Trauma & Biohazard
Infectious Disease Decontamination Austin TX
Hospital-grade pathogen elimination for homes, businesses, and facilities.
Effective decontamination requires EPA-registered products at certified dwell times with fogging equipment that reaches surfaces manual wiping can't — not household disinfectant. We provide third-party certified decontamination with full documentation so your facility can reopen with confidence.
All services performed with complete discretion. Unmarked vehicles available upon request. We work directly with your insurance company and can assist with NDAs.
Overview
When an infectious disease event occurs — whether a COVID-19 outbreak, an MRSA infection, a C. difficile spread in a healthcare setting, a norovirus outbreak at a restaurant, or another pathogen exposure — standard cleaning is not sufficient and may actually spread contamination rather than eliminate it. Infectious agents have specific environmental survival times, specific kill requirements, and specific application protocols that must be followed to achieve actual decontamination rather than surface cleaning with the appearance of safety. AAA Disaster Recovery provides certified infectious disease decontamination for residential, commercial, institutional, and healthcare-adjacent properties across Austin and Central Texas. We use only EPA List N disinfectants — the list specifically approved by the EPA for use against SARS-CoV-2 and other high-consequence pathogens — applied using electrostatic spray and fogging equipment that achieves complete surface coverage, including hard-to-reach areas, underside surfaces, and air handling components. Every decontamination is documented in a format appropriate for regulatory, insurance, and legal purposes.
Our Process
How We Restore Safety
Pathogen Identification & Protocol Development
We gather information about the specific pathogen involved — confirmed or suspected — and research its environmental survival characteristics, appropriate disinfectant selections from the EPA List N, and required dwell times. A decontamination protocol is developed before crew mobilization.
Exposure Zone Mapping
We map all areas with confirmed or potential pathogen exposure — including high-touch surfaces, air circulation zones, and any areas visited by confirmed cases in the relevant exposure window. This prevents under-treatment of the space.
Area Isolation & Ventilation Assessment
Affected zones are isolated. The HVAC system is assessed to determine whether air circulation could spread pathogens to untreated areas during decontamination, and ventilation is adjusted accordingly.
Surface Pre-Cleaning
All surfaces are physically pre-cleaned to remove organic matter, dust, and debris that reduce disinfectant efficacy. This step is essential — disinfectants cannot achieve rated kill rates on dirty surfaces.
EPA List N Disinfectant Application
Hospital-grade disinfectants from the EPA List N are applied using electrostatic spray equipment, ULV foggers, or manual application — method selected based on space geometry and pathogen characteristics. Electrostatic application achieves uniform coverage on all surfaces including vertical, overhead, and behind-furniture areas.
Dwell Time Compliance
Surfaces are maintained visibly wet for the full manufacturer-required dwell time — the minimum contact time proven to achieve the rated kill rate against the target pathogen. This step is frequently skipped or abbreviated in non-professional decontaminations, rendering the entire effort inadequate.
HVAC & Air Handling System Treatment
Air return surfaces, supply vents, and accessible duct surfaces serving the affected zone are treated. For higher-risk situations, HEPA air scrubbers are deployed to filter airborne particulates during and after decontamination. We coordinate with HVAC specialists for deeper internal duct treatment when indicated.
Documentation & Clearance Report
A comprehensive decontamination report is provided documenting: pathogen type, all areas treated, EPA-registered products used with EPA registration numbers, application methods, dwell times observed, and technician certifications. This report meets CDC, OSHA, and most regulatory requirements for documentation of decontamination events.
What's Included
Full Scope of Service
- COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 certified decontamination
- MRSA, C. difficile, and norovirus elimination
- Influenza, tuberculosis, and hepatitis disinfection
- EPA List N hospital-grade disinfectants exclusively
- Electrostatic spray and ULV fogging application
- Manufacturer dwell times strictly observed
- High-touch surface and overhead area coverage
- HVAC and air handling system treatment
- HEPA air scrubbing for airborne pathogen reduction
- CDC and OSHA guideline compliance
- Written decontamination report and documentation
- 24/7 outbreak response for residential and commercial
Common Questions
FAQs
What pathogens can you decontaminate?
We are equipped for a broad range of infectious agents including COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2, all influenza strains, MRSA, C. difficile, norovirus, rotavirus, tuberculosis, hepatitis A/B/C, E. coli, Salmonella, Legionella, and others. We select disinfectants from the EPA's List N based on the specific pathogen involved — choosing products with the highest efficacy rating against the target organism.
How is professional decontamination different from regular cleaning?
Professional decontamination uses EPA-registered products with laboratory-verified kill rates against specific pathogens, applied by trained technicians using equipment that achieves complete surface coverage. Crucially, dwell times are strictly observed — meaning surfaces remain visibly wet for the required contact period. Household disinfectants applied with a spray-and-wipe approach often fail to achieve actual kill rates because they are wiped off before the required contact time has elapsed.
How long does decontamination take?
A standard residential decontamination takes 2–4 hours including dwell time. Commercial spaces depend on square footage and complexity — a 10,000 sq ft office typically requires 4–8 hours. We work after hours and on weekends to minimize business disruption, and we provide an estimated timeline before mobilizing.
Can you decontaminate HVAC and air handling systems?
Yes. Airborne pathogens can circulate through HVAC systems and recontaminate surfaces in treated rooms. We treat accessible HVAC components including return grilles, supply diffusers, and duct surfaces. For facilities with confirmed airborne transmission events, we can coordinate with licensed HVAC specialists for internal duct cleaning and UV-C system installation.
Do you provide documentation for regulatory or legal purposes?
Yes. Our decontamination report includes EPA registration numbers for all products used, application method descriptions, areas treated, dwell times observed, and technician certification records. This format meets CDC guidance for decontamination documentation, OSHA recordkeeping requirements, and most regulatory or insurance standards.
When should a business call for professional decontamination?
A business should call when: a confirmed case of an infectious disease was present in the facility, a foodborne illness outbreak has occurred, an MRSA or other HAI (healthcare-associated infection) has been identified, regulatory inspection requires documented decontamination, or as a proactive measure following a known community outbreak event. We also provide scheduled preventive decontamination programs for high-traffic facilities.
Is infectious disease decontamination covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by policy and the nature of the event. Business interruption and commercial property policies sometimes cover decontamination costs following a confirmed outbreak event. Some commercial policies include pathogen remediation riders. We provide full documentation suitable for claim submission regardless of coverage status.
Protect Your People. Call Certified Professionals.
24/7 infectious disease decontamination across Austin and all of Central Texas.