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Upgrading your HVAC system could help prevent the spread of Covid-19 indoors!
For decades #filtration, #ventilation and #humiditycontrol have served as the foundation of an efficacious commercial indoor air quality (IAQ) program. However, none of these strategies can effectively contain biological contaminants such as #bacteria, #viruses, #mold, and #fungi.
Installing a UV light into a commercial HVAC system offers an additional level of protection against hazardous airborne pollutants.
UV light exposure causes irreparable damage to the cellular structure of an organism by breaking down its molecular bonds and damaging its DNA. As a result, the organism can no longer reproduce and is rendered inert if it enters a human body.
UVC radiation is commonly used inside air ducts to #disinfect the air. This is the safest way to employ UVC radiation because direct UVC exposure to human skin or eyes may cause injuries, and installation of UVC within an air duct is less likely to cause exposure to skin and eyes. UV lights installed inside of a commercial duct system provide an additional layer of purification for the indoor environment. As the #HVAC equipment operates, the entire content of the air is exposed to the #UVLight, which destroys the microorganisms before they enter the occupied area.
UV lamps are a proven technology used in commercial settings since the 1930s to eliminate biological organisms in locations where cleanliness is paramount. #Hospitals and medical facilities benefit from HVAC UVGI light installation by reducing the spread of infectious diseases and air borne contaminants. In high-tech manufacturing, UV lights help maintain clean room standards for environments that are virtually sterile and free of microorganisms. Even the NYC subway system is using UV Lighting as a means to disinfect the trains during this #Covid19 #pandemic. In fact, UV-C has been found to have a kill rate of 90 percent or better in these applications.
Commercial UV lamp installation provides a variety of critical benefits:
Reduced incidence of lung-related disease and symptoms
Lower chance of spreading airborne disease
Eliminates the need for harsh cleaning agents for dirty coils
Lower risk of mold or fungi growth on critical components inside the HVAC system
Reduced growth of biological material inside the air handler and condensate drain pans
Eliminates foul odors for fresher smelling indoor air
Longer equipment life
Lower HVAC maintenance and repair costs
In addition to understanding whether UVC radiation is effective at inactivating a particular virus, there are also limitations to how effective UVC radiation can be at inactivating viruses, generally.
Direct exposure: UVC radiation can only inactivate a virus if the virus is directly exposed to the radiation. Therefore, the inactivation of viruses on surfaces may not be effective due to blocking of the UV radiation by soil, such as dust, or other contaminants such as bodily fluids.
Dose and duration: Many of the UVC lamps sold for home use are of low dose, so it may take longer exposure to a given surface area to potentially provide effective inactivation of a bacteria or virus.
More companies installing UVC Lights in their HVAC systems could help businesses open up their indoor facilities even with this new surge in cases!
Read more about UV Lights and Lamps in HVAC Systems here: