THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SEAT
Increased Cleanliness Through Antimicrobial Coating
to the surface until physically worn off over an extended period . Reapplication timelines vary between three to 30 months , depending on wear levels . Prior to any antibacterial coating application , normal cleaning and disinfecting must be performed . Yet , antimicrobial barriers protect surface materials from deterioration , make future cleanings easier , and eliminate odor-causing bacteria .
By Doug Oswald
The COVID-19 pandemic brought public transit ridership levels down to historic lows . Transit agencies continue to look for ways to protect riders and regain their confidence in coming back to ride public transit at pre-pandemic levels . One necessary approach to protecting riders is routine cleaning and disinfecting of the surfaces that riders may come in contact with . In addition , antibacterial coatings have been proven to be an effective second defense against bacteria and viruses found on hard and soft surfaces . Antibacterial coatings have been used in food and healthcare industries for decades but are relatively new to the transportation industry .
Image 1 : How It Works
Effectiveness and safety If antibacterial coatings are of interest , be sure to use a product that is both effective and harmless to people and the surfaces it protects . Step 1 is to ensure the product is EPA-registered safe to use as a biostatic agent . The company promoting the product should be able to provide a certificate or registration number that can be validated . Step 2 confirms there are no toxins in the formula that shift the product away from being pH neutral . If the pH level is more acidic , some materials receiving application may be corroded , most notably metals . Step 3 is determining the product ’ s efficacy against bacteria and viruses . The company offering the product should have an extensive list of the pathogens that have been tested to be destroyed or inactivated by the antibacterial coating , but onsite testing is always the best approach .
Onsite testing of efficacy Adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) field testing is a way to measure hygiene cleanliness levels before and after antibacterial coating applications . ATP is the energy molecule found in all living things . ATP monitoring systems use a reagent and light to measure the level of contamination through RLUs , or Relative Light Units . Readings can vary , but luminometer levels in the single digits are considered to be sterile surfaces . Readings up to 30 RLUs are considered “ very clean ” for critical high-touch surfaces . Higher readings become cautionary around 100 , and , at anything over 200 , there is a risk of contamination from disease-causing bacteria . To understand ongoing levels of cleanliness on critical surfaces , regular testing should be performed . ATP process shown below .
How it works Antimicrobial barrier treatments protect surfaces from microbes . The invisible bio-barrier coating acts as sharp blades to microorganisms . When these microbes come in contact with the treated surface , they are punctured and destroyed by the microscopic needles ( see Image 1 ). Once the application dries , it remains affixed
Since June of 2020 , American Seating ( AS ) has been applying an antimicrobial coating to all high-touch surfaces of the company ’ s seating and securement solutions . AS ’ s ClearRide Powered by PreventX ™ has a larger list of pathogens destroyed or inactivated , longer-lasting effects , a longer shelf life and is noncorrosive compared to other offerings on the market . For application to existing transit vehicles , AS is the exclusive distributor of 5-gallon containers of ready-touse ClearRide . AS regional sales managers are equipped to apply ClearRide and perform ATP testing trials upon request .
Doug Oswald serves as the marketing director for American Seating ( AS ) and has over two decades ’ experience in seating product development . Headquartered in Grand Rapids , Michigan , USA , American Seating employs a U . S . -based workforce and takes pride in sourcing locally . AS has been listening to , designing for and investing in public transportation and related industries for 90 years . Flagship products InSight
® and Vision
® were conceived , engineered , tested and tooled by AS to meet the needs of the North American transportation market .
Visit http :// www . americanseating . com for additional information .
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