Amtico has introduced an enhanced anti-microbial additive, which has been added to selected LVT collections to protect against bacteria and reduce the presence of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Amtico’s Signature, Spacia, 36+, Form and Marine collections feature the embedded anti-microbials, which have been verified to ISO 21702 against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Planks and tiles containing the additive have been shown to reduce the presence of the virus on a surface by more than 99.9% against the initial inoculation after 24 hours.
The ionic silver anti-microbial additive has already been tested and proven to reduce the presence of bacteria, such as MRSA and E. coli, throughout the usable lifetime of the floor. Unlike organic anti-microbials, the additive is inorganic and non-leaching, meaning that it stays within the product. The technology is already widely used in a range of applications including food, medical and educational settings.
‘Flooring needs to deliver on many levels – and now our core LVT collections work even harder with enhanced anti-microbial protection against bacteria and viruses. Amtico first introduced anti-microbials in 2019, but the new and enhanced additive goes a step further to reduce the presence of SARS-CoV-2, providing added peace of mind,’ says Louisa Eyles, Amtico commercial marketing manager.
Applied to the urethane coating during production, the embedded anti-microbials provide an additional level of protection between regular cleaning cycles in high-traffic spaces. The additive works against bacteria and viruses by creating a surface where microbes lose viability, causing them to die off faster.
