• Helping building owners and managers adopt targeted preventive mold and disinfecting practices means helping them to visualize the problem chains and understanding what disruptive steps can be taken to break such toxic mold/mildew chains.
• Recognizing the situations where harmful mold spores and microbes are most likely to be spread.
• Understanding what building surfaces are likely to cause the spread of mold, mildew and bacteria.

GermBarriers antimicrobial technology and compounds represent a new generation of antimicrobials. GermBarriers technology is based on the use of quaternary ammonium silicone (“SiQAC”) compounds as antimicrobial agents either in solvent or in aqueous and stable solutions. By making these compounds water based systems, they become non-flammable and require no solvents for dilution nor any special handling, are uniformly dispersible on almost any surface, and are simple and economical to use because of their extended shelf-life (at least a year vs. a week). Unlike similar antimicrobial products, these characteristics make these compounds and products ideal for use in a wide range of industrial and institutional, household, OEM, medical and food applications.

When the ammonium salts are reacted with certain organosilanes they form an integrated system, and when this system is applied to any surface, it forms an invisible (one molecule deep) and durable (through ion exchange and rapid polymerization) antimicrobial protection. These compounds possess powerful antimicrobial properties that make them very effective against gram-positive and gram-negative odor-causing bacteria, durable and long lasting for months, and valuable and useful for a variety of surfaces, substrates, instruments and applications.

GermBarriers antimicrobial technology and products have been employed to protect everyday consumer goods, or to protect almost any surface against odor-causing microbial contamination.

The primary core technology contains no heavy metals, formaldehyde treatment, or phenol groups. Unlike other antimicrobial materials, extensive studies performed in laboratories have shown the above chemistry does not allow or cause microbial adaptation, resistance, mutation, diffusion or migration.

It is significantly different from conventional sanitizers, disinfectants or biocides that are extremely toxic and contaminate the environment with undesirable chemicals. Some of the differences are in its chemical nature, effectiveness, durability and safety. This technology has a unique advantage over all previously known methods and applications: the antimicrobial component material is bonded to the cell or surface. Microorganisms are then destroyed by simple contact with the surface. GermBarriers antimicrobial products bond to almost any surface, creating unlimited applications for this breakthrough technology.

C 1. Mode of Action and Function

Silane Base – The first section of the long chain molecule is a silane base, which enables the antimicrobial to anchor securely onto the substrate. A covalent bond is formed slowly through hydrolysis reactions, providing long-lasting and sometimes permanent antimicrobial protection against a broad spectrum of single cell microorganisms.

Positively Charged Nitrogen – The second section of the long chain molecule is a bolt of electricity that finishes off any speared bug that survives the sword. A positively charged atom of nitrogen writes the bug’s epitaph. The negatively charged membranes of some microbes will be magnetically drawn to their demise. This mechanical kill negates the need for toxic chemicals.

Long Molecular Carbon Chain – The third section of the long chain molecule is the blade that initially comes into contact with the offending microbes. This acts like a sword that punctures the cell membranes of all microbes coming in contact with it.

C 2. GermBarriers Antimicrobial – Cell Inhibition Cycle

• Active agent attaches permanently to the surface.
• Micro-organisms contact the surface and they are destroyed.
• This effectively inhibits the further growth of micro-organisms.
• You now have a clean surface!

C3. US Patent Office Findings

“The present invention comprises methods and compositions for treatment of surfaces with compositions that are capable of controlling or killing a broad spectrum of biological agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microbial agents and rendering the surfaces capable of continuing to kill a broad range of microbial agents. The compositions are stable, durable with a long lasting effect, safe and non-toxic.” (US Patent Number 8999363 granted on April 7, 2015 ).

80% of pathogen transmissions in a building occur by hand contact.

• Skin is not immune to mold growth. Many people aren’t aware that mold on skin is even possible. However, any growth of mold on skin can be dangerous.
• If a persons body is already dealing with a problem, such as an infection, reduced immune system, or other problems, the natural defenses are compromised, and mold is more likely to get a foothold on that persons skin.
• Don't Touch Mold. Some varieties of mold are infectious. These can cause skin rashes, irritation, and fungal infections on open wounds. One should never touch mold with bare hands or get it on your skin. Whenever you clean mold, protective gloves should be worn.

While GermBarriers presently does not manufacture hand sanitizers, it maintains business relationships with third parties that manufacture both high quality alcohol and non-alcohol based hand sanitizers. In structures with mold issues, hand sanitizing can provide an additional barrier to reduce the transmission of mold spores within the facility.