Safety comes 1st!
Active Birth Pools are Rated No.1 for water safety and infection control standards.
This is because the material we use (Ficore) is 5 x harder than other materials and is immune to the effects of disinfection with 10,000ppm hypo-chlorite.
Seamless one-piece construction and the absence of surface mounted metal work deny micro-organisms the environment they need to propagate.
Active Birth Pools Cleaning and Disinfection Guidelines
This is a two-step procedure – first cleaning of the pool and surround, then disinfection of the pool and surround.
- Prior to emptying the pool remove debris and larger particles from the water with a sieve to prevent it from blocking or obstructing the outlet.
- Use the standard infection control precautions (plastic apron, disposable gloves and eye protection) when cleaning the pool. Ensure the area is well ventilated.
- Cleaning – use a non-abrasive detergeant with non-abrasive sponge or cloth to thoroughly clean the pool. Ensure the tap is cleaned first, so as not to transfer micro-organisms from the “dirty” pool area to the cleaner tap region. Rinse well with warm water.
- Disinfecting – use an approved hypochlorite disinfectant listed in the table below following the directions on the packet for mixing the solution to the correct concentration for disinfecting the birth pool and surround.
- Apply the solution to the tap and spout prior to disinfecting the pool.
- There are 3 methods for disinfecting the pool that are commonly used in hospitals:
1) Fill the pool with cold water and add the requisite amount of disinfectant – leave for ten minutes.
The advantage of this method is that it is 100% effective but wasteful of water, time consuming and uses a large amount of disinfectant
2) Make up 2-3 litres of solution and pour it around the inside of the rim. Then use a new disposable mop or cloth to spread the disinfectant over the surface of the pool. Leave for ten minutes.
The advantage of this method is that it is economic in terms of time and cost but relies upon the person carrying out the task to ensure that 100% of the pools surface is disinfected.
3) Fill a spray bottle with disinfectant and thoroughly spray the surface of the pool and surround. Then use a new disposable mop or cloth to spread the disinfectant over the surface of the pool. Leave for ten minutes.
The advantage of this method is that it is economic in terms of time and cost but relies upon the person carrying out the task to ensure that 100% of the pools surface is disinfected
- Open the drain outlet and empty the pool of the disinfectant.
- Using cold water, rinse the tap then the pool to remove all traces of the disinfectant, to prevent any residue being left on the pool surface.
- Dry the entire surface of the pool using a new cloth or disposable mop head.
- Keep the drain outlet closed when not in use.
Damage resulting from exposure to higher water temperatures, or steam cleaning or will not be covered by our guarantee.
If you are duty flushing the taps with hot water/steam add 10cm of cold water to the pool first.
Active Birth Pools – Approved Disinfectants Suitable for Ficore
This table lists hospital disinfectants suitable for use with Active Birth Pools made from Ficore composite.
Always follow manufacturer IFU (dilution and contact time) and then rinse and dry surfaces as per our cleaning and disinfection guidelines.
# |
Disinfectant / Product Type |
Common Hospital Brands / Examples |
Active Ingredient |
Hospital Use / Notes |
Ficore Suitability (Pool Surface) |
Key Cautions |
1 |
NaDCC chlorine disinfectant tablets (general) |
Generic “NaDCC tablets” worldwide |
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC / troclosene sodium) |
Global hospital standard for surface disinfection, spills |
Highly suitable |
Rinse after use to prevent residues |
2 |
Actichlor Plus tablets |
Ecolab Actichlor Plus |
NaDCC + detergent |
Designed for healthcare surface/environment disinfection; broad spectrum & sporicidal capability |
Highly suitable |
Use correct dilution/contact time |
3 |
Chlor-Clean tablets |
Guest Medical Chlor-Clean |
NaDCC + detergent |
Cleaning + disinfecting combined; healthcare product |
Highly suitable |
Follow packet directions |
4 |
Presept tablets / granules |
ASP / Presept |
NaDCC (troclosene sodium) |
Widely used in healthcare hard-surface disinfection |
Highly suitable |
Clean first, then disinfect |
5 |
Haz-Tab tablets / granules |
Guest Medical Haz-Tab |
NaDCC |
Used internationally for outbreaks/spills/surface disinfection |
Highly suitable |
Rinse thoroughly after contact time |
7 |
Chlorine dioxide system (surface disinfectant) |
Tristel Fuse for Surfaces |
Chlorine dioxide (generated from components) |
Premium sporicidal surface disinfection, widely used in hospitals |
Suitable |
Must be rinsed off fittings/surfaces after contact time |
Do not use hydrogen chloride (bleach) or hydrogen peroxide as they are highly corrosive and will cause the metal fittings to rust and may damage the surface of the pool.
If you want to use another product please contact us for approval as damage resulting from unapproved products will not be covered by our guarantee.
Hospitals worldwide are starting to use Copper / Silver orca disinfection systems in an effort to combat bacterial issues and improve water safety.
We have discovered that there is great potential for staining with the Copper / Silver orca disinfection system
Copper-silver ionization systems introduce trace amounts of copper into the pool water.
In some cases, exposure to elevated copper levels can lead to staining of the sanitary ware and other surfaces, such as walls, floors, or fixtures.
Please note that staining caused by these systems is NOT covered by our guarantee.
If your hospital is using one of these water treatment systems we suggest that you contact the department responsible for water safety as regular monitoring and appropriate copper levels are essential to mitigate the risk of staining.
Recommended Reading:
- Protocols: Sheffield Teaching Hospital
- Protocols: Buckinghamshire Healthcare
- Water Birth Safety Initiative
