Well, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. We all know that. But also things that aren’t so good for us, including microscopic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, moulds, yeasts, protozoa and many other harmful pathogens. This is where UVC comes in. UVC is a particular waveband of ultraviolet (UV) light.
UVC germicidal technology is nothing new. Having been around for over a century, UV light has been used to disinfect water, air and surfaces, to effectively inactivate and kill those pesky microscopic organisms.
UV air and surface disinfection is a safe and cost-efficient way to protect your business, staff, clients and consumers from sickness and disease related to the spread of germs and viruses. (And, yes, this does include the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19)
What Is UV Germicidal Disinfection?
So just what exactly is UV germicidal disinfection and how does it benefit my business?
Good question. We, the team at UVP Australia, have put together the following informative article to help you — the reader — gain a comprehensive understanding of this amazing technology and all it has to offer. It is our mission to provide expert advice and resources to educate the public on the widespread benefits of UV light for the treatment of bacteria.
Be sure to keep reading for a detailed breakdown of how UV air and surface disinfection technology works to benefit you and your business in ways that no chemical solutions can.
How Does UV Light Work To Disinfect Air And Surfaces?
Through a physical process, unlike chemical approaches, a UV light provides rapid, effective inactivation of microorganisms. In other words, bacteria, viruses and protozoa are rendered incapable of reproducing and infecting when exposed to the germicidal wavelengths of UV light. Short wavelength UVC light—primarily at 254 nanometers— have been proven to be a leading solution in air and surface disinfection, neutralizing up to 99.99% of dangerous pathogens and viruses. Learn more about UV light air purifiers and surface disinfection here.
Where Is UV Germicidal Disinfection Technology Utilized?
UV disinfection is used in a variety of circumstances depending on the industry, for instance:
Air disinfection: A UVC air purifier can be used in any facility that wants or needs to disinfect air spaces. UVC disinfection lights are installed in the upper levels of a building so as the air naturally circulates, it will be disinfected and spread throughout.
Surface disinfection: UVC light is used to disinfect surfaces in the healthcare industry, food processing industry and many other facilities where disinfection is required. As UVC light destroys viruses and pathogens in a matter of seconds, it is much more effective than other cleaning and disinfecting options.
Equipment disinfection: UVC disinfection is a great option for stationary surfaces such as countertops, tables and floors in addition to equipment such as goggles, glassware and other laboratory instruments. Unlike washing and bleaching, UV light has the benefit of being dry and simple, leaving no residue or moisture behind.
Food and Beverage disinfection: UV disinfection is highly effective in food manufacturing facilities to disinfect equipment such as conveyor belts and packaging, which are notoriously difficult to clean thoroughly.
Cost advantages of UVC surface and air disinfection
UVC germicidal disinfection units are simple to use and install, therefore the monetary benefits are huge. Take a quick look at some of the benefits, including:
- Electrical consumption and an annual lamp replacement comprise the entire operating costs of UV disinfection
- No long-term costs like you would find associated with the transportation and delivery of chemical such as chlorine and other disinfectants
- Leak response, administration, risk management, emergency planning and operator training costs are eliminated with a UV light air purifying system.
UV Light For Mould Control And The Prevention Of Food Spoilage
What causes food spoilage?
All perishables, raw and cooked, contain microscopic organisms that commence to grow and multiply, leading to food spoilage. Even the most modern refrigeration facilities are only capable of slowing down this process. Over a short period of time, millions of microscopic organisms begin to appear, breaking down and spoiling your product, right under your eyes in the cold rooms that were created to protect them.
How does UV light prevent food spoilage?
When installed in your cold room, a UV germicidal cold room system—like the GF600IM—effectively destroys bacteria, mould and slime forming microscopic organisms on both the surface of perishables and throughout the surrounding air in the cold room. In other words, spoilage and deterioration is prevented due to the circulation of disinfected air.
What Other Benefits Are There To Installing A UV System In Your Cold Room?
There are plenty of additional advantages including:
Odour elimination: Unpleasant odours will quickly become a thing of the past by installing Ozone-producing UV lamps, like the OdaKil 287, that work to eliminate sour smells within minutes of installation.
Sticky, slimy and mouldy surfaces are vastly reduced: UV surface and air disinfection effectively eliminates mould and slime forming bacteria growth on the surfaces of perishables such as meat products and small goods, both raw and cooked. It also protects the ceiling, walls and shelves of your cold room.
