Good Thinking

Door pads kill germs where they're spread

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Surfaceskins can be used for up to a week before needing to be replaced
University of Leeds
When someone pushes on a Surfaceskin pad, the pressure forces alcohol gel out of a reservoir within it, and through tiny holes on its surface
University of Leeds
Surfaceskins can be used for up to a week before needing to be replaced
University of Leeds

Look around any hospital, and you'll see plenty of hand-sanitizer dispensers. Unfortunately, not everyone uses them, and their germs can spread rapidly on commonly-touched surfaces such as door handles. With that in mind, a University of Leeds spinoff company has created bacteria-killing door pads.

Known as Surfaceskins, the low-cost textiles cover a door's existing aluminum push plate. When someone pushes on one to open the door, the pressure forces alcohol gel out of a reservoir within the pad, and through tiny holes on its surface. This disinfects the surface of the pad within seconds, leaving it clean for the next user.

When someone pushes on a Surfaceskin pad, the pressure forces alcohol gel out of a reservoir within it, and through tiny holes on its surface
University of Leeds

According to Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute Ltd, which is the company that makes Surfaceskins, tests have shown that the pads reduce bacteria levels by up to 90 percent, as compared to regular unprotected push plates.

Each pad can be used for seven days or 1,000 pushes, whichever comes first. When it's time to replace them, they're just slid out of a plastic holder that's mounted on the door.

A paper on the technology was recently published in the Journal of Hospital Infection.

Source: University of Leeds

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4 comments
jade_goat
A good idea! Even better would be the more widespread use of "saloon-style" doors - the ones that swing both ways and that you can use your body to push through, not even needing your hands.
ShclasH
To be honest I think It's dumb. A mats You have to replace every week for swinging doors. It's more convenient to kick them open or push them with an elbow or hip.
Wolf0579
Copper plating on existing crash bars, door handles and push plates would be more effective, and the replacement schedule would be much, much longer-term.
Tridorn
I have to agree with ShclasH, this seem rather unnecessary, at least in this form. This seems like it is just trying to sell consumables. It would be one thing if it was a refillable pouch. Actually, I was hoping it was a UV pad or something with an antibacterial coating. Didn't they have success with silver nano-particles or something like that? It also sounds like touching this pad basically forces you to use hand sanitizer. I cannot believe that this didn't show Kickstarter as the link.