InTents June/July 2020 - 39

diluted bleach, for instance, could cause
damage. Quaternary disinfectants can
be found at janitorial supply stores and
some tent cleaning supply companies. If
you are having trouble locating this type
of product, you may also want to look to
veterinary supply or catering/food service
companies, as they often sell quaternary
ammonium chloride products as well.
Because you will be doing the ϐirst
round of cleaning on-site, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should
be available before any takedown begins.
This should include waterproof/disposable gloves, face masks, goggles, protective gowns/shoe covers (if available) and
plenty of soap and water to protect your
employees in the cleaning process.

Best practices for treating the
COVID-19 virus
* Use only a quaternary disinfectant
to conϐidently break down the
virus (and not harm the vinyl). It
should be mixed at a rate listed on
the label; often that is 2 ounces per
gallon of water.
* If you can't ϐind an appropriate
cleaning solution or quaternary
disinfectant, bleach can be used
if diluted properly. Be aware,
however, that it is very corrosive to
metals and will rob the plasticizers
in vinyl, making it less ϐlexible.
It should be mixed 8 ounces to a
gallon of water.
* Do not wet down the fabric/
equipment with water before
applying disinfectant. Once the
disinfectant has been applied, leave
on wet for at least 10 minutes.
* Spray the disinfectant onto the dry
tent, components and accessories.
Be sure to spray from the bottom up
to prevent streaking and ensure that
all surfaces are thoroughly covered.
* Please allow a dwell time (soak time)
of at least 10 minutes on all ϐlooring,

vinyl and related components. This
timing is very important to break
down the virus.
* Once removed, it is important that
the tops be washed again with
soapy water to further remove
contaminates. This includes the
framework and related components
as well. If using washing machines,
ensure that the water temperature
does not exceed 105°F to protect
the fabric.
* When washing these items for a
second time back at your warehouse,
be sure your employees are again
wearing the proper PPE.
* Air dry thoroughly before placing in
storage or putting back into use.
* Do not forget your HVAC systems.
While the disinfectants will work
on the outside, you must remove
the contaminates from the internal
workings of the unit. This can be
accomplished by running a 1,500
milliliter per hour or higher Ozone
Generator in an enclosed 500- to
1,000-square-foot space for one
hour before returning to inventory.
* Dispose of any masks, gloves, gowns,
etc. after the cleaning process.
This pandemic is ever changing, and
as more information and/or better
methods become available, we will keep
you up to date, as well as updating our
recommendations, if necessary.

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IFAI disclaims any liability for any damage
or illness that may result from the use
of the information contained within the
"Recommendation for Cleaning COVID-19Related Tents." In no event will IFAI be liable
to any party for any direct or consequential
issues that may arise as a result from utilizing
this information. The information contained
is meant to be a guide and recommendation
for the most effective way to clean a possibly
infected tent but does not cover all scenarios,
including human error.

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0620IT_p36_CV4.indd 39

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InTents June/July 2020

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