A proposed new ASTM International standard will be used to quantitatively evaluate the antibacterial activity of carpet sanitizers. ASTM WK39597, Test Method for Assessment of Carpet Sanitizers, is being developed by Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents, part of ASTM International Committee E35 on Pesticides, Antimicrobials and Alternative Control Agents. There is currently no standard test method for such evaluation of carpet sanitizers.

Daniel Price, Ph.D., director of microbiology, Interface Inc., and an E35.15 member, notes that, during its service life, carpet is exposed to foot traffic and soils that inherently contain bacterial and fungal spores. Vegetative bacteria such as staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas and yeast may be present in a typical carpet. Routine vacuuming with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner will remove dry particulate matter, however, over time, deeply embedded and greasy soils necessitate the use of vacuum extraction to deep clean the carpet.

“A carpet cleaner-sanitizer kills and removes accumulated stain and odor causing biocontaminants,” says Price. “Just as important, a sanitizer renders the cleaning water and residual water left on the carpet inhospitable to bacterial growth and odor development.”

Price says that standardized evaluation and regulatory approval of carpet sanitizers could be used by the public and professional service providers to elevate carpet cleaning from merely aesthetic appearance to documented efficacy against accumulated soils and biocontaminants. Potential users of WK39597 would be carpet maintenance chemical producers, contract testing laboratories and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which could adopt the standard for required efficacy testing during the required registration process.

E35.15 welcomes technical input for the development of ASTM WK39597 from all carpet or rug industry stakeholders.

ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee E35 Next Meeting: Oct. 21-25, October Committee Week, Jacksonville, Fla.
Technical Contact: Daniel Price, Ph.D., Interface Inc., LaGrange, Ga., Phone: 706-812-6266; daniel.price@interface.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Jennifer Rodgers, Phone: 610-832-9694, jrodgers@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #9485