UV Lamps in HVAC Systems Fight Spread of Disease

The use of ultraviolet (UV) light in disinfecting and sterilizing surfaces is gaining as part of the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus and to control health acquired infections (HAIs) in hospitals. HAIs are a serious problem for hospitals, especially when stretched at capacity and short on staff.  Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 1 in 25 patients were estimated to contract an HAI from a hospital stay, some with dire consequences. Protecting patients and staff against HAIs including drug-resistant bacteria and serious viruses with effective hospital disinfection is top priority for hospitals and healthcare facilities. 

Nearly everything that is in a hospital room from all the surfaces to airborne particles, medical equipment and the clothing and hands of healthcare workers can serve as a reservoir and vector for transmitting opportunistic pathogens.  While contaminated surfaces and insufficient hand hygiene are the primary modes of transmission, water and air supply systems also provide a mode of transmitting harmful pathogens.

UVC HVAC Air Purification Systems

While maintaining regular cleaning and manual disinfection practices is crucial in hospitals, along with proper hand hygiene, germicidal UVC lamps in moving air applications are proven to disinfect and purify the air. Ultraviolet Devices, Inc, UVDI, offers HVAC air disinfection and purification systems with advanced UV technology. UV air disinfection eliminates viruses and bacteria with a kill rate up to 99% and UV air purification destroys volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and foul odors.

UV moving air applications include two basic systems for UVGI as a supplemental air cleaning measure:

Upper room air irradiation – UVGI lamps are wall mounted above an occupant’s level, usually 8 feet above the floor and irradiate the airflow in the room.  Upper room UVGI has been used in tuberculosis wards to inactivate TB and is also effective in patient rooms, emergency rooms, waiting rooms, hallways and anywhere patients could potentially spread airborne germs.

HVAC Duct Irradiation – UVC germicidal lamps placed inside HVAC and air handler ducts disinfect recirculated or outside air. UVC lamps in air handling units effectively eliminate microscopic organisms that are too small to filter yet are easily disinfected with UV light.

LightSources offers high-quality UVC lamps found in UV sterilization systems for hospitals including air disinfection UVGI mounted, HVAC and portable systems  Our UVC robot lamps are helping hospitals to improve patient and staff safety and prevent the spread of disease with effective surface sterilization.

LightSources provides UV lamp solutions to OEMs of all sizes, with high-quality UV lamps custom designed to meet your exact specifications. Our UVC germicidal lamps are found in water, air and surface sterilization systems worldwide. Contact us to speak with an engineer about our many UVC germicidal lamp solutions.