iNEMI Publishes Best Practices for Protecting the Reliability and Integrity of Electronic Equipment when Disinfecting for COVID-19
Key Summary
• iNEMI released best practices to help manufacturers disinfect electronic products safely during COVID-19
• Guidance fills a gap because EPA, CDC, and WHO cleaning recommendations do not address risks to electronics
• Many common disinfectants or application methods can damage internal components if they penetrate equipment
• An expert team assessed EPA List N disinfectants and identified lower-risk options and safer application approaches
• The full best practices document is available through iNEMI for industry use
The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announced publication of “Recommended Best Practices for Protecting the Reliability and Integrity of Electronic Products and Assemblies when Disinfecting for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).”
“With the COVID-19 crisis, several of our members have contacted iNEMI for guidance on how to mitigate the possible detrimental impact of disinfecting procedures on electronic equipment and assemblies,” said Marc Benowitz, iNEMI CEO. “There are guidelines from groups such as the U.S. EPA, CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding cleaning and disinfecting for COVID-19, but none of these address the impact of disinfectants and their application methods on electronic equipment and assemblies.”
“Many commonly recommended disinfection substances and/or application methods could potentially cause failures in electronic equipment if the internal electronics were inadvertently exposed to them,” continued Benowitz. “This is an obvious concern for electronics manufacturers who are wanting to ensure the safety of their employees, supply chain partners and customers, while protecting the reliability and integrity of their products.”
Benowitz explains that, in response to this industry need, a team of experts from across iNEMI member organizations reviewed key industry, government and technical sources and assembled a best practices document. The team assessed the chemicals included in the U.S. EPA List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and common application methods, identifying those substances that minimize the risk of negative impact on electronic equipment when applied in an appropriate manner.
iNEMI’s best practices are now available on the iNEMI website. Download the document: https://www.inemi.org/disinfecting-best-practices-request
Members needed guidance because existing public-health recommendations did not address how disinfectants could harm electronic assemblies if misapplied or if chemicals reached internal components.
Some substances and application methods can cause failures if liquids or vapors enter the device, making safe material selection and controlled application essential.
A cross-industry expert team reviewed technical sources and evaluated disinfectants listed on EPA List N to determine which options reduced potential harm when used correctly.
No. It complements public-health guidance by focusing specifically on protecting product reliability and integrity during disinfection.