ASEPSIS IN ARCHITECTURE, BIOCIDE SURFACES AND POST COVID-19 SPACES

En determinados proyectos de arquitectura e ingeniería ya se prestaba especial atención a las propiedades anti patógenas de las superficies o de los materiales. No obstante, la situación actual, provocada por una pandemia global que ha evidenciado una debilidad de nuestro modo de vida y que afecta a todos los niveles (social, económico, laboral, familiar…), va a motivar un cambio y será un parámetro o factor a tener en cuenta en los criterios de diseño y ejecución de proyectos.

But, will this be an isolated parameter or will be it be instead integrated as a group of additional criteria to be evaluated by technical codes and improved sustainability certificates such as LEED, BREEAM or PASSIVHAUS?PASSIVHAUS?

Technology has, by now, taken some steps in the past to bring some aseptic and anti-pathogenic features in, among others, ceramic surfaces. In the case of BIOKLINKER^®, de GRES ARAGÓN, ya hoy, se certifica según las normas antibacterianas y antimicrobianas: JIS Z-2801:2010 e ISO 22196.

These norms do not test against virus, but, mainly, against bacteria. So, can we affirm that these treatments could be effective enough to generate covid-free surfaces or state that they have biocide or viricidal properties?superficies covid-free o con efecto biocida y viricida?

On the watch for specific regulations and test methods that will allow us certify those features, there are already some reliable data that help us affirm that there might be some effective applications against virus such as Coronavirus. One of the characteristics of the coronavirus is that its lipid membrane protects it while being outside a living organism, a membrane that is very weak and sensitive against two agents: Surfactants (soaps) and Oxidants (hypoclorite, hydrogen proxide, alcohol…)tensoactivos (jabones) y agentes oxidantes (hipoclorito, peróxido de hidrógeno, alcohol…)

All these, through diverse mechanisms, are able, even in low levels, to attack the virus’ lipid membrane. Once this is damaged, the virus is destroyed. One should remember that the virus outside a living organism, as on a surface, is an inert and lifeless particle: it does not grow or propagate or move, so the virus is quite vulnerable under these circumstances. Another highly strong oxidant is silver oxidant, and active substance contained in BIOKLINKER® products byóxido de plata, principio activo del producto BIOKLINKER^® de GRES ARAGON, la actividad de los iones de plata es continua y duradera y su efecto es limpio e inocuo para otros seres vivos y permite inhibir la proliferación de agentes patógenos suponiendo una eficaz medida de precaución complementaria a la limpieza periódica con desinfectantes químicos. Es por ello que estamos en disposición de afrontar ensayos, en cuanto estén disponibles, con alto optimismo respecto a los resultados viricidas de la superficie cerámica BIOKLINKER^® ceramic surface against virus such as covid-19.

Considering that these uses, not only for ceramic surfaces, but also for other surface types, are already applied in sanitary, industrial and food industries, among many others, they will certainly become part of basic criteria for architecture in any type of surface. Therefore, in the race for the ‘sanitization’ of spaces, among other actions, surfaces are going to play a leading role.

No será de extrañar que, a criterios que se evalúan hoy en día, como: Eficiencia, Sostenibilidad, Huella de carbono, Huella Hídrica, se añada específicamente el parámetro asepsia, o bien se incorpore dentro de las diferentes directivas de seguridad.

In the work to create healthy environments and to improve the habitability of cities, buildings and spaces, GRES ARAGON works on the aforementioned parameters while already being on the right track to guarantee aseptic surfaces. Thus, in addition to achieving LEED credits and BREEAM or PASSIVHAUS certificates thanks to the sustainability, efficiency and circular economy of GRES ARAGÓN andGRES ARAGÓN and FAVEKER^® products, asepsis properties will also make the difference in future projects.

A new spectre of “sanitization” of spaces, buildings and cities has set up, broadening the term ‘refurbishment’. Once again, difficult times will bring us the opportunity to improve and get better, to strengthen ourselves. And, of course, GRES ARAGÓN will reinforce its entrepreneurship to adapt to new scenarios..

José Manuel Grao Blasco

Gres Aragón Contract and Innovation Manager