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As we reflect on this years Global pandemic we think about our health, our loved ones and the environment in which we work and live. You may not be aware of coppers incredible antimicrobial properties and how many are replacing their handles and surfaces to benefit their health.
Millions of people are affected by viruses and diseases worldwide each year, leading to significant mortality and financial losses for our economy and health systems.
Infections such as Covid-19 are caused by microbes that thrive on objects people touch every day. Despite aggressive hand-washing campaigns and routine cleaning and disinfection, infection rates remain unacceptably high and more needs to be done to lower the risk of acquiring an infection and improving our safety.
This could be achieved by replacing fittings with antimicrobial copper products, as part of contemporary hospital architecture, interiors and design, can supplement current infection control practices.
It is scientifically proven to be a fast acting antimicrobial surface, continuous and ongoing action even after re-contamination. Copper is sustainable, safe to use and not harmful to our beautiful planet, and most of all it's colour is beautiful and stylish.
If copper is naturally antibacterial then how does it work?
Scientists have proven that bacteria on copper surfaces will not survive for long!
On a microscopic level the bacterial membrane will quickly rupture causing cells to weaken and loose vital nutrients and eventually vanish.
Copper in it's natural state exhibits impressive antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties whereas other materials such as wood, plastic and stainless steel can harbour pathogens responsible for causing infections.
Has the effectiveness of antimicrobial copper been proven?
Copper is the only solid metal touch surface to have efficacy data independently verified through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public health registration, which supports its claim to continuously kill more than 99.9% of the bacteria that cause Global Diseases, within two hours of contact when cleaned regularly.
Tests carried out in healthcare facilities by swabbing touch surfaces have shown that a heavy growth in bacteria on stainless steel surfaces even though they looked cleaner and brass and copper surfaces showed little to no harmful microbes.
The National Institute of Health has conducted research, and results have shown that the Coronavirus germ stays alive (and transferrable) for the following lengths of time:
Does the copper have to be pure for it to have an antibacterial effect?
Yes copper must be of a pure grade and must be left untreated.
Proper Copper Design crafts most of it's products including copper hardware, copper taps and showers from 99.9% pure grade copper which has strong antimicrobial qualities and will gradually tarnish if left in a Natural Copper finish.
Brass is an alloy of copper and so it also benefits from having the oligodynamic effect,the result of which it's metal ions have a toxic effect on moulds, spores, viruses, and other living cells.
Is copper-plating and treated copper antimicrobial?
As you need direct contact with the surface for this to work our satin lacquered finish in which we treat the copper with layers of marine lacquer to protect its shine.
While copper coatings (plating) on other metals may initially display antimicrobial characteristics, they are susceptible to wear and tear which may reduce the effectiveness.
If you would like more information about our finishes then please see Our Finishes page.
Where is copper being used for it's antimicrobial properties?
The 2012 and 2014 champions of the National Hockey League have helped address possible surface contamination on their equipment by electing to install Black Iron Strength's high quality CuVerro antimicrobial copper surface gym equipment. The equipment installed within the facility included items such as bar and dumb bells as well as machine attachments.
In the Department of Defense-funded US trials, carried out in ICU rooms at three hospitals, the aim was to not only determine the efficacy of antimicrobial copper in reducing the level of pathogens, but whether such a reduction would translate into a lower rate of infection.
Researchers at the three hospitals involved in the trial—Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the Medical University of South Caroline and the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina—replaced commonly touched items such as bed rails, over-bed tray tables, toilet facilities, nurse call buttons and IV poles, with antimicrobial copper versions.
Rooms with copper surfaces demonstrated an 83% reduction in average microbial bioburden compared to controls, better than the level achieved by 'terminal' cleaning: the regimen conducted after each patient vacates a room.
Furthermore, the initial results demonstrated that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care unit rooms resulted in a 58% reduction in the risk of acquiring a hospital infection.
Where would be the best places to fit copper in my home or business?
If you have any ideas for a product that you would like to see on the market or you have a bespoke request then please get in touch with our team, team@propercopperdesign.com .
What benefits does copper have for your health?
Our connection to copper dates back to prehistoric times in which it was worked on by the hand of early man and used as spearheads or formed into jewelry.
Copper was known as the healing metal across early civilizations, using it to enhance energy and cleanse both the body and mind. In particular the metal is known to help you spiritually with inner-vision, channeling, self esteem and optimism.
Copper is often used to detoxify, whether this is by simply purifying the water in your bath or being worn on your body to help alleviate rheumatic or circulation problems.
What type of industries would benefit from switching to copper?
First and foremost copper would be best suited to be used in Hospitals but other ideal locations include care homes, spa resorts, offices, airports and gyms.
Copper could be integrated into our modern day transport systems such as airports, trains and buses.
