A range of antimicrobial copper products, including shower mats, toilet seats and light switches, as well as plug covers, has been developed by copper products manufacturer Copper Tubing Africa (CTA) particularly for use in hospitals, gyms and mine-site shower facilities.

CTA MD Mark Wynn tells Engineering News that the diversification of the company’s product range, away from its standard copper-tubing offering, was the result of feedback that CTA received from industry, which indicated the need to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria through the use of antimicrobial copper products.

He says CTA intends to officially launch the product range locally – the range is made out of 99% pure copper tubing as well copper nickel.

Wynn highlights that the antimicrobial properties of copper and its alloys can kill most harmful bacteria.

He points out that independent studies over the past decade by Stellenbosch University, in the Western Cape, as well as by local scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisation the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, in Pretoria, have shown that copper kills 99% of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA bacteria , responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections, such sepsis, toxic shock syndrome and necrotising pneumonia.

Copper-use advocacy organisation the Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) notes that 80% of infections are distributed through the touching of surfaces such as door handles, bedside tables and bedrails.

“If a person touches an infected surface, the next seven surfaces will also be infected until the bacteria is worn out,” states the CDAA.

However, the CDAA highlights that if copper is placed over the surface of certain appliances, harmful bacteria are destroyed within two hours, as the copper breaks down their outer cells.

Wynn says using CTA’s copper mats at gyms will prevent people from developing athlete’s foot.

“Within about 45 minutes of a person using any type of antimicrobial copper touch surface, most bacteria on his or her skin are eliminated and, after two hours, 99% of the bacteria are eliminated.”

He adds CTA has patented its antimicrobial shower mats.

Wynn notes that the shower mats were exhibited by the CDAA at the Medica 2015 international medical trade fair, in Düsseldorf, Germany, in November.

He also points out that CTA sold two antimicrobial copper operating tables to local veterinary clinics.

Increasing Popularity

Wynn says that, as the number of middle-class income earners increases in Africa, so will the demand for copper, owing to this income group preferring to have copper fitted in their houses, particularly in bathrooms, for durability and, more recently, for health purposes.

“Therefore, overall, the demand for copper tubes is increasing.”

Wynn adds that, over the past two years, CTA has exported a significant number of copper tubes to Namibia and intends to expand its export operations into the rest of Africa over the next five years.

Further, CTA operations manager Gary Laing states that copper tubing is widely used to supply hot and cold tap water to buildings; it is also used as a refrigerant transportation line for heating, ventilation and air- conditioning systems.

“The smoothness of copper tubing bores ensures significantly improved water flow rates of between 10% and 15%, compared with those of galvanised and plastic pipes, owing to the low levels of friction produced by copper,” he says.

Laing adds that copper is also a good conductor of heat and electricity, which means that these tubes remain warmer for longer.

“If copper tubing is correctly installed, it can last for as long as
100 years,” he emphasises, adding that, for plumbers, copper tubes are easier to install than galvanised steel tubes.

Moreover, CTA technical director Tony Da Cruz highlights that the company’s copper tubes comply with SANS 1453:2010 for copper tubes for use in medical gas and vacuum services.