FEATURE SWITCHES & DISPLAYS
COULD WE START SEEING A RISE IN THE SALE OF ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTS?
The fight against viral infections and bacteria has become a global concern, and health and safety has never been more important as Mark Flanagan, technical manager at Scolmore explores
B
usinesses in all sectors are having to invest in extra precautions and
explore ways in which they can limit the spread of illnesses. Antimicrobial products such as light
switches, sockets and wiring accessories, may not be the first precaution that springs to mind, however, they are a small, cost-effective, long-standing and efficient way to reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria on surfaces where there is a lot of contact. When we entered the first lockdown in
March, there was a 203% surge in people searching for ‘antimicrobial products’, compared to the month before - and it could be that we can expect to see a similar rise again soon.
WHAT ARE ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTS? Antimicrobial products are simply objects in which the growth of bacteria and viruses is inhibited. They are also known as anti-bacterial and anti-viral.
HOW DO THEY WORK? These products are manufactured using urea formaldehyde which inhibits the growth of infectious disease. The Scolmore products CLICK Polar, Part M and Mode plates have been shown to
36 MARCH 2021 | ELECTRONICS
have effective anti-viral properties against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Mode and Polar were also proven to have a 99.9% kill rate against enveloped viruses.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Kill rates of 99.99% were achieved across four types of the strains of bacteria MRSA, E-Coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Pneumonia and enveloped viruses, offering a high protection level to those who touch the surface. During these times of concern about
cleanliness and the spread of bacteria and viruses, antimicrobial products can help to alleviate some of these concerns by helping to minimise the spread of infectious diseases. Another benefit is that these products
work to protect the health and well being of the individuals who use them. Anything that we can do to look after each other more is vital especially during a global pandemic.
WHAT PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AS ANTIMICROBIAL? Scolmore’s antimicrobial wiring accessory products come under the Mode, Mode Part M and Polar ranges. Mode is a range of contemporary, white wiring
accessories developed as a high quality, flexible and modern solution for virtually any domestic wiring requirement. The smooth lines of the accessory plate will fit easily into traditional and contemporary designs alike. Mode Part M is a range of visually contrasting wiring accessories, in anthracite grey, that comply with current Building Regulations Part M. Polar is a premium range of bright white electrical accessories, which was developed to meet the demand for a different accessory colour. The antimicrobial range covers a vast collection of products including switch plates, dimmer switches, sockets, fused connection units and fan isolation switches. As we begin to exit lockdown,
businesses and individuals need to think about what the new normal may look like. In particular we will all need to continue to take greater care of our cleanliness and well-being moving forwards. If things like facemasks and hand sanitiser are here to stay for now, then it is likely that consumers, installers, and project managers alike, will be looking for additional ways to help everyone feel safe. If you could choose between an
electrical wiring accessory which helped to fight against viruses and bacteria and one which did not, it would seem like the most sensible option to pick the one with the increased protection. For us, it’s similar to choosing between a car with an airbag and one without. Restricting the spread of the
coronavirus is one of the biggest and most urgent challenges we are facing today. Light switches, dimmers and sockets have one of the highest touch rates in any environment, so are likely to hold a significant number of microbes on their surfaces. Whilst regular and rigorous cleaning is essential, the use of products with anti-viral and antimicrobial properties will also have a part to play to help inhibit the spread of infection. Scolmore has taken a further step to
ensure that its wiring accessory products offer enhanced hygiene properties. Mode, Mode Part M and Polar plates have now been independently tested and have shown to have anti-viral properties against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. After a contact period of 4 hours, all tested plates were shown to have a 99.9% kill off rate against enveloped viruses and a 92% kill off rate against non-enveloped viruses. This new anti- viral testing is in addition to the anti- bacterial testing already carried out.
Scolmore
www.scolmore.com / ELECTRONICS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
