With the recent surge of COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia, it’s no surprise if your office manager is looking to sanitise or disinfect the space for everyone’s peace of mind.
Generally, there are two types of misting – ULV misting and thermal misting. While the purpose of both types of fogger is the same, the misting technique and type of misting liquid differ for both.
Thermal foggers require heat to vaporise the liquid insecticide solution while ULV foggers use the pressure either by pumping the insecticide solution through a high-pressure nozzle or a vortex of high-speed air which then breaks up the liquid into droplets and spray out as mist.
While thermal fogging is more suitable for outdoor application, it’s no surprise that ULV misting is favoured for indoor application, given that some in the white-collar workforce are required to enter the office for work during this global pandemic. Here’s what you need to know about ULV misting.
What is ULV misting?
Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) misting is used mainly for the application of disinfectants and insecticide. The fogger typically generates mist of ULV droplets between 5 and 50 microns (µm) in diameter. It’s used globally for routine disinfection and/or decontamination in various areas such as offices, laboratories, and medical facilities.
Uses of ULV misting
Given that the droplets of this mist are of the ideal size to tackle pathogens, vector carriers, and pests, it can be used for pest control and disinfection.
Pest control
Insects and pests such as mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches are among the common carriers of transmissible biological diseases in the world today. To reduce the transmission rate, industry professionals agree that fogging or misting is the most efficient control method as only small amounts of pesticides are used in the process.
Disinfection
Pathogens such as bacteria, virus, and fungi are often the main cause of airborne or direct contact diseases affecting animals and humans. Additionally, studies have shown that ULV misting can reduce the number of infectious pathogens by producing micro droplets which float in the air for over 5 minutes, allowing it to disinfect the most inaccessible areas.
Precautionary measures before any ULV misting
Much like thermal fogging, ULV misting also has its measures to ensure the treatment’s indoor efficacy. The following are the general guidelines that offices should follow:
- Switch off all air-conditioning units
- Keep all food items in sealed containers
- Cover every electrical item with a plastic sheet
- Open up all cabinet drawers for an effective disinfection
- No authorised personnel should be around during the misting treatment for at least 4 hours
What kind of pest or pathogens can it kill?
The droplets of the mist are of ideal size to eliminate pathogenic microbes such as virus, fungi, and bacteria, as well as tiny pests such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas, mites, and ants.
If you’re looking to disinfect your office or business premises, AntiPest offers a ULV misting service to prepare a sanitised workspace for your employees. Our team of experts will advise you on the most effective disinfection methods for your business.
For more information, contact 03-80231888 or visit https://www.antipest.com.my/contact.php.