ASSA ABLOY ACCENTRA™ MicroShield FAQ
Looking to reduce surface bacteria on your door hardware? Look no further than MicroShield! Read more here.
ASSA ABLOY ACCENTRA™ offers a coating on door hardware to help reduce germs on the surface area. Customers often ask us what MicroShield is so we thought we would put together a helpful FAQ to answer some of our most frequently asked questions.
What is MicroShield?
MicroShield is an antimicrobial coating available for ASSA ABLOY ACCENTRA hardware. The MicroShield coating incorporates the AgION® antimicrobial compound. ASSA ABLOY ACCENTRA products with the MicroShield coating offer state-of-the-art protection and peace of mind for those hardware applications where vigilance in the war against bacteria and mold is critical. ASSA ABLOY ACCENTRA hardware with the MicroShield coating is ideal for hospitals, assisted living facilities, clinics, offices, schools and child care facilities.
What is the AgION antimicrobial compound?
The AgION antimicrobial compound is an inorganic material that incorporates the natural protection of silver. It has been proven to be successful in controlling the spread and growth of many types of bacteria, mold and mildew.
Is AgION safe?
The AgION antimicrobial compound is safe and proven non-toxic. The AgION antimicrobial is registered with the EPA, the NSF and is even FDA listed for use in medical and food preparation equipment.
How does MircoShield it work?
Silver ions are slowly released from the antimicrobial compound to the surface of the treated hardware, inhibiting the growth of destructive microbes.
How quickly does MicroShield work?
The AgION antimicrobial compound in MicroShield is always working to protect the treated surface. For most types of microorganisms, the majority of contaminants will be gone in as little as 20 minutes.
How long will the MicroShield finish last?
The MicroShield coating is permanent under normal wear and tear and will last for the life of the finish.
If the MicroShield coating is scratched, will the treated surface still be protected?
A small scratch through the coating will not adversely impact the product from an efficacy standpoint. Silver ions contained within the AgION antimicrobial compound can still diffuse and migrate to the bacteria or microbes within the scratch. The active silver can “bridge” the gap. Wide scratch patterns may reduce the amount of antimicrobial product available to inhibit the growth of microbes.
frequently asked questions
How do I know that the product is still inhibiting the growth of microbes?
Procedures have been developed to show that the AgION® compound continues to inhibit the growth of microbes. (Available upon request)
Does this mean that I will no longer have to clean my hardware?
The normal cleaning regime appropriate to your environment is recommended. The MicroShield™ coating provides a cleaner surface and should be viewed as a second line of defense in the fight against bacteria, mold and mildew.
How should the product be cleaned?
The surface of the treated product may be cleaned with a mild detergent and then allowed to air-dry or dried with a soft cloth. As for any hardware finish, cleaners with harsh abrasives should be avoided to prevent coating damage.
What competitive products exist?
There are no comparable products known to be on the market today offering the unique properties of the AgION antimicrobial compound. Other products that do offer antimicrobial protection base it on less desirable organic compounds or antimicrobial metals which are ineffective, impractical, unsafe or financially unfeasible. The AgION antimicrobial technology in MicroShield incorporates the natural protection of inorganic silver. Silver has been used for centuries to store and preserve water, wine and milk.
If you are interested in learning more about ASSA ABLOY ACCENTRA's door hardware options that offer MicroShield, fill out the form below to speak with someone from our team.