Reduced maintenance costs: As UV technology prevents mould and slime from forming on walls, shelves ceilings and surfaces; washing, scraping and re-painting is required far less frequently.
Where Else Can A UV Light Air Purifier System, Like The GF600IM Be Installed?
Virtually anywhere food spoilage is a concern, including:
- Meat processors and retailers
- Fish and seafood processors and retailers
- Poultry retailers and processors
- Fruit and vegetable retailers and processors
- Restaurants, hotels and motels
- Supermarkets
- Bakeries
- Food manufacturing facilities
HVAC – What Is An HVAC System?
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Cooling. So an HVAC system is what keeps the air warm or cool and circulating in a building. Unfortunately, they can cause a lot of problems.
Sick Building Syndrome
Sick building syndrome is a phenomenon in which people suffer from symptoms of illness or become infected with chronic disease from the building in which they reside or work. The leading cause contributing to this health concern is inadequate cleaning or inappropriate cleaning methods. (Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick_building_syndrome#:~:text=Sick%20building%20syndrome%20(SBS)%20is,cleaning%20or%20inappropriate%20cleaning%20methods)
HVAC UV Air Disinfection
Fungal contamination is easily spread throughout common areas via HVAC systems, spreading infection and leading to diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and pneumonitis.
A toxic combination of recycled air and unfiltered fresh air can lead to fungal growth forming on the cooling coils found in HVAC systems, leading to fungal spores being spread throughout the entire building.
Without the use of a UV light for mould control, physical cleaning on a regular basis is the only solution, but as studies show, even this does not prevent fungal growth from growing and spreading. The only proven solution to combat this growing health concern is to install an HVAC UVC unit. Check out our HVAC packs here.
How Does An HVAC UVC Unit Work?
Operating on a 24/7 basis, UVC lamps work to prevent and eradicate mould spores from attempting to form on the HVAC system’s cooling coils. Any existing mould is neutralized and swept harmlessly, down and away to the drain pan via water in the form of condensation—no more need to spend money on major cleaning operations.
UVC technology also neutralizes any condensate water, which can then be recycled and safely used in other areas such as toilets, gardens and cooling towers, leading to massive energy savings.
At UVP Australia, we offer a wide range of HVAC packs to compliment any system. We also feature a variety of Ultra-Violet lamps, electronic ballasts and lamp holders for all brands and systems, currently in use. Simply contact us here, supply the part numbers and we’ll be sure to quickly dispatch everything you need to maintain your HVAC system efficiently, with limited down time. Click here, to view our HVAC related products.
UV Light Air Purifiers To Protect Patients, Staff And Visitors From Cross Infection
As we mentioned earlier, UVC technology offers huge advantages to the healthcare sector. Every year, nearly 100,000 people die each year due to preventable hospital acquired infections. Installing a UV light air purifier can therefore mean the difference between life and death.
UVC disinfection units such as the Sanitaire 369 and the portable Sanidyne models, protect occupants from infection due to flu and airborne microbes in situations where the risk of cross-infection is high.
Here, at UVP Australia, we offer a wide range of models, in different configurations to benefit and adapt to not only healthcare facilities, but to many settings, effectively destroying infectious flu and airborne microbes before they can strike, such as:
- Child care programs
- School classrooms
- Colleges
- Student housing
- Offices and work places
- Nursing Homes / Aged Care Facilities
- Medical facilities, such as GP’s, Physiotherapists, Dentists, etc.
In other words, a UV air and surface disinfection system will thrive in virtually any environment or situation where the risk of cross-infection is high due to overcrowding or poor ventilation.
Safety And Advantages To Using UV Surface And Air Disinfection
Take a look at just a few ways a UV light air purifier can benefit your industry:
- UV disinfection offers a chemical-free solution that only uses UV light
- UV surface and air disinfection requires no storage, handling or transportation of toxic and corrosive chemicals, making it a safe solution for plant operators, staff and the surrounding community
- UV disinfection creates no carcinogenic by-products UV surface and air disinfection can be used alone, or in conjunction with other disinfectants to break down toxic chemical contaminants
- Reduces staff sick leave
We, the team at UVP, hope you now have a better understanding of the benefits of UV air and surface disinfection. Please, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us here, for any additional inquiries or to place an order.