Use the right equipment for the right job

Anna Berry, technical director at B&G

In disinfection, it’s important to use the right equipment for the right job. Your formulation will dictate whether surface disinfection (spray) or space disinfection (fog) is appropriate. Surface disinfection requires dwell time, where the formulation appears “wet.” By contrast, space disinfection treats the surrounding air.

The droplet size a fogger is advertised and set for refers to the average size of all droplets produced within its plume. Larger droplets are heavier and drop out of the air faster; smaller droplets are lighter and travel farther distances. This causes the end of the plume to have smaller droplet sizes compared to the beginning of the plume. Factor in the plume size, or throw, of your fogger for space disinfection. Know which droplet size you’re aiming for, and how far within the machine’s plume you’ll achieve said size.

For space disinfection, research shows that positively charged electrostatic (ES) fogging prevents small droplets from aggregating into larger heavier particles. This prevents your fog from inadvertently becoming a heavier spray. Research also suggests that ES foggers allow particles to curve around surfaces, such as handrails, for hard-to-reach areas.

For the most effective treatment, of course, always follow the formulation label and equipment manufacturer’s directions.