The antimicrobial properties of copper

TRES Grifería uses only top-quality materials, treatments and finishes in its taps. All tapware must be made with an alloy that meets the minimum standards guaranteed by each country’s regulations, which establish the required quality for the chemical composition used in tapware manufacturing and ensure there is no risk of human contamination. Tapware is in constant contact with water, tap parts and finishes are subject to humidity conditions and tap materials must ensure against any bacterial contamination.

In our manufacturing process, the outcome of 40 years of experience, the brass bars used in our taps and tap parts are of the CB755S alloy, according to the UNE-EN 1982:2009 standard. These ingots are refined in Europe and contain a low level of lead in their alloy, along with certain percentages of copper. We choose this alloy with its particular copper concentration because studies by the European Copper Institute and European installer associations indicate that copper prevents against small concentrations of microorganisms, such as Legionella.

European studies have found that cases of Legionella infections have trebled in the past 10 years (data from the European Working Group for Legionella Infections) and it seems that simply choosing this brass alloy with a copper percentage is to opt for the material that protects our health. Copper’s excellent thermal conductivity means that tap parts can withstand disinfection via thermal shock at 70 ºC, the point at which bacteria disappear.

The effort that TRES Grifería puts into its manufacturing process proves us right and is an indisputable guarantee of the quality pursued, showing up the 'bargain' tapware out there that does not comply with the minimum requirements, where lower prices translate into a reduction of parts that do not ensure their quality, durability or even health security.