Combat Harmful Bacteria on Painted Surfaces with New Innovative Interior Coating

A groundbreaking interior premium latex paint that was recently introduced in the coatings market has the ability to kill 99.9 percent of five kinds of bacteria on the painted surface. Paint Shield® microbicidal paint is the first U.S. EPA-registered interior latex paint that has the ability to kill E. Coli (Escherichia coli), Staph (Staphylococcus aureus), VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis), MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and Enterobacter aerogenes on painted surfaces within two hours of exposure. The product contains a highly regarded active ingredient — quaternary ammonium compound, or quat, which is a common ingredient found in many disinfectants.

While naturally suited for the healthcare building sector, Paint Shield microbicidal paint has also generated interest in crowded, closed environments such as athletic facilities, schools, daycares, office buildings, restaurants, hotels, and cruise ships. All of these commercial and institutional settings can be breeding grounds for disease-causing bacteria that increase costs and negatively affect customer experience and business results. It is important to note that there are a number of paints that contain antimicrobial agents, which inhibit the growth of mold or mildew on the painted surface, but a microbicidal paint like Paint Shield actually kills certain harmful bacteria that could be living on the painted surfaces.

The solution has gone through extensive third-party testing in order to be labeled as an EPA-registered microbicidal paint, and features a patented technology that’s proven to be effective (U.S. Patent 9.131.683). It is very much a “cutting-edge and breakthrough innovation,” says Nancy Hutchinson, director of wholesale marketing for Sherwin-Williams. Formulated and created to meet the demand of a commercial repaint cycle, Paint Shield has been tested to last up to four years, continuing to kill 90 percent of the bacteria as long as the surface integrity is maintained.

The product can be applied by roller or brush onto surfaces such as ceilings, walls, doors, and trim; it should not be applied by spray application. Although it was originally developed for healthcare and commercial settings, the coating is also ideal for residential spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Like most interior paints, two coats of the product are required over a previously primed or painted surface.

Many commercial buildings and facilities have enacted sanitation or disinfection programs, and several are seeing value in Paint Shield as a supplement to these programs by giving building owners an additional tool that helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria on high-traffic/high-touch painted wall, door, and trim surfaces. For example, at one university, Paint Shield was added to the walls of the campus medical school and dental school. “The university found it to be an innovation worth trying and is using it as part of their cleaning and disinfection protocol,” said Hutchinson. “Other application examples are commercial contractors that have also used Paint Shield on professional and collegiate athletic facilities such as in the locker and weight rooms.”

Hutchinson says that infection control and maintenance teams are also finding value in using a solution that contains bacteria-killing properties for renovations or new construction builds. In some settings, teams are already prepurchasing Paint Shield to have on hand, while for other new projects they are having the paint added to commercial specifications.

Featuring great hide and durability, Paint Shield also allows Building Teams to continue adding decorative touches as well, and to do so much more—the microbicidal paint is available in 550 colors and has achieved GREENGUARD GOLD certification for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage. 

In case you missed it, read part one of this exclusive series by clicking here.