Home »

UV-C Lighting Has The Power To Disinfect Air, Surfaces, And Water

Barbara Kreissler, Director, B2G Professional Lighting, Global Public and Government Affairs, Signify

Barbara Kreissler, Director, B2G Professional Lighting, Global Public and Government Affairs, Signify

Imagine the door handle on a public building, a seat in a public bus, or a desk in a public school. Have you ever wondered how many people touch these surfaces on a given day?

The cleanliness of the surfaces we touchand the quality of the air we breathe have a profound effect on our health and well-being. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and other organizations around the world are rightly prioritizingdisinfection methods that protect citizen health and ensure that critical infrastructure is safe to use.

Shortwave ultraviolet light, or UV-C, has been used for years to disinfect drinking water, air, pharmaceuticals, and surfaces against a range of pathogens.UV-C lighting has now become an important ally in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

Signifyhas been at the forefront of UV technology for more than 35 years, with a proven track record of innovation in UV-C light sources and systemsdesigned, manufactured, and installed to the highest safety standards. In 2020, Signify expanded the range of its UV-C portfolio to respond to the rapid increase in demand from cities and companies alike.

In June 2020, a study conducted by Boston University confirmed that Signify’s UV-C lighting can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19virus, within seconds.This is good news for busypublic spaces, offices, stores, schools, museums, and public transportation, where the risk of contracting and spreading the virus is high.

Signify’sUV-C lighting is ideal for the deep disinfection of surfaces in offices, schools, and restrooms. Fixtures equipped with sensors and controls limit operation to times when people are not present. Mobile, freestanding UV-C luminaires can be wheeled into an office or used to disinfect surfaces on buses and trains.

Signify has also launched a range of UV-C disinfection chambers for objects. These chambers can be used in offices and municipal buildings to disinfect visitor tags, phones, bags, laptops, and wallets in a matter of seconds. In retail stores, they are ideal for disinfecting returned items, glasses, or clothing.

When designed properly, installed correctly,and operated safely, UV-C lightingis a highly effective form of disinfectionthat can help both public and private organizationsreturn to a new normal as soon as possible.It is a great example of light that delivers benefits beyond illumination.