NEW HEALTH PROGRAM: COPPER + STAINLESS STEE

The Health Program includes bathroom accessories and door hardware made from copper and 316L stainless steel, designed to create truly health-focused environments. While ensuring our products are accessible (ADA-compliant) and inclusive is essential, we believe that combining copper with 316L—the highest quality stainless steel—can help reduce the spread of healthcare-associated infections. This approach not only benefits patients, visitors, and healthcare professionals in medical facilities, but also improves health outcomes for everyone in offices, hotels, and all public and private spaces where hygiene has become indispensable.

Antimicrobial Properties of Copper

Bakır alaşımlarından üretilen hastane ekipmanları, geleneksel dezenfeksiyon yöntemlerini destekleyen önemli bir rol üstlenebilir. Bakır ve alaşımlarının antimikrobiyal özellikleri üzerine çeşitli yöntemlerle yürütülen araştırmalar sonucunda, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health dergisinde yayımlanan bir çalışma, bakır alaşımlarının antimikrobiyal özelliklerini doğrulamıştır. Çalışma, bakırın en yaygın bakterilerin %99,9’undan fazlasını 2 saat içinde yok ettiğini göstermiştir. Bu bakteriler arasında şunlar yer almaktadır:

• Metisiline dirençli Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Vankomisine dirençli Enterococcus faecalis (VRE)
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Enterobacter aerogenes
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• E. coli O157:H7

These bacteria are considered among the most dangerous pathogens, capable of causing serious and often fatal infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare-associated infections in American hospitals affect approximately two million people annually and are estimated to cause around 100,000 deaths each year.

In addition to the handwashing and disinfection protocols recommended by the CDC, the use of copper alloys on frequently touched surfaces can have a broad and significant impact. By incorporating copper-based materials into high-contact areas such as door hardware and furniture accessories, it is possible to reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria in healthcare facilities, public spaces, and all environments with high human traffic. Moreover, The New England Journal of Medicine has reported that copper surfaces are significantly less conducive to viral survival compared to materials such as plastic and stainless steel.

Stainless Steel AISI 316L

pba is a leading brand of AISI 316L, one of the hardest, most durable, and most elastic types of stainless steel. This material is an austenitic alloy, and thanks to its high molybdenum content, it offers exceptional resistance to pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. Additionally, the elevated nickel content in this grade enhances the alloy’s chemical and structural stability. The designation “L” stands for “low carbon”, indicating that the carbon content in this alloy is 0.03% or less. This low carbon level provides superior resistance to corrosion that may occur after welding, making it particularly suitable for applications requiring high weld integrity.

The designation “L” stands for “low carbon”, indicating that the carbon content in this alloy is 0.03% or less. This characteristic provides enhanced resistance to corrosion that may occur after welding, by minimizing carbide precipitation and improving intergranular corrosion resistance.

HEALTH PROGRAM – NYCXDESIGN AWARD FINALIST (2021)

The Health Program was honored as a finalist in the Health + Wellness category at the 2021 NYCxDESIGN Awards, organized by Interior Design magazine. The recognition was presented during a virtual ceremony hosted by Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen, and broadcast via DesignTV by SANDOW. This program celebrates excellence across key design disciplines—including architecture, interior design, product design, graphic and brand design, and student projects—bringing together New York’s global design showcase.

About NYCXDESIGN

NYCxDESIGN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing New York City’s design sector. Through year-round programming, it amplifies the voice of design via storytelling and promotion, while offering annual grants to local talent and businesses that contribute to New York’s status as a global design capital.

The Natural Evolution of Copper

It begins with light, followed by the warmth of soft brown tones, and finally, the emergence of green. Through its transformations across the color spectrum, copper breathes new life into objects thousands of times over. Its surface may change, yet its resistance to infections and atmospheric influences remains enduring and unwavering.