normal powder paint coating using an electostatic spray. t present there are no British Standards for anti-bacterial coating. However, they are being prepared and will be available in the next few years. The active agent in the coating is approved for use as a listed biocide on the European Biocide Register. ll tests have been carried out according to existing Japanese standard JISZ 2801: 2000 by Law Laboratories the independent testing centre. How long is the lifetime of the B coating? Independent testing is ongoing but at present the lifetime of SS B is excellent. FM FM BS EN ISO 9001;2000 The product is manufactured to a quality management system BS EN 9001;2000 and is approved by BSI at SS International Bridgend and West Bromwich metal ceilings partitioning doors room comfort architectural metalwork Head Office: SS International, 31 Suttons Business Park, London Road, Reading RG6 1Z, United Kingdom T: +44 (0) For details of our offices worldwide please visit or enquiries@sasintgroup.com ll information and details in this leaflet are correct at the time of going to press. E&OE. Published by SS International. Copyright 2011.