Member Article

Nano coating technology to protect school pupils, staff and parents.

New innovative antimicrobial surface protection, developed in German laboratories for East Yorkshire based company, Cicada, helps schools and businesses remain open during lockdown 2.0 and beyond.

Pupil safety is the highest priority at Hull Collegiate School, where additional measures to create the safest environment possible are in place.

Whilst appraising existing health and safety procedures and cleaning methods in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Hull Collegiate Leadership Team felt the extra level of protection for all touch surfaces, had potential to reduce the threat of infections in the school environment.

Noel Parkinson, Director at Cicada Antimicrobial Surface Protection explains:

“The coating forms a nano-scale layer of glass over the surface of base materials which not only makes them easier to clean as it repels liquid and dirt, it also provides a protective antimicrobial layer to constantly kill viruses, bacteria, moulds and fungi. The microbe is physically killed as the surface punctures the cell’s outer wall, rendering it inactive. This product provides a proven minimum 12-month antimicrobial protection to all treated areas.”

Cicada Antimicrobial Surface Protection is powered by a break-through in technology which was awarded German innovation of the year (2019). It can be used in any public areas and has been dermatologically tested, classed as ‘excellent’ in terms of compatibility with skin contact. The product has been independently laboratory certified in providing antimicrobial effectiveness and in killing TGEV Coronavirus, Influenza A, MRSA, Ecoli and many other harmful microbes, bacterial and fungal infections.

Applied to a wide range of touch surfaces at Hull Collegiate School, Cicada Antimicrobial Surface Protection vastly reduces the risk of hand-surface-hand microbial transmission – this includes entrances and exits, bannisters, dining and kitchen areas, washrooms and toilets, nursery, staff rooms and first aid room.

Senior Deputy Head Chris Wainman commented:

“In line with Government guidance we want to provide pupils with ongoing access to their education in school, within the safest possible environment. Local COVID-19 cases are at the highest levels in the UK, therefore the health and safety of pupils and staff has been at the forefront of our decision to use Cicada Antimicrobial Surface Protection. The use of this treatment gives us confidence that we are taking every possible measure to protect pupils and their families.”

“Traditional disinfection and cleaning methods have limitations in busy areas such as walkways, entrances, dining and washroom facilities. Surface disinfection only kills the bacteria and viruses that are present on surfaces at that moment in time. Once the sanitising process is complete and people return to the area, they bring with them transient microbes, that are then immediately deposited through hand-surface-hand contact to any surface touched, and therefore continue the spread of infections.”

Noel Parkinson adds: “At a time when schools and businesses are looking to adapt their operations to limit the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, our technology can instil confidence as an additional best-practice to existing cleaning regimes, limiting the transmission of infections. By using Cicada Antimicrobial Surface Protection Hull Collegiate staff, pupils and their families have been reassured that the movement of transient microbes between surfaces in high touch areas has been significantly reduced and that the surfaces will constantly ‘self-disinfect’ for twelve months or more.”

Hull Collegiate School is just one of the local organisations that has chosen this innovative method of protection along with offices, retail outlets and children’s nurseries.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jess Clark .