PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Manufacturers supplying products to the healthcare sector – from concrete sealants and flooring to lights and doors – are increasingly integrating antimicrobial additives into their products.
accelerate cracking, spalling, and other damage, and reduce the service life of the structure. Microorganisms can penetrate inside the concrete matrix even if there are no observable cracks; the most common route for ingress is via microcracks or through the capillaries in the concrete. The intensity and rate of the biodeterioration will vary based on several factors, including the availability of water and nutrients, porosity, permeability, and environmental and architectural factors.
A cost of billions of dollars annually It has been estimated that biodeterioration-related structural problems cost billions of dollars a year in infrastructure maintenance and repair. In the US, it was calculated, albeit some years ago, that the cost of corrosion could represent three to five per cent of the country’s GDP – not including indirect costs, such as congestion or loss of production. While microbial contamination is clearly a concern for concrete structures, microbes can compromise other building materials too, as well as building components such as walls and flooring.
Mould infestations For example, the starches, cellulose, sugars, and organic adhesives in building materials, all create an ideal nutrient source for mould to thrive on (it will, for example, feed on walls, insulation, paper backing, certain carpets, and wood). In favourable environments, mould germinates and spreads via filamentous structures known as hyphae, which take up surrounding nutrients. This mass of hyphae leads to the formation of mycelium – the vegetative part of the mould that pumps spores into the environment, allowing it to spread. Additionally, this can also lead to insect infestations down the line; some species feed on mould, while others take advantage of the damp environment, feeding on wet wood (such as woodworm). If left untreated, mould can spread
through wall structures, weaken floorboards, and cause wet rot in damp conditions. The severity will depend on
38 Health Estate Journal April 2022
the type of mould (some types spread faster than others – Aspergillus being one example). The damage caused can often be irreparable, shorten the expected lifecycle of building materials, and result in unsafe, unstable conditions, which will of course need to be rectified – with obvious financial implications. For example, floorboards heavily infested with mould would present a serious hazard due to weakening, and would need to be replaced. This could be very costly, depending on the severity and size of the building. If mould starts to grow behind walls where there is excessive moisture, damp-proofing will be required, which could cost several thousands of pounds. Even just a mild mould infestation would require intensive cleaning, alongside repair and maintenance work.
Potential loss of services Microbial contamination might also result in a loss of services or temporary relocation if a building needs to be closed while work is carried out. This can be difficult, if not impossible, to manage – both from a financial, and an operational, point of view. The UK’s healthcare sector is of course already under severe financial pressure. Furthermore, loss of healthcare facilities and services is problematic at any time, but even more so today when patient waiting lists are at a record high.
Managing microbes It is not possible to build a strong structure on a weak foundation, which is why it is vital to prevent and eliminate microbes that can negatively impact building materials and components. Buildings that are properly maintained over time can, after all, survive for centuries, increasing sustainability, and potentially delivering huge cost savings over the long term. Controlling biodeterioration should
start with taking measures to inhibit the colonisation of microbes, with specialists agreeing that prevention is the most effective mode of defence against bacteria, mould, and fungi. Many are turning to antimicrobial technology, which prevents the growth of a wide range of microbes, and provides continuous and long-lasting product protection. It has proved particularly valuable for industries where the durability of materials is essential, such as in construction and infrastructure. As an example, in partnership with BioCote, Foxfire Enterprises Inc has tackled microbially- induced material degradation in concrete, masonry, and stone, by creating innovative antimicrobial concrete sealers and repellents, which can be applied to new or existing structures.
Integration during manufacture Antimicrobial products are created
The BioCote antimicrobial additives work by making surfaces ‘inhospitable’ to microbes, by causing, for example, protein, cell membrane, and oxidative damage, or through DNA interference.
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