All of the following items apply especially to public buildings, where risks for infection and liabilities may be greater. Residential buildings, particularly where hygiene is a high priority, can also benefit from these tactics.
General Practices
Maintain cleaning equipment. Maintain vacuum cleaners properly to reduce risk of spreading contaminated dust, and use a HEPA filter. Wet cleaning equipment can become colonized by bacteria and serve as a population reservoir. Follow proper maintenance procedures. Use green chemicals. Use less-hazardous cleaning chemicals, particularly when cleaning with machines, e.g., wet carpet cleaners, that can disperse chemicals into the air. Seek out chemicals with green certifications, e.g., Green Seal. Use cleaning chemicals as directed on the label, because the effectiveness of the product may depend on a certain concentration of the chemical and certain contact time. Adopt a green cleaning policy. Articulate a cleaning policy focused around keeping surfaces clean, and ensure that it is implemented. Educate occupants on how to respond to a spill or contamination. Do not rely on antimicrobials as a substitute for cleaning and maintenance. Encourage basic hygiene. Soap works by breaking down waxes and oils that protect bacteria, and it takes time to work. Educate occupants on the proper hand-washing technique: apply soap and hot water and vigorously rub for about 20 seconds, or as long as it takes to sing the ABC’s. Studies show that in most situations, regular handsoap used in this way is more effective than antibacterial soap. Take a clinical approach. If practicing clinical infection control, be clear on what microorganisms are being targeted, with what modes of transmission. For example, control airborne pathogens in operating rooms per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers research now underway focusing on air movement patterns.
Design Practices
Design for cleanability. When possible, specify hard-surface flooring and other cleanable components like rounded corners and larger tiles, minimizing grout. (See EBN Vol. 14, No. 9 for numerous other strategies.) Use carpet tile instead of sheet carpet. When using carpeting in areas of high risk for spills, e.g., patient-care areas in healthcare facilities or food-preparation areas, use carpet tile to facilitate easy replacement. Design to keep buildings clean. Make design decisions to keep out dirt, which can harbor microbes. For example, use metal grates or track-off systems at building entrances (See EBN Vol. 10, No. 10). Make handwashing stations accessible and convenient. Control moisture. Assiduously control moisture in buildings by preventing bulk water intrusion, providing capillary breaks in foundations, avoiding thermal bridging where condensation could occur, and maintaining low interior humidity. Maintain awareness of the building assembly’s vapor profile to avoid trapped condensation. (See EBN Vol. 12, No. 7 for more.)
Product Selection
Use passive protection. If microbial contamination is a concern for occupants, select products that will tend to not harbor microbes, e.g., by not providing a food source or a hospitable surface for growth. Evaluate antimicrobial use. Especially in interior products that occupants and indoor air will be exposed to, e.g., carpets and furnishings, ask manufacturers if their products contain antimicrobials. If they do contain them, ask what chemicals are used and why they are needed. Request and evaluate evidence supporting efficacy and safety. Distinguish health claims from product protection claims. EPA prohibits manufacturers from claiming that a product will offer health benefits unless the product itself is registered with EPA as a pesticide—and most building products are not. Watch for health claims—explicit and implicit—and evaluate whether they are being made on a scientific basis. Clarify the need for antimicrobial products. Manufacturers finesse EPA rules by claiming that antimicrobials are present simply to protect their products, not the building or the consumer. With proper design and maintenance, however, products may not need that “protection.” Evaluate chemical safety. Use EPA registration numbers for pesticides used by manufacturers to investigate chemical safety. EPA evaluates safety when awarding registrations, but new studies may have emerged since registration that EPA has not taken into account. Also, toxicity deemed generally safe may be inappropriate for a given situation. Exercise precaution. Remember that antimicrobials are designed to be toxic, at least to some organisms. Avoid using them unless there is a clear need.
