Anytime Lock & Safe

All sorts of door hardware make up many of the most-touched surfaces by multiple people, even during our periods of “sheltering” due to this virus disruption. But we at Anytime Lock & Safe have had a few inquiries and smart questions about minimizing the spread of COVID-19 or other “bugs”, so thought we would provide some clarification for others, too.

LIMITS OF ANTIMICROBIAL FINISHES

Yes, many brands of door hardware, especially commercial lines, offer antimicrobial finishes and coatings. But please spread the word so folks DO NOT assume these will prevent the spread of COVID-19 or viruses in general. Most utilize silver, which theoretically can inhibit viruses, but certainly not effectively enough in this application. (These finishes from reputable brands are proven effective at reducing the spread of a broad spectrum of bacteria, but NOT viruses.)

So, even if your facilities and properties already have hardware with antimicrobial finishes, please still be diligent about cleaning your hardware. And for those of you interested in purchasing hardware with antimicrobial finishes, we would be happy to serve you, but we do not want anyone having false impressions about what these finishes can and cannot do.

CLEANING DOOR HARDWARE

When it comes to cleaning hardware, just getting the appropriate materials can be difficult lately, but we have posted a flier of recommendations from one of the larger companies that owns several brands of door hardware. These should apply to pretty much all brands and most materials/finishes.

Of course, if you cannot source a recommended cleaner for your hardware, and it comes down to using a cleaner that is available (perhaps bleach) even if not recommended for your hardware, but can — when applied appropriately — kill viruses like COVID-19, by all means please prioritize safety over aesthetics and lever longevity and use what you have.

Again, know that we are available to answer questions about this and to assist with security and safety of your property and the people that use it during these unsettled times.

content.assaabloyusa.com

Wondering what the difference between a sanitizer and a disinfectant is, or why some bleaches are labeled to disinfect and others aren't? This resource predates COVID-19 and is actually labeled "Antimicrobials" from a site about pesticides (COVID-19 is a nasty pest), but the fact sheet does a nice job explaining what definitions and labeling are driven by performance (killing the "bugs") vs. which are driven by regulations...

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/antimicrobials.html

Antimicrobials Fact Sheet