With multiple points of contact where users can deposit or pick up germs, bathrooms in workplaces, hospitality venues, and schools can be a keyway for germs to spread between people. Choosing hands free hand dryers such as the Mitsubishi Electric wave i01 and u02 with no buttons and an antibacterial surfaces with embedded silver ions helps to stop the spread of illness. 

What are anti-bacterial materials

Antibacterial surfaces resist or kill bacteria. They are significant for safe food and water, human health, and industrial equipment

A variety of different materials have the ability to prevent bacterial growth including:

• Copper and its alloys, which have natural antimicrobial properties and can destroy a wide range of microorganisms
• Silver, which releases ions that can inactivate enzymes and DNA of bacteria and viruses 
• Bioinspired surfaces, which mimic the texture of insect wings or shark skin to prevent bacterial attachment and growth
• Photocatalytic surfaces, which use light to activate substances that can degrade organic pollutants and microorganisms

Materials which have antibacterial properties can be mixed into other materials such as plastics to create a hard-wearing surface that resists many kinds of microbe.

By embedding silver ions into the resin casing of the Mitsubishi Electric Wave range of hand dryers, bacterial growth is prevented.