In a continued effort to protect the health and safety of all faculty, staff, and students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Facilities Services has applied an antimicrobial treatment that is effective for up to 90 days to surfaces in classrooms, instructional labs, libraries, and the Student Union. A second treatment is planned for October.
“It’s an added level of protection,” said Randy Hamilton, assistant director of Sanitation Safety. “We realized there was value in doing it, and with the reasonable cost of doing it, it was a pretty easy decision. You’ve got to do everything that you can.”
The two-part treatment system is designed to kill 99.9 percent of viruses (including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The first step cleans, sanitizes, and deodorizes without the use of harsh chemicals. The second step uses an antimicrobial surface protectant that bonds to surfaces and creates a layer that kill microbes.
In response to COVID-19, Facilities Services spent the entire summer taking extra precautions and measures to clean and prepare all campus facilities. From installing hand sanitizer stations and touchless faucets to changing air filters—not to mention technological upgrades—the team of more than 600 employees continues to be busier than ever with the academic year now under way.