Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to do in preparation for misting and bio-fogging?

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Clients are recommended to cover sensitive equipment and materials, especially electronic gadgets (e.g. computer desktops and appliances) and valuable assets (e.g. paintings) since misting makes the area wet. Bio-fogging also ensures that every nook and cranny is sanitized so it is better to make sure personal items are covered and protected to avoid unnecessary damages or inconvenience.

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Our Fogging and Misting disinfection Procedure and Process

 

OVERVIEW

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Stage 1: Ocular

Stage 2: Setup

Stage 3: Execution

Stage 3: Exit

Stage 4: Report

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1. Ocular Stage: ISPS will send either one of our experienced Team Leaders or a team of two highly trained professionals to assess and evaluate the location in order to provide individualized recommendations to address the specific needs of the Client while meeting occupational safety and industry protocols. 

 

The Operations team will conduct a courtesy call with the Client to arrange a convenient date and time in which to schedule the ocular on the requested area.

 

We advise oculars are best conducted during periods when operations and services are on hold in order to ensure that the ISPS team can duly comply with all the proper public health and safety guidelines/restrictions/advisory at the time of procedure. 

 

The Operations team will assess the following:

 

Size of the area to be covered by the ISPS service (will be measured via laser measuring device).

 

Area usage (ex: whether an area is an open/closed facility, office space, warehouse, residential space, manufacturing area, etc.). This needs to be determined to ensure the appropriate service is delivered.

 

Materials and equipment involved are appropriate for the immediate environment ensuring that we provide the best possible professional recommendation regarding the type and amount of chemical to be used as well as the proper equipment required to perform the service to maintain the safety and security of people, property and assets.

 

Identification of ‘safety zones’ to determine a suitable deployment area for the ISPS team.

 

Sequencing of the area; a mapping of the location will be conducted in order to determine the best possible route to be taken during the sanitization process. This step ensures ISPS performs an efficient, speedy, and hassle-free operation. 

 

Access to water source 

 

Points of contact (POCs); ISPS will record and take note of the contact persons designated to coordinate with the team for scheduling, execution, and reporting. This is to ensure a smooth flow of operations from end-to-end. 

 

At the end of the ocular, the ISPS team will submit a comprehensive report to your Customer Representative so that they make the appropriate quotation and advise on the best course of action with regard to the Client’s needs.

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2. Setup Stage: The ISPS team will be deployed on the requested date, taking into account the results of the ocular visit. This stage is largely based on the location, the size of the area, and equipment present on the target location.

 

Disinfectant preparation - based on the area size, environment, and the type of the area to be managed, the ISPS team will prepare a specially formulated solution appropriate for the profile of the requested area.
* Please note that standard concentration to ensure proper disinfection of surfaces (and kill disease-causing agents) is at 100 PPM (parts per million), or 1 gram of disinfectant to 1 liter of water.

 

Deployment - A safety zone, accessible only to ISPS team members will be set up. ISPS team members will be in full PPE gear. The team will mist and fog the designated safety zone. The safety zone will be the forward deployment area of the ISPS team; gear, chemicals, and other necessary equipment will be kept in this area.

 

Personnel - A minimum of two ISPS-trained professionals, a team leader and a team member for further assistance, will be deployed to the area. Additional team members will be deployed as necessary depending on: area size, operational complexity, and client request.

 

Equipment - The equipment brought will depend heavily on the location to be sanitized:

 

16L Battery Misting Backpack - Primarily used for floors, walls, and outdoor areas. Features a wide range and adjustable droplet size which are ideal for efficient sanitization of designated areas.

 

ULV Cold Fogger - Ideal for office areas, perfect for thoroughly sanitizing desks, equipment areas, and other smaller surfaces. ULV foggers are practically odorless which makes them much more pleasant to use than other types of equipment, especially indoors.

 

Thermal Fogger - Used for ensuring that air quality is drastically improved and air disinfection is maintained.

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3. Execution Stage: The preferred execution time are periods when the location where the service will be conducted is not operational or vacated to ensure the safety and security of staff and customers.

 

Clearing and Client Safety - Once a safety zone has been established, the ISPS team will coordinate with a designated point person to ensure that the area is clear of any and all non-ISPS personnel.

