disinfecting kiosks
disinfecting kiosks
coughs and
sneezes spread
diseases
The big challenge
faced today is the
spreading of infection.
Contaminated
touchpoints may
be potentially
everywhere, but who
cleans the kiosk?
By Ali Abdel
Senior Technology Manager
Connected Technology Solutions (CTS)
One of the many challenges we face
today is the spreading of bacteria and
infectious diseases. Contaminated
touchpoints are everywhere. While
medical facilities are especially prone to
hosting pathogens – considering their
primary function is treating sick people
– quick-service restaurants (QSRs) like
McDonald’s and even building lobbies
with visitor kiosks present similar
infection risks.
So, what should we do about it?
The United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) published its
benchmark for sanitisation stating: “A
device or solution must kill 99.9% of all
pathogens on a visibly clean surface
within 30 seconds for it to be considered
sanitised.” Simply periodically wiping
down the kiosk touch screen is not
enough to satisfy the EPA disinfecting
standard. So this leaves kiosk owners
with two viable options to protect their
users: either cover the touchscreen with
a topical coating, or clean and sanitise it
(and all the surrounding input devices)
with UV-C light.
While technologies such as
antimicrobial coatings or chemical wash
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solutions are effective, they tend to
become less so over time, even if the
coating is baked on.
Typically, silver, copper or
titanium oxides are used as a coating
on the surface. Unfortunately, as the
surface is touched periodically over
time, it can lose up to 30% of its
antimicrobial ability.
What are the options?
Chemical-based solutions tend to have
higher operating costs associated
with them and can have intermittent
effectiveness based on environment.
These treatments can also be
limited in functionality. Titanium oxide
for example, requires light exposure to
function, so depending on the ambient
light source and strength, it’s possible
that solution may not always work at
full strength.
A UV-C disinfecting solution meets
the EPA requirements with “time to
sanitation” ranging from 4.25 second for
Shigella Flexneri – dysentery to 19.25
seconds to kill Staphylococcus lacti. Here
are some reasons the disinfecting UV-C
blue light option could be an alternative
to other disinfecting options:
Effectiveness – UV-C light disinfects the
touch screen, and also the surrounding
equipment as well.
Ingredients – Not all disinfecting
solutions need to be chemical-heavy
and pose a threat to the environment.
A disinfecting option like a UV-C light is
chemical-free and emits no by-products.
Simplicity – After installation it works
24/7/365 with only a bulb replacement
every 17,000+ hours.
Fast – The kiosk touchscreen and the
surrounding equipment can be germ-
free in a very short time.
Proven – UV-C has been used in water
purification systems since the 1930’s, in
disaster remediation since the 1950’s
and in hospitals to clean ER’s and OR’s
for many years.
Affordable – A disinfecting light
solution doesn’t require any extensive
maintenance, therefore organisations
could benefit from low operating costs.
Coronavirus
With recent news on the virality of the
novel Coronavirus, disinfection of kiosks
is a concern for all users and suppliers.
The UV-C light solution is just one option
to consider. n
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