Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th July 2024 Issue no. 1124

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What is the Ecoray System and how can it aid infection control during Covid-19 pandemic?

The Ecoray system is a totally autonomous addition to the range of Grande Brio scrubber dryers and Willmop vertical scrubber dryers from TSM Italy - brought to the UK market in an exclusive partnership with Hooper Services in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Using UV technology to destroy micro-organisms on a cellular level, the Ecoray system can destroy up to 97% of bacteria, mould or viruses without the use of a chemical.

The system sits at the back of the machine after the squeegee and turns on automatically when the machine is in use, so there is no need for any training or maintenance.

There are many benefits to using the system in, for example; schools, offices, hospitals, doctors' surgeries and various other industries. The system doesn't produce ozone, it can reduce odours and pollutants contaminating the floor which would subsequently reduce symptoms of allergies, asthma and other diseases.

The system has been independently tested by one of Italy's top oncology institutes; the CRO National Cancer Institute near Venice. Results have revealed that in the areas tested just using water, one with public access and another with restricted access, there is a significant reduction of between 96.5% and 100% of micro-organisms in the points tested.

As the testing at the CRO suggests, maintenance of floor areas can be completed in just one pass with the Ecoray system mounted - saving time, money, chemicals and maintaining infection control standards.

An article published in the American Journal of Infection Control in 2017, states that a person does not need to touch a floor for the bacteria to transfer to them, all it needs is for another object to have been in contact with the floor to be handled by the person. It has thus been suggested that floor areas should be classified as 'critical' in maintaining infection control standards.

According to the Evening Standard, Transport for London (TfL) is trialling a similar type of UV technology on the London tube network. In a statement released on 10th July TfL said: "The device, which could help supplement TfL's extensive anti-viral cleaning regime, is connected to the escalator handrail and uses its motion to power a UV bulb that breaks down surface contamination to sanitise the handrail". TfL is now assessing the benefits of the technology, which could be installed more widely in the future.

E: [email protected]
W: www.hooperservices.co.uk

16th July 2020