Misting and Disinfection of Business Premises: For or Against?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfecting facilities is a major challenge for both service-sector companies and manufacturers seeking to protect both the health of their employees and the quality of their products.

As a result, many professionals are turning to misting services to disinfect factories, production facilities, laboratories, hospitals, and offices. But how effective is this method, really?

Photoclean, a specialist in air treatment, provides an overview of the pros and cons of this technique and highlights the benefits of its UV-based facility decontamination solution so you can determine which option best suits your situation.

What is misting disinfection? Where can it be used?

The misting disinfection is a method of disinfecting surfaces via the air. A disinfectant is sprayed into the premises in the form of fine droplets using a compressed-air device. A mist then forms and settles on all surfaces exposed to the air, disinfecting them without wetting them.

It is commonly used by businesses and industrial groups to disinfect facilities and eliminate various microbiological contaminants, as well as by schools, retail stores, hotels, and other establishments… During a pandemic, companies may hire a service provider to disinfect their premises before employees return if the facilities have been partially occupied in the preceding days.

What are the drawbacks of misting?

Misting, like fumigation and ozone treatment, disinfects surfaces, not the air inside a space. Since this method eliminates 99% of microorganisms from surfaces (floors, ceilings, furniture, etc.), air disinfection is indirect because many contaminants are “airborne”— —that is, bacteria and viruses attached to surfaces will be carried through the indoor air.

However, as soon as operations resume and the premises are occupied again, recontamination occurs immediately. The effectiveness of this process is therefore far from perfect, and the procedure will need to be repeated regularly to reduce health risks.

Another major drawback lies in the process itself. Because chemicals are sprayed into the air, disinfection must take place in empty rooms. It then takes several hours before operations can resume, while the chemical levels drop below the occupational exposure limits (OELs) established by law.

The operation therefore requires either evacuating the premises or carrying it out outside of working hours, which may present some challenges.

UV Disinfection of Premises: An Effective Solution for All Types of Premises

Would you like to ensure that your facilities are decontaminated effectively and cost-effectively without disrupting your business?

Photoclean offers professionals an effective UV disinfection solution suitable for all types of facilities, regardless of their size. Our clients include companies in the service, pharmaceutical, and food industry, as well as healthcare facilities.

What’s the advantage of our method? Our air purifiers allow you to reliably eliminate all microbiological and chemical contaminants in the air 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no human intervention required except for annual maintenance.

Since no chemicals are released into the air, you do not need to evacuate your premises, and you avoid the health risks associated with chemical residues on machinery and surfaces.

Finally, our engineering team always visits the premises to be treated in order to develop a customized solution that is perfectly suited not only to the layout of your facilities but also to the decontamination levels recommended for your business.

We create layout plans and customize our range of equipment (fixed or mobile standalone modules, rooftop units, universal modules for air handling units, and high-efficiency air handling units) to ensure seamless integration into your facilities and a flow rate tailored to the volume to be treated.