How Do You Choose an EPA-Registered Disinfectant?

How to read an EPA registration number

Every registered disinfectant carries an EPA Registration Number, marked EPA Reg. No., made of a company number and a product number joined by a hyphen. A third number on the end marks a distributor product: the same registered formula sold under another company's name. A distributor label may carry a different brand name, but its claims are limited to those on the basic product's registered label.

Do not confuse it with the EPA Est. No., which identifies the plant where the product was made. To confirm a product, enter the first two parts of the registration number in EPA's Pesticide Product and Label System and compare the label there with the one on the bottle. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation's product database shows whether it is currently registered in California.

Match pathogen claims to the risks in your building

Broader is not always better. A sporicide that kills C. difficile may be harsh, slow and unnecessary in an office, while a general product may lack the claims a clinic needs. EPA publishes lists of registered products with specific claims, which makes shortlisting easier.

Check the active ingredient against your surfaces

The active ingredient decides how a product behaves on real surfaces, and the label lists the surfaces it is approved for. Most disinfectant claims cover hard, non-porous surfaces only; upholstery and other soft surfaces need a separate label claim. Acidic products can etch marble and other natural stone, so lobby finishes deserve a check before anything is approved.

Weigh occupant safety and real-world use

The signal word on the front panel, Caution, Warning or Danger, reflects acute toxicity and says a lot about handling. Products marked Danger usually call for eye protection and careful dilution, which matters when a crew works in occupied space. Read the label's protective equipment statement and the safety data sheet before approving a product.

For lower-hazard options, EPA's Design for the Environment logo marks registered antimicrobial products that meet EPA's criteria for reduced human health and environmental concerns. Format matters too: a ready-to-use bottle avoids dilution errors, while a concentrate run through a metered dispenser costs less per use and still keeps dilution accurate. Food-contact surfaces need a product whose label allows that use, often with a rinse.

Questions to ask before approving a vendor's disinfectant

Put these to any cleaning vendor proposing a product for your building, and keep the answers with the contract.

• What is the EPA Registration Number, and is the product registered in California?
• Which organisms does it claim, and what is the contact time for each one we care about?
• Is it approved for our surfaces, including touchscreens, stone and food-contact areas?
• Does it need pre-cleaning, or is it labeled as a one-step cleaner-disinfectant?
• What protective equipment does the label require, and will the crew have it?
• How is it diluted, and how long is diluted solution good for?
• Is there a lower-hazard option with the claims we need?

How EBS chooses disinfectants for a site

EBS uses EPA-approved disinfection products on high-touch surfaces and agrees the product list for each building at the walkthrough, based on the type of facility, the surfaces involved and the organisms the client is concerned about. Green, non-toxic and biodegradable products are available on request where a site prefers them. Supervisors stay in contact with the client, so a product change, an outbreak or a new surface type is handled through one point of contact.