Surface in Focus: Copper II
In the battle against pandemics, one previously uber-popular material that could go a long way towards preventing the spread of today’s pathogens has been largely overlooked. It’s so effective in fact, that in these modern times it would be careless not to make greater use of copper surfaces.
No one disputes that copper has antimicrobial properties - meaning that viruses & bacteria cannot survive on copper surfaces the way they can on plastic, glass, aluminum, etc. Copper doesn’t need chemicals for sterilization. It sterilizes itself without the need for electricity or bleach. Copper kills the coronavirus, influenza, antibiotic-resistant staphs, & other superbugs. Because of its unique benefits, copper has been widely used earlier in history for applications in which microbial contamination was a concern.
Copper fixtures in bathrooms & kitchens were once commonplace. During the industrial revolution, copper was used for plumbing, cookware, utensils, doorknobs, etc. From an aesthetic standpoint, copper is one of the more appealing metals with its lustrous brown-orange tint when freshly polished to its muted sea green appearance when oxidized. However, over the years, design choices were made (mainly based on aesthetic trends of the time) for sleeker-looking (often cheaper) materials from alternate metals, to plastics, to tempered glass. Likely, the only copper element remaining in your American home “design” today are the pipes bringing water into your house.
Enter Covid-19, which should bring public health back as a primary home, workplace, school, hospital, & public space design issue. Healthcare studies show that the use of copper in hospitals saves lives. A study done by the Defense Department compared infection rates at three hospitals & found that when copper surfaces were used, infection rates reduced by 58%. A second similar study of pediatric intensive care units showed a similar result.
Greater use of copper in a wide variety of applications (hospital beds, railings, doorknobs, elevator buttons, guest-chair armrests, & even IV stands) would significantly reduce infections from viruses/bacteria & save lives. Copper is certainly more expensive than aluminum or plastic & pricier than steel. Yet, hospital borne infections are costing the American healthcare system as much as $45 billion a year, not to mention killing as many as 90,000 people. The cost of upgrading hospital fixtures is negligible by comparison.
The path forward begins with hospitals, businesses, schools, & homeowners realizing that the scale of the coronavirus challenge is so vast that inappropriate cost-cutting distracts rational discussion about health safety. Costs are relative rather than absolute, which means they involve trade-offs & risk balancing. We should be open to expanding the use of copper as one potential tool in the effort to safeguard public health. Considered in lives saved, copper has significant advantages over current material selections. With this pandemic, the game has changed.
Federal Brace is pleased to announce that we have added copper kitchen countertops, & copper kitchen shelves to our exclusively Made in the USA product line. Rely on Federal Brace to service your copper surface requirements. Check out www.FederalBrace.com or call toll-free (877) 353-8899, 8:30AM - 5 PM EST for additional ideas & design assistance.
