Decontamination Foggers

Droplet diameter is one factor in fogger selection, together with liquid properties, delivery rate, airflow, temperature, humidity and the intended application. Aerosols are liquid droplets suspended in air; vapor is the gas phase. Evaporation of water does not prove that every active ingredient becomes a gas or reaches every surface at an effective concentration.

There is no universal droplet diameter that guarantees disinfection. The Sauter mean diameter describes a spray’s volume-to-surface-area relationship; it is not a fixed 10-micron threshold at which droplets begin to float. Smaller droplets generally provide more surface area per unit liquid volume, while settling, transport and evaporation depend on the surrounding conditions. See NIST’s discussion of spray size and evaporation.

Choose the equipment and chemical together using the current label and a validated process. Surface disinfection may require surfaces to remain wet for a specified contact time, so complete evaporation is not automatically the objective. See EPA’s evaluation of disinfectant spray characteristics.

Each delivery design has application-specific tradeoffs. Pneumatic atomization, ultrasonic aerosol generation and vapor generation are different processes; their output cannot be assumed interchangeable. Assess the actual droplet-size distribution, liquid output and delivery geometry rather than relying on a nominal diameter.

Evaporation and transport depend on the formulation, temperature, relative humidity, airflow and residence time. Nonvolatile ingredients may remain after water evaporates. A larger droplet has more surface area individually, but for a fixed liquid volume smaller droplets collectively have more surface area. Neither a particular exit velocity nor droplet diameter alone establishes coverage, a pathogen reduction or a safe room-volume rating.

Application selection must follow the chemical label and equipment instructions. HVAC, food, agricultural and animal-treatment applications are not interchangeable. Verify the intended surfaces, exposure conditions, material compatibility and re-entry requirements before use.

should be selected using current manufacturer specifications for the nozzle, liquid and operating pressure. This article does not verify evaporation distances, livestock disease control or improved crop, meat or milk yields. Confirm any agricultural or animal use against applicable labeling and professional guidance. The same product category also includes a

with electrical requirements that must be confirmed for the supplied model. The mounting style or power supply does not determine which disinfectants or applications are authorized.

Liquid chemistries

Hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and other disinfectants have formulation-specific requirements and hazards. Do not infer a universal contact time, six-log reduction or sterilization result from the ingredient name. Viruses do not have cell walls, and a simplified mechanism does not establish effectiveness. Follow the current label, safety data sheet and validated procedure, including ventilation, exposure controls, protective equipment and measured re-entry conditions.

must not be promoted for spraying people or treating occupied air on the basis of this article. Do not aerosolize disinfectants onto people, clothing being worn or exposed skin. An environmental product claim does not establish safe inhalation or personal decontamination. See CDC guidance on cleaning, disinfectants and sanitizing tunnels.

require chemical- and setting-specific authorization; mobility alone does not establish safe or effective use in vehicles or offices. Review the current label and exposure controls. The

must not be used to distribute a chemical through an occupied building merely because it can generate an aerosol. Any HVAC application requires specific label authorization, engineered exposure controls and an appropriate validated procedure.

Verify Product and Regulatory Claims

FIFRA 25(b) is not an authorization for COVID-19 claims. EPA’s minimum-risk exemption does not permit claims to control human-disease microorganisms. Verify a product’s current registration, labeling and permitted application before making public-health claims. See EPA conditions for minimum-risk pesticides.

EPA expects all products on List N to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used according to label directions. 

CDC – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and health education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. 

Independent laboratory testing is not the same as government approval of a product or application. A laboratory report must identify the formulation, organism, concentration, contact time, method and results. This article does not establish CDC certification of Path-Away, or a validated whole-room SARS-CoV-2 treatment. FDA’s role also depends on the product and intended use; consult the applicable official requirements rather than assuming a laboratory result authorizes marketing claims.

GRAS means Generally Recognized as Safe for specified food uses under their intended conditions. It is not blanket FDA approval of a disinfectant, and does not establish inhalation safety, skin-decontamination safety or antiviral efficacy. This article does not verify a product-specific GRAS conclusion for Path-Away.

Decontaminate Fogger Links and Applications

, 110VAC or 220VAC: Office areas; Pharmaceutical

, (requires Dry Air Compressor): Office Areas; Pharmaceutical