17 March, 2021

We talk a lot about the “new normal” and this will be accompanied by the strong need to guarantee that we have safe establishments for its users. We must restore trust with our users: our staff at workplaces, as well as with customers / users.

μBioFree® is a guarantee mechanism with the aim of being able to offer this trust to customers. It will be necessary to demonstrate a control over the microbiological load in any type of establishment and / or activity from now on after the strong impact of COVID-19 and knowing, as we have been announced, that other pandemics similar to those we must appear in the future be prepared. And even if it isn’t, why not be prepared? Even if it is for a simple flu or other diseases caused by bacteria or microorganisms present in our establishments.

For the control of microbiological load in any establishment, ICDQ in collaboration with expert biologists, chemical engineers, architects and specialist in management models and experts in evaluation and verification models has developed a methodology that it would be advisable to apply in any type of establishment in the future. beyond having a seal that does not assure us that the appropriate measures are being applied. It is serious enough so that we do not deceive society and take the appropriate measures and controls that we proceed to explain

We must address the following causes with prevention in three key points:

  • The possibility of contagion between people.
  • Contagion through contaminated surfaces
  • The spread of microorganisms in the air

Each establishment must draw up its own action plan tailored to its needs and needs according to characteristics, which should be accompanied by a verification and control process that evidences the monitoring and application of the appropriate measures.

μBioFree® is a dynamic solution that adapts to the possible new regulations that will be carried out from the different organizations and sectors. However, it is recommended to monitor the application periodically by a team that guarantees a sufficient level of implementation of the measures and indicators within the necessary parameters.

All this without forgetting the regulations and standards related to safety and health at work, the analysis of hazards and critical points where we must establish adequate control, as well as the application in structural aspects, materials, environments, ambulation, gauges related to the activities among other knowledge to put into practice. Always taking into account the recommendations and mechanisms established by international organizations that ensure public health such as the WHO or the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

For proper operation and effectiveness, it is necessary to consider a series of organizational and process elements that guarantee the effectiveness of the measures and controls applied continuously.

The management of the business or establishment must be the main interested and committed to microbiological safety to guarantee its employees, customers and users maximum security and trust. You must think that your future as a company, as we have already seen, also depends on aspects like these and the continuity of your business is well worth it.
We must analyze where there are risks of contagion and spread, as well as the appropriate control measures according to the level of risk of contagion and spread.
We must have action plans or containment actions and others about operations / activities, as well as facilities, spaces and equipment.
The monitoring must be continuous so that we ensure effectiveness at all times and that is where it seems to be failing at a general level in our good understanding by applying specific measures that only guarantee temporary and not continuous effectiveness.

We must focus on concepts of Antiviral Structure and monitoring mechanisms and follow-up of necessary indicators continuously:

Analyzing and acting on the Resilience of Buildings against epidemics, pandemics or contagions means taking into account architectural and health elements such as air quality, open spaces, ventilation, air conditioning, equipment materials and their transmission capacity and / or contagion, etc.

Hygienic measures such as “Contactless Concept” to avoid unnecessary contacts

Reaction to situations of new pandemics or cases of high microbiological load.

For this, we must have mechanisms for continuous information on the microbiological load parameters at all times in addition to the processes of awareness and training in new habits.

We are applying necessary measures, but not sufficient, such as Control Measures on the facilities and activities of Cleaning and disinfection, Hygienic-sanitary measures, Maintenance, Habits of use, but not only this will be enough to guarantee the correct levels of microbiological load continuously and this is where the effective application of preventive plans is evident.

Therefore, it is an “ad-hoc” process for each establishment depending on its particularity, although the vast majority of common solutions exist since the dangers are clearly identified in the 3 areas of action. Contact between people, contact with surfaces and spread through the air / environment.

μBioFree® will be in contact with the companies to resolve any doubts that may arise from the analysis and its application, guaranteeing at all times that compliance is ensured.

The compliance assurance process should consist of two parts:

-. UNA, documentary of communications and information, as well as the existence of plans, their adequacy and effectiveness.

-. OTHER, of evaluation and verification / monitoring of the controls and indicators continuously or at certain intervals according to the indicator.

μBioFree®

We must respond first of all to a current need to guarantee security in our social life within establishments.

It is evident that this guarantee is valued when it is an independent third party that vouches for the users of the establishment, whether they are regulars, visitors or logistics, giving peace of mind and security.

It does not consist only of a punctual disinfection and cleaning operation that does not ensure, under any scientific or technical criteria, the elimination of the microbiological load or the maintenance under adequate parameters on a continuous basis.

It should not just be an evaluation of the implementation of architectural measures according to a guide of recommendations: spacing, gauges, protections,…. Without considering human behavior or the evolution of parameters with human interaction.

We must think about any type of contagion by any type of virus, bacteria, etc. Therefore, it must have continuity after the current situation of COVID-19 to guarantee the companies’ continuity and for the tranquility, trust and security of the users.

We must ensure that the measures applied are evaluated and controlled continuously or at adequate periods and that adequate and urgent reaction measures are available when the parameters we measure go outside the established safety and optimal microbiological load objectives.

With all this we can affirm that we remain at risk if we only apply simple documentary and record audits on a certain moment that, like those that exist in the market, do not ensure continuous measures.

Specific cleaning and disinfection actions, information and communication, the application of hydroalcoholic gels and the use of masks, specific applications of disinfection techniques such as ozone or UV, etc. they do not allow us to affirm … that we are safe and that the microbiological load is under control at any time.

It is necessary to verify the effectiveness of these with scientific basis and to ensure the continuity of said effectiveness, the continuous measurements of indicators and parameters or the application of continuous technology that ensure a microbiological load at the safety levels for employees and users. .

Business organizations must think about continuous processes and continuous indicators that allow them to generate trust in their employees, users and society. We cannot afford to fail them or put them at risk, or at the expense of their habits and behaviors. For years now, business management models have been concerned with eliminating the risk due to human error or social behavior and monitoring the indicators so that we can react in a preventive manner on time and not be reactively late.

We cannot put our business in the hands of chance or the behavior of others. We must act to protect the business from what we can control and manage.

All this leads us to think that we cannot have safe spaces without the application of new techniques that allow us to guarantee these aforementioned security aspects continuously.

We put as a practical example of the existence of current effective solutions on the market for this purpose as a guarantee for establishments.

Grupo Maxfer has a technology of Bipolar Ionization by Cold Plasma “Tayra”, which has been tested and validated by the Biosafety Laboratory of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), Ministry of Defense, since it has the ability to stop contagions 99% by air transmission and 80% by contact on inanimate and intermediate surfaces (fomites), such as the doorknob or other surfaces of the furniture in your workplace that may be contaminated, from SARS COV-2 or other many pathogens, with only 10 minutes of operation of the Ionizer.

Although you have a cleaning and disinfection protocol, when a person enters and interacts in your workplace and may be a carrier of the virus and the cleaning service has passed 5 minutes before, the place where this person has interacted will again be contaminated by which will be susceptible to new transmissions.

How do you cope with this technology?

It is already confirmed by the scientific community that the greatest ally for transmission of the virus after direct contact is by air, and this virus uses air conditioning as if it were its ally, well, ionization converts this alliance of virus transport on your direct enemy; the ions attack the membrane or encapsulation of the virus, exposing its RNA to oxidation, inactivating it.

RESEARCH TESTS ON A REAL SETTING

Hotel room “converted” into ICU to evaluate germicidal activity of cold plasma bipolar ionization technology on MS2 bacteriophage and Escherichia coli bacteria applied indoors.

Initiator and director of the trial, Mr. Gerard O’donohoe, together with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, microbiologists and scientists, including Professor Dr. Ing. Pedro Diéguez, and researcher Dr. Marcia Oliveira, all volunteers and with the support from the Biosafety Laboratory of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), Ministry of Defense.

Place: Hotel B&B Terminal 4, Airport, Madrid.
Reporting result: It is concluded that the cold plasma bipolar ionization system has been effective.

It is of great importance to note that a reduction of approximately 2 log of bacteriophage MS2 was obtained (with characteristics similar to those of SARS-CoV-2, although 5 times more resistant than it), which corresponds to almost 99% reduction only with a exposure time to ionization of 10 min. Regarding the surfaces, a reduction of 80% was obtained with an exposure time to ionization of 10 min.

In addition to the aforementioned, it eliminates a wide spectrum of pathogens and pollutants present in the air such as:

  • Bio-aerosols.
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs, or VOCs) and Bad Odors.
  • Pollen spores.
  • Mold.
  • Virus.
  • Bacteria
  • Smoke particles.
  • Solvent particles in the air.
  • Ammonia particles in the air.

Especially important for any other type of respiratory and / or allergic pathologies that are very present in society. Employees and / or users to whom we guarantee that they feel safe and comfortable in our facilities.

We can name other interesting advantages that allow us to determine your need for the control of microbiological load, safety and comfort in our establishments.

Whenever the air conditioning or recirculation mode is operating, it sanitizes and disinfects the air and surfaces that come into contact with ionized air.
Safe and biocompatible with health and the presence of people.

  • It does not produce Ozone.
  • It does not produce peroxide.
  • It does not produce aldehydes.
  • It does not form VOCs.
  • Adaptable to the flow requirements of the air conditioning system, with treatment capacity from 2,400m3 / h to 50,100m3 / h of air.
  • Easy to install, integrating with existing air conditioning equipment. As, for example: All types of buildings, premises and air-conditioned homes, public transport vehicles, ambulances, railways, aircraft and passenger boats.
  • Air itself becomes a bactericidal and virucidal element.
  • Minimum consumption.

We provide some publications about this technology,

Scientific journal links:

Links digital press:

Links, elimination of smoke and prevents mold. (Visual examples):

The cost of this technology is very competitive.

For example:

100m2 office that has a centralized air conditioning system, the entire premises could be protected for less than € 2,000 (According to the m3 of the air conditioning equipment and prior study of each installation.)

It has ionization options without installation (portable) and installation options for fixed air conditioning equipment, for example, the most common are:

  • Centralized air conditioning. The ionizer is incorporated into the turbine that drives the air already treated through the ducts, deactivating the coronavirus and microorganisms mentioned throughout the premises.
  • Split air conditioner. The ionizer is incorporated into the air outlet, this being already treated, deactivating the coronavirus and microorganisms mentioned in the heated area.
  • Placement of portable fans, small and very silent, with the capacity to ionize spaces of 30m2 maximum.

With the possibility of incorporating into existing air conditioning or ventilation systems, automatic detection of air quality, through real-time monitoring of:

  • CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
  • COVT’s (Total Volatile Organic Compounds)
  • HCHO (Formaldehyde)
  • PM 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 Particulate material with diameters 1µm, 2.5µm, 5µm and 10µm.

(Suspended particles)

  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Ion count
  • Biosensors
  • Dirty filter detection.
  • Airflow.

The monitoring of these parameters allows the air conditioning and ventilation equipment to self-manage to ensure the desired air quality and environmental comfort, offering the user alarm indications, when the monitoring system detects any parameter outside of its security set point; assuring the user that he can react and act immediately, to solve the problem and return to the safety and comfort instructions.