Why Choose Hydrogen Peroxide Over Formaldehyde?

While formaldehyde has been a long-standing disinfectant in laboratory settings, it is increasingly being phased out due to its significant health and environmental risks, namely:

• Health Concerns: Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen and poses serious health hazards to personnel during and after use.
• Environmental Impact: Residual formaldehyde can create harmful by-products that are difficult to neutralize safely.

In 2016, formaldehyde was reclassified as a Category 1B carcinogen, which means it is a substance that is presumed to have carcinogenic potential. This reclassification led to new restrictions on the use of formaldehyde, including:

• It can only be used for professional purposes
• It can only be sold by a registered supplier
• It must be labelled appropriately

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have recently postponed the ban on the use of formaldehyde in product type 2 biocide products from February 1, 2025, until February 1, 2027. Whilst this extension may provide some relief to some users of these products there is still an expectation by the HSE to switch to safer alternatives as soon as possible.

Advantages of Hydrogen Peroxide

Safety – It breaks down into water and oxygen, leaving no harmful residues
Effectiveness – It has a proven efficacy against a wide range of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and spores
Compliance: It aligns with updated HSE regulations and safety standards
Environmental Impact: It is non-carcinogenic and eco-friendly, reducing the environmental footprint of decontamination processes.

Helping You Switch from Formaldehyde to Hydrogen Peroxide

We understand that transitioning to a new decontamination method can be challenging. Our team is here to make the switch seamless by providing:

Customised Procedure Development – We can tailor decontamination protocols to suit your specific laboratory. We can also incorporate best practices, with 20 years of experience in the field. We will ensure you are kept up to date with all regulatory requirements.

Efficacy Testing – we can conduct thorough testing and validation using chemical and biological indicators at 4-log, 5-log, and 6-log reduction levels. We can also ensure that the decontamination process reliably meets the highest standards of microbial deactivation.

Regulatory Guidance – we will assist with documentation and procedures to meet HSE guidelines, and provide updates on regulatory changes affecting laboratory decontamination.

The Supply of Decontamination Equipment and Staff Training

We are proud to offer the latest Devea Phileas® equipment, recognized for its advanced vaporized hydrogen peroxide technology and provide comprehensive on-site staff training.

Equipment Supply – We can offer the full range of Devea Phileas® units for facilities of all sizes, as well as delivery, installation, and calibration to ensure readiness.

Staff Training – our Safe Use Training offers practical guidance on operating Devea Phileas® equipment safely and efficiently. While Phileas® equipment is designed from the outset to be easy to use, training is essential to ensure operator safety.

Decontamination Procedures – We provide step-by-step training on the new protocols, ensuring confidence and compliance. Robust step by step procedures adopted specifically to each facility can be provided to ensure reliable 6-log efficacy.

Maintenance Support – seven day a week technical support and troubleshooting is available.

Partner With Us for Safer Decontamination Solutions

Switching to hydrogen peroxide decontamination is not just a compliance requirement but a safer, more sustainable way to protect your laboratory and personnel. Our comprehensive services ensure your transition is smooth, compliant, and effective.

Contact us today to learn more about our equipment supply, staff training programmes, and procedural support!