 

Briefing - Once all non-ISPS personnel have been vacated, the ISPS team will conduct a final brief on the timeline, the sequencing, and other details of the sanitization process to ensure a smooth and hassle-free  process from beginning to end.

 

 

Sanitization - The mode and timeline of sanitization depends heavily on the location itself. However, in general:

1. • 1. If multiple floors are involved, then the top-most floor is the starting point working down.

     2. The starting area in each section is the farthest area from the targeted exit point.

     3. Each area’s water source will be mapped and sanitized to ensure access to clean and safe water.

     4. Basements, if any, are the last portion to be covered.

 

Wipedown - This is optional, though NOT recommended. The ISPS Team recommends letting the disinfecting solution dry naturally, as opposed to being wiped; letting the solution dry naturally is more effective in ensuring that all lingering microbes are destroyed.

 

If requested, this is typically an additional cost to the Client. The ISPS Team will allow the solution to sit on surfaces for a minimum of 10 minutes. Once the necessary time has lapsed, the ISPS personnel will proceed to wipe high touch surfaces, such as desks, tables, and other surfaces. Floors and walls are covered last.

 

4. Exit Stage: The ISPS team will execute this standard of procedure upon completion of the aforementioned stages. 

 

Final disinfection of exit area - To ensure total safety, the exit area to be used by the ISPS team will also be disinfected and sanitized.

 

Return to safety zone - The designated safety zone will be misted once again, prior to re-entry, and the ISPS team will disinfect their person. If any semi-permanent structures were constructed (isolation tent, sanitation tent, etc) then the structure will be disinfected before being retracted.

 

Non-contact report - Once the ISPS team is ready to depart, the Team Leader will message the POC of completion of the request.

 

5. Report: To guarantee that the requested services were properly executed as agreed upon, a comprehensive report on the completed procedures will be provided, detailing the entire process of disinfection done at the target area. We will also include any recommendations on further actions/steps the client can take in order to maximize safety. This report will be sent to the Client for review purposes. This is done within 24 to 72 hours of service completion.

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What is the difference between misting and bio-fogging?

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Misting and bio-fogging are ideal safety measures for covering large areas such as public spaces, hospitals, and other spacious establishments. Our highly potent biocidal mist solution is specially formulated to completely eliminate lingering harmful microorganisms in the air and on surfaces, reducing the probability of getting in contact with bacteria and viruses. We also use an eco-friendly electric cool mist fogger as opposed to a regular fogger which runs on diesel and produces a smoke like emission. An advantage with fogging is that the sanitising agent reaches areas that may be difficult to clean with other techniques. Penetration into some nooks and crannies may be limited by obstacles, but in most cases it’s not necessary to move furniture or equipment around before or during the cleaning process. Whereas previously, the chemicals used in fogging could adversely affect materials such as plastic, fabrics and metal – causing corrosion over time – this is no longer a concern.

 

What is fogging?

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Electric bio-fogging is a cleaning treatment done by trained professionals to eliminate hazardous microbial bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that may germinate in areas that are usually unreachable by common measures. It creates a mist which safely, quickly, and effectively sanitize surfaces that conventional cleaning cannot cover. 

 

The fogging process is rapid and efficient. The biocide particles in the mist or fog are so small that they remain suspended in the air long enough to kill airborne viruses and bacteria. The biocide also eliminates pathogens on surfaces, including ceilings and walls as well as furniture and floors.

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Fogging is given its name due to the cloud like emission from the machine. This is achieved through the machine creating a spray (fine mist) of normally about 1-10 microns in size.

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What is misting?

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Misting is the traditional environmental disinfection method used in offices, schools, open/closed areas. Not all misting services are created equally. The misting solution is key to the effectiveness of the service done. Misting emits the solution onto surfaces and quickly eliminates the presence of germs, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microbes. It’s important to choose misting solutions that are:

1) formulated and meant for misting

2) safe for use and does not cause dangerous side effects

3) effective against the targeted pathogen (in this case, SARS-CoV-2).

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Can I use any chemical with a mister or fogger?

