FAQs

Bacoban® contains Benzalkonium Chloride and Sodium Pyrithione. These are well known and highly effective anti-pathogen agents.

Bacoban® is effective for such a long time because the active agents are held within a specially designed layer of SiO2. This layer is designed to be an “eluting layer”, this meanmeaning that the layer allows the active agent to be available on the surface in order to neutralise the pathogens. If you were to apply Benzalkonium Chloride and Sodium Pyrithione to a surface without the SiO2 layer the agents would kill the pathogens which are on the surface but after a few minutes the agents would be easily removed from the surface and recontamination would occur. The SiO2 layer is essential for the long-term performance of Bacoban®.

Yes, we have independent testing which shows high performance at 30 days for Ecoli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Aspergillus Niger Candida Albicans.

There is a direct link between the level of abrasion and the period for which the coating remains active. Independent trials show that Bacoban® is active for at least 10 days in an “active environment” e.g. surfaces within a hospital which are touched and wiped frequently but the coating could be applied to an area which experiences a massive amount of abrasion e.g., the grab handle of an underground train which can be subjected to over 100,000 abrasive actions per day. It is reasonable to suggest that in such instances it unwise to say that it will last for 10 days. However, if the ceiling area of the same train carriage was coated with Bacoban® it would be reasonable to suggest that the coating will be fully active for prolonged periods. There is no formal testing protocol which measures such performance but sophisticated trial testing confirms that Bacoban® is highly active beyond 90 days on surfaces which are used regularly.

Bacoban® is tested to the highest norms. One of the key tests is the ASTMs 2180 test. This test examines the efficacy of the coating against Corona Virus 10 days after the coating has been applied to a test surface. We are aware that the Bacoban® coating is effective beyond 10 days but we have to adhere to the strictures of the test which examines performance after 10 days.

We do not suggest that Bacoban® is applied to hands as a hand sanitizer. It is of course tested on skin but this is to address skin sensitivity.

The prevailing test protocols require testing against Corona / Influenza viruses in order to show efficacy against Covid-19. It is recognized that sanitizers which are effective against the Corona virus ”family“ of viruses also inactivate Sars, Mers and Covid-19.

The consistent and technically correct response is: “For establishing proof of efficacy (for a sanitizer) against a virus or family/genus of viruses the standard testing procedure is to test using a surrogate virus which has been chosen by the testing authorities.”

In simple terms, if the sanitizer under trial kills the surrogate virus it will therefore kill all other viruses which are part of this family of viruses. This is a standard procedure which is managed by Independent testing authorities. It should also be remembered that it is much easier to kill pathogens outside the human body (in-vitro) than within the human body ( in-vivo). Bacoban® is certified as being effective against Covid-19 as this virus is part of the Corona family of viruses.

If we were to test specifically against Codid-19 we would have a very limited (and very expensive test). It would be limited because viruses are constantly mutating. The Covid-19 virus has already mutated and there are now several subtly different variants.

Bacoban® was an “EU class 2a Medical Device” for almost 10 years but the decision was made to withdraw from this certification process as it became too limiting. Bacoban® still offers all test certification associated with this status. Bacoban® can still be used in Hospitals.

There are 3 considerations.

(1) When Bacoban® is applied to a surface it swamps the pathogens in liquid form and will so quickly kill the pathogens.

(2) When the coating is in place pathogens will descend on to the active anti pathogen layer. The killing action of the active layer is always less profound than the application of sanitizing liquids. The ASTM 2180 shows that 99% of virons are killed within 5 minutes. This is a highly effective and rapid killing rate. Many long-lasting anti pathogen coatings measure the killing efficacy as 99% after two hours. The longer that the pathogens are in place the higher the kill rate becomes.

(3) All pathogens are neutralized at different rates; killing rates depend on the physical structure pathogen. Some are killed within a minute other take longer. There is no one size fits all rule.

Bacoban® is effective against a very wide range of Vviruses, bacteria and Ffungi. An extensive and indicative listing can be found on our web page. It should be remembered that some bacteria live at over 200°C in subterranean vents and on the exterior of the International Space Station. These are very extreme environments, therefore, beware of those who suggest that their sanitizer kills all pathogens. Bacoban® is not suitable for use as a sporicidal agent.

Derma Testing confirms that Bacoban® is not injurious to skin but of course prolonged application to skin is not recommended.

Bacoban® is not injurious to the skin on your hand but it should not be inhaled or sprayed onto the face as it may irritate mucosa membranes e.g. around the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs.

Bacoban® is supplied in domestic / retail packs and therefore is easy to apply. Fogging, large scale spraying and nebulizing of Bacoban® is a professional activity and thus not recommended for inexperienced ones.

It is recommended that 10 ml of liquid is used per m² on the surface (we recommend 10-25 ml if you use a wipe, depends on the thickness of the wipe, as some of the liquid remains in the wipe).

When Bacoban® is applied to polished surfaces e.g. a glass table top, it is apparent that the coating has been applied as the surface can look slightly misty. It is suggested that such surfaces are lightly buffed with a dry tissue or cloth some minutes after application in order to remove this misty appearance.

Bacoban can be applied to fabrics and soft furnishings and mattresses. It is common for Bacoban® to be applied to fabrics via spraying, fogging and nebulising. It is suggested that a test area on an inconspicuous area is established prior to application.

Bacoban® is designed to withstand abrasion, therefore is not easily removed by cleaning with a cloth. Alcohol (at 70%) can be used to remove the Bacoban layer.

It depends on the kind of cleaning. If you use a soft cloth and water it won’t have a negative impact.If you use e.g. an abrasive sponge, a micro-fibre tissue or scouring agents/cleaner with a ph-value <2 and >10.5 the layer will be removed. Solvents can also either remove or inactivate the layer. The best cleaning agent to use when cleaning an area coated with Bacoban® is … Bacoban®. Bacoban® is a very effective cleaner.

This of course depends on how many people press the button…, e.g. if 5.000 people press the button daily, there is a chance that the layer will be damaged or removed. In line with “good practice recommendations,” it is advisable to maintain/sanitise these “high touch point surfaces within common areas” on a daily basis.

Bacoban® is used to sanitise all forms of transport, ranging from private cars and Taxis up to Marine applications.

Bacoban® wipes, packaging, empty bottles and canisters can be disposed of with domestic waste, in accordance with prevailing local regulation.

We are unable to formally recommend this application procedure as formalized testing has not been undertaken.

Bacoban® can be used on face shields. We recommend the use of the alcohol-based variant of Bacoban as it offers more rapid bonding but check that the plastic face shield is non-reactive. to alcohol. Test on an inconspicuous area.
The water-based variant can be used but the drying time is a little longer.

We always recommend that surfaces are maintained with Bacoban® as this enhances the protection of the surface.
We are unable to comment on cleaning of the Bacoban® surfaces with other chemical agents as we are unable to comment on the impact these agents will have on the active Bacoban® layer. One would need to conduct tests on every cleaning agent available. The message is simple. Maintain all surfaces with Bacoban®.

The alcohol based variant of Bacoban® is effective against Mycobacterium Tubercolosis. The water-based variant isn’t effective against this pathogen.

Bacoban does not contain SiO2, but the „three dimensional network“ we create in our liquid contains the chemical elements silicon (Si) and oxygen (O); however this is not the same as a typical SiO2 layer.

The anti microbial effect of the Bacoban liquid and *layer („*three-dimensional network“) is established by the presence of the active agents within the structure.The SiO component has no significant anti microbial effect.