ASTM E2966-14(2019)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2966 − 14 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Test Method for
Quantitative Assessment of Sanitizing Solutions for Carpet
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2966; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method is designed to evaluate quantitatively 3.1 Definitions:
the antibacterial and antifungal activity of solutions for sani- 3.1.1 carpet cleaner/sanitizer, n—solution that cleans em-
tizing carpets. bedded soil from the carpet fiber and reduces biocontaminant
levelsoncarpetwhenappliedattherecommendeddilutionand
1.2 Efficacy is reported as the log reduction in viable
contact time specified on the product label.
bacteria and fungi.
3.1.2 carpet sanitizer, n—chemical solution that reduces
1.3 The bacteria used in the test are Staphylococcus aureus,
biocontaminant levels on carpet when applied at the recom-
Enterobacter aerogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The
mended dilution and contact time specified on the product
mold used is Aspergillus brasiliensis.
label.
1.4 Knowledge of microbiological techniques is required
3.1.3 sanitizer, n—chemical or physical agent(s) used to
for this test method.
reduce the number of microorganisms to a level judged to be
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
appropriate for a defined purpose and/or claim.
asstandard.Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthis
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The US EPA regulates sanitizers used
standard.
on porous and non-porous surfaces. EPA 810 Guidelines
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
provide a description of each category, the required test
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
method, test conditions, and performance criteria. EPA
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
810.2400 (f) describes requirements for testing carpet sanitiz-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 3
ers.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.3.2 Discussion—In the context of this method effective
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
sanitization reduces the number of microorganisms to levels
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
considered safe as determined by public health codes or
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
regulations.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.4 vacuum extraction unit, n—machinefordeepcleaning
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
carpetthatdeliversasprayofcleaningsolution,providesbrush
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
agitation of the pile, and recovers soil and cleaning solution
under vacuum.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Summary of Test Method
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1054Test Methods for Evaluation of Inactivators of Anti-
4.1 In this test method, the efficacy of solutions intended to
microbial Agents
have a sanitizing effect on carpet are quantitatively evaluated.
E2471Test Method for Using Seeded-Agar for the Screen-
Carpetsamplecouponsarecutfromalargerfieldofcarpetand
ing Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity In Carpets
re-embedded within the field. The carpet coupons are inocu-
lated with microorganisms followed by a drying period. After
the inoculum-drying period, the sanitizing solution is applied
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E35 on
tothecarpetcouponsfollowedbyscrubbing.Additionalcarpet
Pesticides, Antimicrobials, and Alternative Control Agents and is the direct
coupons are spray treated and scrubbed with a inert solution.
responsibility of Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents.
After the chemical contact period, carpet coupons are asepti-
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2019. Published January 2019. Originally
approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E2966–14. DOI: cally removed and placed into neutralizing broth. Each neu-
10.1520/E2966–14R19
tralizing broth with carpet coupon is placed into a ultrasonic
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on http://www.epa.gov/ocspp/pubs/frs/publications/Test_Guidelines/
the ASTM website. series810.htm
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2966 − 14 (2019)
bathfor1minfollowedby1minofwristactionshaking.Serial replication requirements for registration purposes (for
dilutions are performed on each sample followed by plating example, US EPA 810 102 Guidelines).
(pour or spread plates or other standard for enumerating viable 7.1.2 If the product is to be used as a “One-step cleaner-
cells). Log reduction of the viable cell counts recovered from sanitizer,” a 5% soil load (for example, animal sera) may be
“scrubbed-controls” versus viable cell counts recovered from added to the inoculum.
the sanitizer-treated carpets are recorded. 7.1.3 Recommendedapplicationrates(volumeperunitarea,
thatis,ml/m )areextrapolatedandreportedfromtheproposed
5. Significance and Use
carpet application rate to the sample size used for this test
5.1 Carpet,whenexposedtotheenvironmentorfoottraffic, method.
accumulatessoilandbiocontaminantsduringitsin-servicelife.
7.2 Carpet Specifications:
While routine vacuuming may effectively remove dry particu-
7.2.1 Twocarpettypesshouldbetested.Forexample,carpet
late soils, it has a limited effect on removing or killing
with nylon face fiber or polypropylene face fiber may be used
accumulated and embedded biocontaminants. In this test
for this test. If the candidate product is to be used on wool
method, steps are described to assess test substances for the
carpet, a wool carpet sample shall be included in the test.
ability to sanitize carpet.
