Frequently Asked Questions
- Each decontamination project is different and priced accordingly. The cost is dependent upon each customer’s unique requirements. We start with a phone call in order to gain a broad understanding of the problems you face and the goals that you’re looking to accomplish.
- For complex fumigation projects, we typically need to view as-built building layout plans and air handling drawings at a minimum before we can issue a quotation. If we’re awarded the job, additional information is required at this point in order for us to establish a comprehensive decontamination plan.
- For less complex jobs where our telephone conversation has identified all of the pertinent factors, we may be able to issue a quotation after an initial phone call.
- In some instances, we may request a site visit where it’s practical before issuing a quotation in order to gain a complete understanding of a client’s needs.
- In emergency situations, or in situations where a site visit is not practical, we can provide services based upon a time & materials agreement, or on a fixed price basis with a plus/minus % price variance.
- For those clients that experience emergency biological occurrences on a regular, but unplanned basis, we offer discounted service rates based upon an annual commitment. Payments can be spread out on a monthly basis over a budget cycle to avoid expense spikes and to fit spending parameters.
- We offer preventative or scheduled service plans that provide discounted rates and peace of mind.
We are certified environmental disinfection, biodecontamination and odor removal specialists. This is our only business and not a complimentary service that we only dabble in. When you select Ecosense, you receive:
- The Industries widest array of treatment technologies. We help you select the best option for your specific situation, and don’t try to make a single treatment option fit where it’s not optimal.
- An affordable custom tailored treatment plan that matches the appropriate treatment option with the associated risk level.
- The safest and most environmentally friendly treatment options available. We only deviate from this practice when a suitable alternative is not available or viable to use.
- Validated performance with documented results.
- Technicians who are certified by nationally recognized organizations in biosafety, biocontainment, sterilization, environmental disinfection and odor control.
- Strict operating protocols backed by the proper insurance coverage for performing environmental decontamination services.
The treatment time varies based upon the size of your facility, the site preparations required, the condition of the space, and the contamination or disease that we are treating, or looking to prevent. In some cases, we can work during normal business hours without disrupting your business. In other situations, we work during your off hours. Our advanced equipment technologies allow us to get in and out of your facility as quickly as possible with minimal disruption to your schedule. Many small to medium size treatments are performed in one day.
Since we are essentially fighting an “invisible enemy”, we use analytical tools which allow us to objectively measure and document the results of your treatment over time with biological indicators, chemical indicators, microbial swabs, ATP Luminometers, gas concentration meters, UV output detectors and air particulate meters. To verify the anti-microbial efficacy of BioStat surface protection, we use a Bromophenol Blue (BPB) solution or UV additives, insuring that continuous protection is maintained.
Since the antimicrobial is permanently bound to the surface and thermally stable, insoluble, and non-leaching, the treatment can theoretically last for the life of the treated surface in the right conditions. However, the life of the treated surface depends on a number of factors, not the least of which is surface preparation. If you treat a dirty surface, when the dirt comes off, the effectiveness of the antimicrobial will decrease. High surface abrasion (i.e. floor scrubbers, high traffic), or the prolonged use of cleaners with a PH level above 10 (i.e. bleach, ammonia), will also shorten the effective life.
In practice, most of our customers in high-touch applications re-treat with BioStat at 6 month or 12 month intervals. We can re-test high-touch surfaces at periodic intervals to gauge how your cleaning practices and facility traffic patterns impacts the performance level, and recommend extending or decreasing treatment intervals based upon objective criteria.
No additional steps are required after applying Surface Defense although we recommend using a cleaner/disinfectant with a neutral PH level below 7 to extend the life of the anti-microbial protective layer. By measuring the efficacy performance after applying Surface Defense, many customers find that they can save money by reducing their cleaning requirements and chemical usage.
As certified decontamination, disinfection and odor control specialists, we are one of the few companies in the nation that qualify for, and carry industry specific coverage, including contractor’s pollution liability, general liability, and professional liability coverage in our field of expertise.
The use of bleach should be limited to situations where better performing and safer alternatives are not available. In the presence of organic matter (the everyday contamination we deal with), bleach loses its effectiveness and requires an extra pre-cleaning step. The caustic nature of bleach often requires a secondary rinse unlike most modern disinfectants. In addition to the extra labor requirements, diluted bleach starts to lose its effectiveness within 24 hours and should be prepared daily to insure it maintains its efficacy. Excess bleach must be discarded each day.
Of particular importance to many of our clients who are exposed to bleach on a daily basis, long-term exposure to bleach has well documented health consequences. And if that’s not enough of a reason to consider switching, prolonged use of bleach rapidly degrades furnishings and equipment, unnecessarily increasing your capital expenditures. In this day and age, we have much more effective and eco-friendly alternatives.
Protecting your organization from harmful contamination requires a significant investment in time and money to adequately reduce your risk level. With the exception of a few organizations with vast resources, it usually doesn’t make financial sense to invest in expensive equipment, staffing, training and maintenance requirements to properly decontaminate a facility. On the other end of the spectrum, enhanced manual cleaning and the current selection of inexpensive equipment options have shown in repeated studies to have limited value.
These are your typical bio-decontamination options:
- Double down and enhance your current cleaning efforts. While certainly an important step that shouldn’t be discouraged, increased labor and chemical costs don’t necessarily protect you from contamination residing in hidden spaces. You simply can’t reach harmful microorganisms with enhanced manual cleaning despite your best efforts. And if you’re dealing with microorganisms that are easily aerosolized, your job is next to impossible. Your time and money is too valuable to waste with an ineffective method.
- Purchase inexpensive equipment and attempt to perform decontamination in-house. If it were only that easy, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. While we all want economical options, today’s inexpensive equipment options have limited practical value to achieve anything other than low level disinfection of the least resistant microorganisms residing in the easiest to reach areas. Limited safety procedures, training, and efficacy validation procedures expose your employees, clients or patients to undue liabilities. Harsh criticism certainly, but if you must validate high-level disinfection or sterilization efficacy levels in areas where contamination typically resides, your time and money is better spent elsewhere.
- Purchase expensive equipment with a proven track record and perform decontamination in-house.We wish everyone could purchase the type of equipment we use at Ecosense, but the capital investment, training requirements and maintenance demands associated with this type of equipment only makes financial sense for a few organizations. Unless you have a dedicated staff and use your equipment every day, poor utilization rates and high support costs provide a poor return on your capital investment. In this day of increased budget scrutiny and intense focus on cost savings, you’re time and money is best spent on your core competencies.
We have a better option:
Outsource your decontamination problems to Ecosense and focus on running your organization:
- Reduce your exposure to harmful contamination
- Validate decontamination results
- Start saving Time and Money
Your employees, clients and accountant will appreciate it!
