Antimicrobial Door Handles Premiere in the Netherlands

University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) Hospital's Cancer Center in Groningen, the Netherlands, has been fitted throughout with door handles made from bronze - an alloy of copper benefitting from its antimicrobial properties. Opened in November 2010, the centre is the very first Dutch facility to have implemented antimicrobial copper, leading the way in infection prevention.

9th February 2011

Bacterial contamination of everyday objects through contact is a threat to public health. A door in a public building is opened and closed countless times a day, and therefore carries a risk of spreading bacterial germs. The use of antimicrobial materials can help prevent this. This is one of the reasons why the UMCG decided to provide the new Cancer Center with bronze door handles from German manufacturer FSB.

The handles were designed by renowned German architect Hans Kollhoff for manufacturer FSB, and were created to be aesthetically pleasing as well as antimicrobially active.

Scientific research initiated in 2007 by Professor Tom Elliott and his team at the University Hospitals NHS Trust in Birmingham, UK revealed that over 90% of germs die on the bronze fittings manufactured by FSB. In this research, carried out on a busy medical ward, Professor Elliott's team studied door handles of the FSB 6670 model, which were fitted on casement doors. The study showed that germs die on bronze but not on standard materials such as those with aluminium or plastic surfaces.  The high copper content of the bronze used ensures an excellent balance of fast antimicrobial action and useful mechanical properties that mean it looks good and performs well in a challenging, clinical environment.

The idea of using bronze door handles in the Cancer Center came about after a conversation between AG Architects - the practice responsible for the centre's interior design - and FSB. Anouk Vermeulen from AG Architects explains the decision:

"The door fittings were included in the design from the beginning of the entire process, not only because of their antimicrobial effect, but also from the point of view of aesthetics. Our first criteria was to find a door handle with natural characteristics. FSB drew our attention to the 1163 product line. Once I'd seen the door handle and heard about its antimicrobial properties, nobody else took much convincing. This handle is the ideal combination of design and - of paramount importance for a hospital - hygiene."

The theme chosen for the interior design is one of tranquillity, nature and connection, and these are reflected in the layout, colour, custom-made furniture and materials used. For example, specially impregnated bamboo veneer has been chosen for furniture and table-tops to help bring the user into contact with real, natural materials.

Anouk Vermeulen sees an important role for the bronze door fittings within this whole: "Bronze has a special and completely unique character, which is well-reflected in the new interior. The material radiates calm and confidence."

The natural elements in the interior design are part of a vision created by structural architects KuiperCompagnons. In developing the structural and vision plan, the Rotterdam firm based itself around a sustainable, urban development process. This means that factors such as multiple land use and the fact that the UMCG is part of the city of Groningen and is therefore easily accessible by various public transport networks were taken into account.

The installation at the UMCG in Groningen is a first for the Netherlands, and joins the vanguard of European healthcare institutions adopting antimicrobial copper touch surfaces.