We hope to see these changes rolled out across public spaces in the future but for now these changes can be made in our everyday lives by replacing handles, surfaces and everyday objects at home and in shared spaces where transmission of infection could occur.
We will also be on hand to help you with your bespoke requests be that for modifying a product that we already sell, making surfaces from sheet metal or any other custom idea.
Thanks to our references..
A greener and more sustainable future rely on copper. We believe sustainable development offers a way to do business that respects people and the planet.
Copper Alliance
In this blog post, we’ve put together an overview of our bespoke design services, providing some examples of the multitude of ways in which our products can be modified and adjusted in order to best suit our customers needs.
As well as offering the ability to customise and modify items, we’ve also included a section outlining our bespoke, commission-based service, of which our team of varied backgrounds and skill-sets are on-hand to help bring a range of exciting design projects to life.
Modification Service
One of the real benefits of handcrafting items to order is the flexibility that it offers, whereby it is perfectly feasible for us to alter and make a range of adjustments to any given design in order for it to best suit a particular set of requirements.
Whether this change might simply be a small adjustment made to a certain measurement, or a unique, new piece inspired by one of our existing designs, we are always happy to to craft new or modified items for our customers, feeling that doing so helps keep us inspired and motivated in our work.
As well as changes to measurements, we are also able to alter the colour and appearance of any of our products. With a broad range of different unique finishes on offer, these can be applied to all of our copper-ware, helping to provide a means to find the best fit for your chosen home or interior colour scheme.
Bespoke Design and Commission Service
Above: An example of some of the various stages of our bespoke design service.
With experience in a wide variety of areas including : Architecture, Product Design, Carpentry, Ceramics and Mural Art, our team aim to provide a full design service in which we can help with both small and large projects.
Whether for your home, a shop-fit out or a larger interior project, we’ve tried to keep a personal and relatable service, keeping our customers involved throughout the design process whilst trying to use our combined skill-sets to provide the most useful service that we can.
No matter the requirement or the scale of the project, we feel as if copper is an ideal material for a whole host of applications. Through the use of different craft processes, the materials characteristics can be changed in many fascinating ways that can be both visually beautiful and beneficial functionally.
Getting in Touch
Our interest and appreciation for copper as a material, combined with our genuine enjoyment and satisfaction in hearing from the people who have visited our website and have contacted us, help provide for us a sense of continual interest and engagement in our work.
The ability to be able to commune with and craft items for people all over the world really is a novel one that we are very grateful for, and as such we continue to look forward to hearing from our customers and the many interesting potential future projects to come.
If you've perhaps had an idea in mind that you would like to go over with us, we'd really love to hear about it. We're interested in projects of all shapes and sizes, so please do get in touch via our contact page and we'd be very pleased to hear from you.
By Nic Grogan
We created a geometric copper water feature especially for the show, through which water passed via a loop system, flowing through gaps and around the maze of piping. Visitors were drawn in to watch the water trickle through the gaps and out of the tap into the butler sink, and the sound of flowing water gave a captivating element of tranquillity to our stand. The feature was well received and it was discussed that it would suit a large commercial bathroom or a spa retreat.
It was our aim to display our handle boards in such a way that they could be taken off the rails and viewed up close.
We have been running our workshop in Brighton for two years now so we thought it would be a nice touch to create a vision board of our journey so far so industry visitors could get to know more about our team and our designs.
Our taps were mounted on reclaimed scaffold board fixed to a light frame, making our stand seem spacious but also reflect our craft.
Our team really enjoyed being able to discuss future design possibilities with industry professionals and gaining some incredible contacts with buyers and marketplaces. All of the team put in an incredible amount of effort into planning, building and installing the show, so it was a proud moment to be launching our brand at Olympia Exhibition Centre.
If you enjoyed reading this, please check out some of our other blog posts too.
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Along the side of the building is a pedestrian alleyway which at the moment is a little rough around the edges but Will is hoping to bring colourful murals, cobbled floor and an outdoor seating area to the street.
My design is create from a mixture of collages from colourful and floral patterns and embellished artworks that I had found online and loved. The animals may be changed to be more African based but the style is where I will begin. I am excited to use such a vibrant colour pallet, especially baby pink!
I began painting around the side door on the alleyway to checkout my paints, get a sense of scale and get the project in motion.
I have stopped my mural at this drain and I will continue down the wall with the elephants and leopards etc once the weather warms up abit!
Meanwhile the inside of the building has been gutted and the stone walls were blasted back to it's bar brickwork.
The depth of the main room as a bare shell.
An inspirational mood-board of the type of interior design style to help you envisage the vibe of the space once it is furnished. Many tropical murals, hanging plants and rustic features will make this place have a one of a kind atmosphere.