7.2.2 Thetestreportshouldindicate:facefibercomposition,
weight of the pile fiber (kg/m), pile density, and pile height.
5.2 This test method compares an inert control solution to a
sanitizing test solution for the ability to reduce viable bacteria
7.3 Media:
and fungi inoculated onto carpet samples.
7.3.1 Phosphate-buffered saline.
5.3 This test method provides for efficient recovery of 7.3.2 Nutrient agar.
surviving bacteria from inoculated carpets. 7.3.3 Nutrient broth.
7.3.4 Potato dextrose agar or Saubaroud’s agar (Emmons
6. Apparatus
Modified).
6.1 For broadloom-type carpets (typically a 3.7-m roll 7.3.5 Appropriate neutralization media / technique must be
carpet),a2cmthickplywoodcut(40by40cm)withthesame selectedthatallowsforimmediateneutralizationatthecomple-
dimension tempered hardboard attached is used to mount the tion of the contact time. For example double strength neutral-
carpet. Brass brads are used to secure the carpet sample to the izer broth (Letheen broth + 0.7-g lecithin and 5-g polysorbate
tempered hardboard. 80 per litre) may be used for quaternary actives. Sodium
thioglycolate 0.1 %, and 0.01 % iso-octyl-phenoxy-poly
6.2 For carpet tile with a dimensionally stable backing, no
ethoxyethanol, are suggested for heavy metal and halogen-
mounting board is required.
based actives. Neutralizer efficacy can be confirmed usingTest
6.3 Cutting the carpet into samples can be accomplished
Method E1054. EPA 810.2000 also outlines neutralization
with a traditional carpet knife or the use of mechanical cutting
requirements.
dies and a hydraulic press. One mechanical cutting die, 20 cm
7.3.6 Neutralizing agar (Letheen agar) or Dey-Engley neu-
by 30 cm, and another mechanical cutting die, 5 cm by 5 cm,
tralizing agar.
are used.
7.3.7 Sterile deionized water.
6.4 One-sided adhesive tabs are used to temporarily secure
8. Microorganisms
the precut 5-cm by 5-cm carpet carriers “in plane” with the
remaining carpet during the scrubbing procedure. Alternately,
8.1 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538.
the 90 corners of the 20 cm by 30 cm section may be nailed or
8.2 Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 13048.
tacked to the mounting board.
8.3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442.
6.5 Spray Device—Asprayunitisusedtoatomizethecarpet
8.4 Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 9642 or ATCC 16404.
sanitizer.
8.5 Maintain bacterial stocks on nutrient agar slants or as
NOTE 1—An atomizer may also be used. Aerosol formulated spray
products may be directly sprayed onto the carpet. frozen stocks. Bacterial stocks should be purchased from the
supplier every 18 months. Stock cultures should be transferred
6.6 Scrub Brushes, surgical hand brush.
monthly. Transfers from lyophilized stocks are limited to six
6.7 Extraction Bottles, wide-mouth round 500-mLpolypro-
before replacement is required.
pylene bottles with screw caps.
8.6 Maintainmoldonpotatodextroseagarorassuspensions
NOTE 2—For the procedure, each bottle will contain 100 mL of sterile
of conidia. Mold stocks should be purchased from the supplier
neutralizer broth.
every18months.Stockculturesshouldbetransferredmonthly.
6.8 Ultrasonic Bath.
Transfers from lyophilized stocks are limited to six before
replacement is required.
6.9 Wrist-action-shaker.
7. Reagents and Media 9. Inoculum Preparation
7.1 Sanitizer Solutions: 9.1 Bacteria:
7.1.1 Test a single lot of the candidate carpet sanitizer. 9.1.1 Transfer one 4 mm loop scraping of Staphylococcus,
Consult the appropriate regulatory 101 guidelines for lot Enterobacter and Pseudomonas bacteria from stock slants to
E2966 − 14 (2019)
separate 9.0 ml tubes of sterile nutrient broth. Additional test 10.2.2 Allow inoculated carpet to dry for 1 h 6 2 min in a
organisms may require different media or growth conditions. 35-37 62°C incubator with foil cover loosely in place.
9.1.2 Grow broth cultures overnight (18-24 h) at 37°62°C.
10.2.3 Inoculate the control solution ca
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