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No. Not all misting solutions are created equally. Some are not meant for misting or bio-fogging and could present health hazards or cause allergic reactions to some people. This is why we emphasize the need to select chemicals carefully. . It’s important to choose misting solutions that are:

1) formulated and meant for misting

2) safe for use and does not cause dangerous side effects

3) effective against the targeted pathogen (in this case, SARS-CoV-2).

4) Non corrosive, toxic chemicals like "quats" bleaches etc will corrode electrical components and metals.

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Can I use misting/fogging disinfection services inside an office?

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Yes. Misting and bio-fogging are traditionally used and are ideal disinfection methods for offices.

 

Can I use misting/fogging disinfection services inside a school?

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Yes. Misting and bio-fogging are traditionally used and are ideal disinfection methods for schools.

 

I have sensitive equipment/machinery. Is it safe to mist/fog?

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Clients are recommended to cover sensitive equipment and materials, especially electronic gadgets (e.g. computer desktops and appliances) and valuable assets (e.g. paintings) since misting makes the area wet. Bio-fogging utilizes a smaller particle size which reduces the level of wetness but can still cause dampness so ensure that every nook and cranny is sanitized so it is better to make sure personal items are covered and protected to avoid unnecessary damages or inconvenience. A simple covering will do to protect equipment and machineries. Once covered, misting and fogging can commence. 

 

How long after misting/fogging do I have to wait before reentering the premises?

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The ISPS Team recommends letting the disinfecting solution dry naturally, as opposed to being wiped; letting the solution dry naturally is more effective in ensuring that all lingering microbes are destroyed. It is best to allow the solution to sit on surfaces for a minimum of 10 minutes. 

 

Is misting/fogging safe?

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As with any service, safety largely depends on what is being used, how much is appropriate for use in the given situation/location, how the service was done, and who are qualified to execute the treatment. For these reasons, it is best to employ field experts and professionals who can walk you through the service you requested, explain the chemical solutions being used, and execute the service properly and efficiently. 

 

Can anyone do it?

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For safety reasons, it is best to leave misting and bio-fogging to professionals who have had training and experience on the matter. However, with proper training, designated people and cleaners can execute some of these methods of disinfection on a regular basis (e.g. in offices, households, establishments, restaurants). ISPS offers a training course and certification for companies and organizations on how to properly perform Misting and Bio-Fogging at their workplace. We provide user-friendly equipment and ready-to-use disinfectants which can easily be administered by your staff so there’s no need to hire sanitation agencies on a regular basis. This way, you can ensure the safety of your employees and customers in the most cost-efficient manner as you abide by government protocols.

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Why should I choose ISPS instead of another company for Misting/Fogging?

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ISPS is composed of a team of professionals specifically trained in environmental disinfection methods like misting and fogging. We are the official partner of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in the national COVID-19 response, spearheading the construction and disinfection of the Philippines’ largest COVID-19 testing and quarantine facilities.

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How often should I mist/fog?

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For businesses prevention is better than cure, and for this reason we encourage offices, government units, establishments that tend to accommodate crowds, especially organizations that are frequented by in-and-out clients/customers (like restaurants), to disinfect and sanitize daily.

 

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Frequency largely depends upon the type of business, for example, high traffic service orientated businesses must disinfect more often while other businesses like storage facilities that aren’t often visited by outsiders less.

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Corporate offices and BPO's with large numbers of staff in close quarters should consider disinfection services of the area at least on a weekly basis.

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For residential homes and Condominium units, unless there has been a COVID positive case we do not recommend regular disinfection services at all.

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Do you provide a certificate of disinfection?

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Yes we provide a certificate of disinfection after every service.

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How much area can a ULV fogger cover?

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This depends on the size of the foggers tank, the particle size selected and how the operator uses the machine. Typically when we conduct the service a 5L tank will cover a minimum of 250sqm.

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How much area can a high pressure mister cover?

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Our 16L high pressure mister will normally cover a minimum of 250sqm per tank.

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What is the difference between hot and cold fogging?

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There are two types of fogging: cold and thermal (hot). While a thermal fogger uses heat to atomize the chemical solution which then turns into fog or a smoke cloud, cold spraying methods, which, in most cases, use high amounts of air pressure to spray the fogging liquid out in tiny particles. Cold foggers are the most popular type when it comes to sanitization and disinfection services.

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