Not all biocides are equal | DDAC vs BAC explained

Not all biocides are created equal

Just because a car has four wheels and an engine doesn’t make it a BMW.

Similarly, just because a chemical is called a biocide or a “quat” (quaternary ammonium) does not make it comparable to Benz Bio Cleanze.

What most “quats” actually are

Quaternary ammonium compounds vary significantly in quality.

Many lower-grade products use benzalkonium chloride (BAC) - also known as BZK, BKC, ADBAC or alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride. These are commonly used because they are inexpensive.

The issue is that BAC is highly sensitive to organic matter, hard water and residual surfactants. It deactivates quickly in real-world conditions, leading to inconsistent results and short-lived effectiveness.

Why Bio Cleanze performs differently

Benz Bio Cleanze uses a high-purity twin-chain quat — DDAC (didecyldimethylammonium chloride).

This gives it a much higher tolerance to:

• Organic soiling
• Hard or mineralised water
• Residual surfactants (soaps)

Bio Cleanze remains effective even when applied to surfaces that have not been fully pre-cleaned, such as roof treatments.

It penetrates the surface and reactivates in the presence of moisture, continuing to treat the substrate over time.

Quick tip: using Bio Cleanze after Lightning Cleanze

Bio Cleanze can be applied after a treatment with Benz Lightning Cleanze.

It tolerates the small amount of residual surfactant left behind and continues to perform effectively.

Low-grade quats do not have this tolerance. Residual surfactants ,particularly from cheap sodium hypochlorite mixes ,will inhibit their effectiveness.

Residual effect: where the real value is

The adsorptive nature of Bio Cleanze allows it to bind to surfaces and provide ongoing biocidal activity.

This is why treated surfaces remain cleaner for longer.

The combination of proper pre-cleaning (power washing or Lightning Cleanze) followed by Bio Cleanze is what delivers consistent, long-term results.

This is the basis of the Clean & Maintain system.

Low-grade BAC products do not offer sufficient residual performance to support this approach.

Why we include IPA

Bio Cleanze contains a small quantity of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which provides several key advantages:

• Allows a full 50% active DDAC concentration (many products are limited to ~40%)
• Improves stability in cold weather conditions
• Maintains solubility and consistency of the formulation

At working dilutions, the quantity of IPA applied is extremely small and has no effect on surfaces such as render or tarmac.

“Cheaper” products usually aren’t cheaper

Many products on the market contain only 5–10% active ingredient - often BAC - with the remainder being water.

Benz Bio Cleanze contains 50%+ active DDAC.

When diluted and applied correctly, it often works out significantly more cost-effective than low-strength alternatives, while delivering better and longer-lasting results.

Key properties of Bio Cleanze

• pH neutral
• Fully biodegradable and does not bio-accumulate
• Effective against different species of biological growth
• Not affected by hard water
• Provides long-lasting residual protection

Compliance matters

Softwashing is a biocidal activity.

Using unapproved or incorrectly labelled products can lead to insurance issues and potential prosecution.

Benz Bio Cleanze is approved for use in both Ireland and the UK and conforms to current regulatory standards.