TechDesign Silver Knight sheet flooring with photocatalytic disinfecting surface

1. TechDesign Silver Knight sheet flooring with photocatalytic disinfecting surface

2. Defined problems in healthcare • The nosocomial (hospital-origin) infections are caused by viral, bacterial and funghal pathogens. • Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) cause extreme extra costs to healthcare facilities • About 3 times longer hospital stay • Three times the cost • Five times higher risk of in-hospital death In the US alone, HAIs cause about 1.7 million cases per year (cc. 5%) The results are approximately99 000 deaths and an added expenditure in excess of $17 billion a year.(acc. to The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention)

3. Different dangerous bacteria cause nosocomial infections Most dangerous bacteria in hospital environment are: • MRSA (methillicin-resistant staphilococcus aureus) • Enterococcus species (like VRE (Vancomicin Resistant Enterococcus) • C-difficile • E-coli • Klebsiella species • Acinetobacter baumanii • Pseudomonas aeruginosa • Enterobacter species (like ESBL) Gram positive bacteria Superbugs Forming spores to survive on surfaces even under extreme circumstances They are resistant to a large group of antibiotics

4. Nanotechnology 80 000th of diameter of a hair Nanoparticles in an atom • Nanoparticles have a vast surface area compared to their volume • - at this size, a relatively inert material can become highly reactive • - and less material is needed for same effect Highefficiency, less toxicity, lessweight, and/or less cost! Nanotechnology is used in e.g. cosmetic industry, textile industry, cars, construction industry ,medicine, life sciences and pharmaceutics, …

5. TechDesign Silver Knight • Vinyl sheet flooring with active disinfecting surface • Dedicated for HealthCare applications • Due to the double defense line build up from nanosilver and nanoTiO2 particles

6. Antibacterial properties of silverhave been known for more than 3000 years • The antibacterial effect results from the ongoing slow diffusion of silver ions • The silver ions hinder the process of cell division, secondly destabilize the cell membrane, walls or plasma and thirdly interrupt the enzyme’s transport of nutrients 1st line of defense: NanoSilver Bacteria can be lastingly eradicated without the use of chemicals.

7. 2nd line of defense:nano Titanium-dioxide • Titanium dioxide is a photocatalyst • It helps to transform harmful organic and inorganic substances into harmless compounds through a chemical oxidation process • For the function to work, only UV light, oxygen and air humidity are required • The level of UV light present in normal day-light is enough Speeding up the decomposition process of harmful bacteria and organic dirt rapidly

8. Independent laboratory tests of Silver Knight • Changes in quantity of viable bacteria compared to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria counts after 8 hours on alternate surfaces

9. Additional benefits: Self-cleaning • Nanoscale TiO2 gives hydrophillic properties • When washing the floor, water runs off in a film rather than droplets, taking with it any dirt • Through the photocatalytic reaction any organic dirt will be oxidized Fewer detergents are required, resulting in less environmental pollution

10. Additional benefits: Air-purifying function for well-being • The use of nanomaterials makes it possible to improve the quality of air • Through photocatalysis smells can be decomposed into their harmless constituent parts • The purifying function does not wear off, either • It works in the same way with case of pollutants such as nicotine and formaldehyde TechDesign Silver Knight helps to improve indoor air quality.

11. Silver Knight – effective asset in infection-control and protection of environment • Most effective infection-control • Lower risk of a hospital-acquired infection • Lower risk of longer hospital stay • Less cost per patients • Significantly extended cleaning cycles • Thus reduced personnel and detergents costs • Significantly reduced life cycle cost • Air purifying attribute for well-being TechDesign Silver Knight floorings help to create a safer healthcare environment.