In February 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the registration of 275 copper coatings. By April 2011, this number had increased to 355.

In February 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the registration of 275 copper coatings. By April 2011, this number had increased to 355. These public health-critical approvals have proven that copper kills harmful and potentially deadly bacteria.

COPPER IS THE FIRST MATERIAL TO BE REGISTERED BY THE EPA AND SUPPORTED BY EXTENSIVE ANTIMICROBIAL ADEQUACY TESTING.

U.S. TESTS PERFORMED BY AN EPA-REGISTERED INDEPENDENT LABORATORY SHOW THAT WHEN REGULARLY CLEANED AND EXPOSED FOR TWO HOURS, COPPER KILLS 99.9% OF MICROBE: METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA), VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCCOCCUS FAECALIS (VRE), STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, ENTEROBACTER AEROGENES, PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA, AND E. COLI O157:H7.

THESE BACTERIA, REGARDED AS EXAMPLES OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PATHOGENS, CAUSE SEVERE AND FATAL INFECTIONS. THEY CAN.


EPA studies show that copper-plated surfaces kill more than 99.9% of the bacteria mentioned above and MRSA within two hours when left at room temperature.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that infections acquired in U.S. hospitals affect two million individuals each year and result in close to 100,000 deaths each year. IN ADDITION TO CURRENT CDC-RECOGNIZED HAND-WASHING AND DISINFECTION PROCEDURES, THE USE OF COPPER PLATING ON HIGHLY TOUCHABLE SURFACES HAS SCOPE AND POSITIVE EFFECTS.

POTENTIAL USES OF COPPER IN REDUCTION OF DISEASE-CAUSING MICROBE INCLUDE HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC AREAS AND INSTITUTIONS WITH HIGH HUMAN TRAFFIC, AND DOOR AND FURNITURE HARDWARE.

UNLIKE OTHER COATINGS OR TREATMENTS, COPPER'S ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES ARE PERMANENT. COPPER IS EFFECTIVE FROM HEAD TO TOE, EVEN WHEN SCRATCHED. IT PROVIDES LONG-TERM PROTECTION, WHILE OTHER ANTIMICROBIAL COATINGS ARE MORE DELICIOUS AND ARE ABLE TO DEFEAT AND FALL OFF OVER TIME.

COPPER HAS BEEN WIDELY USED THROUGHOUT HISTORY DUE TO ITS PROTECTIVE PROPERTY.


TODAY, WE MUST BE MORE PROACTIVE AGAINST NEW GENERATIONS OF MICROBE, WHICH ARE CONTINUOUSLY REGENERATING AND BECOME MORE POWERFUL. WE MUST CREATE CLEAN, HYGIENE ENVIRONMENTS THAT PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MICROBE.

A FEW WEEKS FIRST, PBA INTRODUCED AMC ANTIMICROBIAL FINISHES, WHICH IT USES ON ALL OF ITS STAINLESS STEEL AND ALUMINUM DOOR ACCESSORIES. TODAY, THE PUREST