An antimicrobial is a substance that acts to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and suppresses microorganism reproduction. This provides an added level of protection against damaging microbes such as bacteria that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration.
Antimicrobial technology is available on all PureHandle® products. Look for the Antimicrobial sticker on PureHandle® packaging.
Antimicrobial protection is incorporated into the finish of PureHandle® products during our manufacturing process. When microbes come in contact with the product surface, Antimicrobial protection penetrates the cell wall of the microorganism and disrupts the cell, making the microorganism unable to grow and reproduce.
PureHandle® antimicrobial protection is effective against most common bacteria that cause stains, odors and product degradation. However this technology is not designed to protect users from disease causing microorganisms.
Consumer safety is a fundamental concern for us. The antimicrobials used in PureHandle® finishes are approved by the US EPA and have a history of safe use in door hardware. Because PureHandles®’s antimicrobial additives are built into our products themselves, using our products does not result in consumer exposures or transmission directly into the environment in the way that products like disinfectants or liquid antibacterial soaps do during use. Additionally, PureHandle® products never contain triclosan or triclocarban.
PureHandle® protection is incorporated to the finish of products during the manufacturing process and will not wash off or wear away. The effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment is contingent on the life of the finish. If the finish is degraded in the future, the antimicrobial efficacy may be compromised. PureHandle® offers a lifetime finish warranty on all products, in the event the finish of your product is damaged PureHandle® would replace the product.