MK Electric, the UK’s leading manufacturer of wiring devices and accessories, has revised its extensive suite of components dedicated to meeting the demands of the healthcare sector, delivering the highest standards of hygiene, safety and security. The portfolio includes anti-bacterial cable management, switches and sockets; Isolated Power Supply (IPS) sockets that meet MEIGaN (Medical Electrical Installation Guidance Notes); lockable and surge-protected devices and accessories dedicated for those with disabilities.
Anti-microbial hygiene in hospital, care home and other medical environments remains a considerable public and Governmental concern which MK Electric has addressed with two products with strong anti-microbial properties – Prestige 3D Antibac Blue, the anti-bacterial cable management solution for power and data distribution, and the market-leading Logic Plus wiring accessories range, which has now been demonstrated to possess significant anti-microbial properties. Together they offer a complete answer to the challenge of designing an entire installation that meets the requirements of an anti-bacterial specification. As the trunking and wiring devices are both open to contact, the control of the spread of bacteria and infections can only be effective with such a complete solution.
Prestige 3D Antibac Blue kills bacteria that can grow on surfaces such as trunking systems through a silver-based additive inherent within the PVC-u that fights organisms such as MRSA, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Similarly, the Logic Plus range is manufactured from urea formaldehyde, a thermoset material that has similar properties to anti-microbial additives, and produced scratch-free – thanks to highly-engineered moulding tools – so there are no dirt traps where harmful bacteria may breed.
Independent tests showed that the Logic Plus range beat competitors in its anti-microbial properties against the four main ‘killer bugs’ that are now the main concern in hospital, care home and other medical environments. The range is 99.9% lethal to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), compared to 86.4% for similar competitive products; 98.9% lethal to Klebsiella Pneumoniae – compared to 95.4% for other non-MK offerings – and is also 99.9% fatal to E-Coli and Salmonella.
The MK MEIGaN IPS sockets meet the key recommendation that IPS outlets are double pole or un-switched; are ‘Clean Earth’ and are colour-coded blue with engraved white lettering stating ‘Medical Equipment Only’. Where white outlets are preferred; they should be mounted on a blue background, approximately 2cm larger than the socket; with the socket engraved ‘Medical Equipment Only’ in blue lettering.
MEIGaN specifies an IPS in order to increase the supply resilience by reducing the impact of first fault conditions downstream of the IPS. The IPS is usually combined with an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) that prevents disruption of the supply owing to problems upstream of the UPS.
The company now supplies its Masterseal, Metalclad Plus, Edge and Albany Plus products with key-operated locks that stop any unauthorized tampering with the power supply. The 20A double pole key operated switch and 13A double pole key operated socket feature printed terminal markings and universal lock. The key can be removed from the lock in both the ON or OFF position, so ensuring that power is either maintained or withheld according to need. The universal lock allows one key to operate a number of devices, simplifying the security process.
Many other product’s in MK Electric’s comprehensive range that are suitable for healthcare environments including : lighting control sensors for better management of energy consumption; colour-contrasted, large rockered and pull-cord operated switches to assist the less able; and a extensive series of data and power cable management systems. The ranges – outlined in the revised eight-page MK publication Healthcare Sector Products – are guaranteed for up to 20 years, depending on the product, and backed by MK’s unrivalled quality, reliability and service.